Combat Fear - Ask Questions, Share Stories & Listen

Facing Fear with Narratives

Introduction

Poetry

Art

Storytelling

Summary

References

Additional Parent Resources

Information on Terrorism

	For Parents

Summary

Within English's question lies the answer. The search for answers keeps us going. We can model the behavior that we want to pass on to our children. We may not be in control of what is happening around us, but we can observe what is happening and the reactions of our children, as well as our own reactions. To combat fear, we can ask questions, share stories and listen to our children and to ourselves. Only then will layers of fear unfold, giving way to inner and outer peace.

Dr. Sally's Bio

Dr. Sally Gelardin, National Certified Counselor, Career Development Facilitator Instructor, Global Career Development Facilitator, and Active Living Model Counselor, is a career and life transitions consultant for individuals and organizations. She lectures nationally on family career influences and adult transition issues. She is an Instructor and Women's Studies Evaluator at the University of San Francisco, a Fellow in USF's Children's and Young Adult Multicultural Literature Institute, and an advisor to USF's Family Business Resource Center. As Guest Editor of the 2001 summer issue of the Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, and through her own interactive website http://www.gelardin.net/lifeworks, she features family lifework themes. She can be contacted by email at: sallyg@eurekanet.org.

References

Behr, S.J. (2001). Word for Word/Young Voices: In the Shadow of Tragedy: 'My World Got Shut Down'. The New York Times, September 23, 2001.

Bilal, S. (1989). Fears. Unpublished poem.

Bloch, D. & Richmond, L.(1998). SoulWork: find the work you love, loving the work you have. Palo Alto, CA: Davies-Black, p. 15.

Bolles, R. (1991). How to find your mission in life. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

Cytron, B. (2001). Where Was God? Minnesota Public Radio: First Person. 9/23/01. View: Internet: http://www.acommonplace.org.

Droulliard, E. (2001). Telephone conversation with author. (September 16, 2001). http://www.geocities.com/planetema

English, F. Address to Ulysses and Penelope. Unpublished. 650.685.8418.

EUREKA, The California Career Information System, essay contest: http://www.eurekanet.org/contest.html

Harris Interactive (October 2, 2001). America's youth rely heavily on parents and schools to cope with September 11 tragedy. http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newscatslist.asp?HI_election=youth.

Harris Interactive. (October 5, 2001). Harris Interactive Survey Shows Internet's Growth as Primary Source of News and Information in Weeks Following September 11 Attacks. http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newscats.asp?NewsID=371.

Huston, J. (2001). http://www.jeanhouston.com.

Lott, J. Redwood freshman girls design 9-11 memorial. Twin Cities Times. September 25-October 1, 2001. 415.289.4040.

Savickas, M. (June,2000). Presentation at the 9th NCDA Confrence. Pittsburgh.

Where Was God? Minnesota Public Radio: First Person. (September, 23, 2001). http://www.acommonplace.org.

The New York Times articles http://www.newyorktimes.com.

LiCalzi O'Connell, P. (September 20, 2001). Online diary: Taking refuge on the Internet, a quilt of tales and solace. New York Times. D3.

Kakutani, M. Rituals for grieving extend past tradition into public displays. (September 18, 2001). The New York Times. B11.

Ms. Tea of Sister Spit. (May 2, 1999) To fill a club, just tell a story. The New York Times, Art and Architecture Section, p. 9.

Nichols, P. M. (October 12, 2001). Home video: Middle East, Elusive on Film. The New York Times. E 26.

Steinberg, J. (September 23, 2001). Word for word/Young voices: In the shadow of tragedy: My world got shut down. The New York Times.

Additional Parent Resources

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry web site on Helping Children After a Disaster: Facts for Families: http://www.aacap.org.

American Counseling Association web site on "Responding to the Tragedy": http://www.counseling.org/tragedy/tragedy.htm.

American Psychological Association web site on Help with Trauma:
http://www.apa.org/psychnet/coverage.html. APA trauma-related books for children and parents: http://www.apa.org/publications.

After a Disaster: Steps You Can Take to Cope with a Stressful
Situation: http://www.wright.edu/sopp/cps/TraumaticStress.html.

The Child Survivor of Traumatic Stress: http://users.umassmed.edu/Kenneth.Fletcher/kidsurv.html

Gelardin, S. (2001). Gelardin Family Lifeworks. Poetry, art, and storytelling activities for families. http://www.gelardin.net/lifeworks/pages/narrative.

Helping Children After a Disaster: Facts for Families from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: http://www.aacap.org.

National Career Development Association poetry and poster contest in honor of November, National Career Month: http://www.ncda.org/poetrycontest2001.htm.

National Center for PTSD has a large literature base http://www.ncptsd.org

School Mental Health Project/ Center for Mental Health in Schools
UCLA Dept. of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, (310) 825-3634 / Fax: (310) 206-8716, Email: smhp@ucla.edu, http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu.

The U.S. Education Department's web site features suggestions for parents & educators trying to help their children understand the terrorist attacks" (September 14, 2001) http://www.ed.gov/inits/september11/index.html.

In response to the Columbine tragedy, Sesame Street Workshop developed a website, "Tragic Times, Healing Words" website on helping children cope with disaster. The site is still a useful tool for parents and teachers.http://www.sesameworkshop.org/parents/advice/article/0,4125,49560,00.html

Volunteers for Careers are offering free professional services. Individuals who have been displaced in their work lives as a result of the terrorist attacks can register for these services. View: http://volunteersforcareers.org.

For art resources, view:

NCDA poetry and poster contest: http://www.ncda.org/poetrycontest2001.htm. All ages are encouraged to participate: Grades K-12, 6-8, 9-12, post secondary, and adults over 18.

For children and young adult stories related to terrorism and fear, view:

Berry, J. (2000). Trauma. Gold Star Publishing.

Berry, J. Tuff Stuff : A Children's Book About Trauma (Ready-Set-Grow)

Commissiong, W. (1997). Best Face of All.African American Images. Ages 4-8.

Gordon, R. (Editor) (2000). Pierced by a Ray of Sun : Poems About the Times We Feel Alone. HarperCollins. Young Adult.

Holmes, M. (2000). A Terrible Thing Happened - A story for children who have witnessed violence or trauma.American Psychological Association. Ages 4-8.

Howe, J. (Editor) (2001). The Color of Absence : 12 Stories About Loss and Hope. Atheneum. Young Adult.

Lamb, N. (1996). One April Morning : Children Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing. Lothrop Lee & Shepard. Ages 4-8.

Shihad Nye, N. (1999). HABIBI. Aladdin Paperback. Ages 9-12.

Shihad Nye, N., (1998). The Space Between Our Footsteps: The Space Between Our Footsteps : Poems and Paintings from the Middle East. Simon & Schuster. Young Adult.

Tolan, S. (Library Binding - October 2001) Flight of the Raven. Young Adult. Not yet published.

For parents:

Brooks, B. The Scared Child : Helping Kids Overcome Traumatic Events.(1996).
John Wiley and Sons.

Information on Terrorism:

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/terrorism

http://www.mideasti.org.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/terrorism.htm

http://www.howstuffworks.com/bin-laden.htm

http://www.worldnewyork.org.

http://www.loc.gov/folklife.