As neighborhoods in Southern California continue to face the destruction left behind from wildfires in the area, many parents are having to come to terms with how to explain this to their children. MSNBC anchor Katy Tur spoke to one mother facing that reality as she and her two children, ages 6 and 9, found their Pacific Palisades home destroyed after fire tore through the area. “I believe that life is about learning and about having experiences that make you more human,” the mother, who did not share her name on air, told Tur through tears as she stood with her children in front of what was their home. “I was telling my kids, ‘This isn’t a bad thing. This is just, like, a potent thing. This is something that makes us bigger humans.” At least 11 people have died and more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed since fires broke out in the LA area beginning Tuesday, Jan. 7. Tens of thousands of acres have been burned through so far. The Palisades Fire is 8% contained as of Friday evening while the Eaton Fire, which is burning in the Pasadena area, is only 3% contained. While strong winds, which have made it easy for the fires to spread, have died down, they are expected to return Monday. California Wildfires 8 hours ago Live updates: Battle continues as Palisades Fire threatens Brentwood, Valley California Wildfires Jan 10 Map: See where Los Angeles County wildfires are burning Nearly 200,000 residents have evacuated from the area so far. Olympic swimmer David Walters, who is now an LA firefighter, described to NewsNation what it has been like battling the fires. “We’re pretty much trying to keep what is left here standing,” said Walters. “So we’re not laying down. We’re staying in our position — that’s correct, I did sleep on top of the hose bed last night, just staying ready to do what we can still do.” “I’m very sorry for the residents that live here,” he said. “We did try our best, but we got our butts kicked.” This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: Mom of former child star Rory Callum Sykes says she was unable to save him from LA fires How to help people impacted by the California fires What it’s like to watch the place where you grew up burn to the ground This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.