“It’s not time to relax” say intelligence officials today. A new video that is presumed to originate from Osama Bin Laden hints of imminent danger and the world is on red alert.

How does this added stress affect you? Are you glued to the TV and are you receiving constant updates so that you are in the know? Are you able to share past experiences of 9-11 with such detail that your avid audience sits in wonderment? Are you, like most Americans, able to recall the exact moment when you first heard about 9-11? Are we destined to see a repeat performance?

If we are filled with fear, you can bet that our spectrum children know it. Not only do they know it  – they can feel it… Our emotions are not only worn on our proverbial  sleeves – our emotions are usually  projected (like verbal projectile vomit) onto our unsuspecting children with such force that they are unable to contain their reactions. “My stomach hurts”,  “I’m too sick to go to school today”, fighting with their siblings, nightmares and even true illnesses all originate from stress.

How often do we recount tragic moment by moment events that happen in our everyday life? Our spectrum children only need to hear them once. Like an audio recorder, they are able to store this data into their think tank for future reference at any given moment. Unfortunately, they are usually not able to control what goes into their think tank or what will trigger the given moment when the information resurfaces… that is our job. Is it fair to feed our children negativity and ugliness and expect positive beauty to shine back?

As a parent I have to be aware of what I say around my children. Their little minds are being formed by my words and actions every single day. If I am feeling fearful or scared the chances are that they are, too. As an adult, I am generally able to deal with these situations in a mature manner. I know that the only way my children will learn to do the same is by watching good examples.

We can not change the past – we can only learn from it. We can not predict the future – we can only prepare for it by being aware and by being the best that we can be. We certainly can not help our children to be confidant if we live a fearful and angry life.

Regarding Osama Bin Laden’s New Terror Tape: I am thankful that our government officials take this kind of message seriously. I’m even more thankful that I am not a government official. I am praying the Serenity Prayer for us all and I hope that you will do the same, too.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.