Celebrating and Recognizing the Struggles of Military Children

0

 

It is no secret that military men and women sacrifice a tremendous amount for our country and our freedom. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, and the Space Force all have a unique mission, but make sacrifices some cannot even fathom.

Their children, however, never signed up for this life but make daily sacrifices as well, and deserve to be recognized. And since April is the month of the military child, it’s the perfect time to celebrate military children!

We proudly celebrate this month in our household because my kids are military children. They have to be resilient beyond their years and have risen to the occasion and overcome many challenges in their short life. They have lived in three states in the past five years, gone a full year without their dad at home, and just recently were told they will be leaving Columbia and moving again this summer. They were not too happy about that and kept asking us why.

The “why” is simply because their dad is in the military, and unfortunately we have very little say in where we live; something that gets increasingly more challenging as kids get older. My children made it very clear they love where we live. They love their school, friends, and neighborhood, and they don’t want to move. Sadly, it’s just part of military life, and I would be lying if I said all of the upcoming changes didn’t keep me up at night.

Military children don’t get to have the same consistency other kids may have, and that can be difficult.

I moved around a lot growing up so I can relate to the big feelings surrounding having to move. Starting over in a new state is difficult at any age. The unknown can be scary. But if there’s one thing military children are, it’s resilient!

They learn from a very young age that plans can change at any time, and they have to make the best of an otherwise tough situation. When the military calls, their parent may leave for a few weeks, months, or even a year. So many feelings and emotions surround being a military family, and I teach my children that it is healthy to talk about the struggles and to find others who can relate. Reaching out and finding other military children with similar experiences can be the biggest blessing in not feeling so alone on this journey.

There are, of course, so many positives to being a military child. For starters, my children get to live in many different places and see different parts of the country they otherwise would not know existed. They also recently learned about F16s up close and even sat in the cockpit during a special family day on base. This is a unique experience and one they will cherish for years to come.

As they get older my children are becoming more aware of the unique sacrifices their dad makes, and they have great pride in what he does. They admire and look up to him and other men and women in uniform. Their dad is their hero, and I hope they grow up with a continued sense of pride and honor in being a military child.

So this month, and every month, we should celebrate the thousands of brave military children across the globe and the important role they play in our communities. 

Are you a military family? Share your story with us! We’d love to celebrate you and your children!

Previous articleThe Magic of Gardening
Next articleMoms to See in the 803 :: Lauren Truslow
Caitlyn Viviano
Caitlyn is a Florida native, but now home is wherever the Air Force sends them. She resides in NE Columbia with her husband Josh, daughter Chloe, and sons Daniel and Levi. They also have a spoiled yellow lab named Zoe. Caitlyn holds a B.A. in Rehabilitation Services/Psychology and a Masters in School Counseling with an urban focus. Before kids she loved her work as a school counselor in Title 1 elementary schools. Now as a stay at home mom Caitlyn enjoys spreading autism awareness through writing, baking, and chasing after three kids while drinking large amounts of coffee.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here