April is month of the military child.

Our community still found a way to celebrate the month of the military child, while in quarantine. Here is a brief clip of the parade that went all throughout base housing 🙂

The Dandelion – The Official Flower of the Military Child

Written by an unknown author:

“The official flower of the military child is the dandelion. Why? The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it’s almost impossible to destroy. It’s an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It’s a survivor in a broad range of climates. Military children bloom everywhere the winds carry them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They’re ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.

Experts say that military children are well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. Military children have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world, and that education doesn’t only come from school. They live history. They learn that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens up to a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new experiences.”

What a brilliant representation of kids in the military.

Our story and experience

We started our family 10 years into our military career. Recently, my son, Robert, age 10, has moved 4 times in the past 5 years. That is an unusual amount of relocations, but, this means that he has attended 4 elementary schools in 4 different states.

Not one of our moves have been easy for him. We’ve taught him that it’s okay to feel sad, but it’s important to focus on the adventure ahead and each time he has adapted much better than expected. I mean how cool is it to have friends all over the world that he can keep in touch with through facetime, playstation and other apps.

Additionally, he’s been exposed to different cultures and experiences he wouldn’t have otherwise. So, we choose to focus on the positive side in everything, there’s just no other choice.

This is a photo of the 4th-5th graders at Hanscom middle school spring concert. The butterflies on the wall represent all of the children who come and go each year (turn around is approx 40% each year) each child individually unique. I thought that was a beautiful example of the military child on their journey through life and honoring their story and individuality.

Us adults, chose this lifestyle, but our children, were merely born into it.

Pros to the lifestyle

• diversity and differences in people and places, culture and language immersion.

• opportunity they are given through traveling such as making new friends everywhere they go.

• They learn particular values such as structure, punctuality, commitment, honor, respect and adapting to change.

Change is inevitable, it’s how we adapt to change that makes the difference.

Cons to the lifestyle

• moving around which means starting over, leaving behind what and who you know and traveling into the unknown. Saying goodbye to those you’ve built relationships with, schools you’ve become comfortable attending.
• Possibly having only one parent around for days-months at a time.
• Coping with your parent missing birthday(s), holidays, school performances and special moments like learning to ride your bike or losing a tooth, saying your first word and missing the birth of life.
• For some, it means losing a parent or their parent returning from a deployment with limbs lost or PTSD.

Please remember, freedom doesn’t come free.

I don’t share these things for pity on military children. I share for awareness, so that if you live near a military community or if you ever meet a military child, that you would consider their hardship and show them a little love and encouragement.

Celebrate month of the military child.

April is the month of the military child. Purple Up! For Military Kids! are days designated in the month of April, for communities to wear purple to show their support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices.

If you know a military child, please thank them for their families service and sacrifice. Do you know a military child who’s had a tough year of deployments or perhaps they are mid-deployment?

If so, consider going the extra mile. Perhaps take the kids off of mama’s hands for day and do something fun to treat them. Or deliver a care package with age appropriate gifts.

It’s always nice to be acknowledged; wouldn’t you agree?

For more information on the month of the military child, please visit: https://militarybenefits.info/month-of-the-military-child/

Are you a military child or do you have experience in the military lifestyle associated with children?

Spread the love, down below by sharing with your friends or leaving a comment, I love hearing from you! Thanks so much for reading and encourage someone today!