The Life of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military child. These special boys and girls have different lives than children whose parents are in different careers. They see more, do more and experience more than anyone else. Some of these experiences are amazing like visiting other countries or getting to live in them. Other experiences are not as great such as going a year without seeing their dad or having to say goodbye to one more friend.

The military child lives a very special life.  They start serving their country from day one.  They have to say goodbye to daddy (or mommy) more times than a child should.  They have to say goodbye to friends all the time.  They have to be the new kid every 2-5 years.  They usually don’t get to grow up around grandparents or cousins.  Sometimes it can be years between seeing family.  Daddy might have missed their birth, first steps, the first day of Kindergarten or high school graduation.  And anything in-between.  The children of the military are the little heroes.

They get to see the world and meet all types of different people.  They get to experience so many different things.  I can ask my oldest son if he remembers that time we walked on an airfield in Newfoundland at 3 in the morning.  I can tell my 3 year old that he was born in Germany, across the ocean from the country we call home. I often wonder what kind of mom I would be if my husband never had to go away?  I wonder what our family would be like?  This lifestyle isn’t easy but it is ours.  The good with the bad.  All I can do is help my children through what they may have to face.  And pray that daddy won’t have to deploy as often in the future.

 Do you have military children? How many?