Yearly, proper round spring time, it hits us simply how irregular this life is that we lead. Most days, it’s simple to overlook how vastly totally different our lived expertise is to that of so many, however throughout the Month of the Military Child, it all the time brings these variations to mild in stark distinction. I don’t publish an excessive amount of lately about army life as a complete as a result of it’s such a private journey for every army household. However this one? The expertise of army kids? It’s shared, and it’s highlighted every April.

I believe it’s protected to say that this past move from South Korea to Alaska has, by far, been essentially the most difficult transfer we’ve ever confronted as a household. There are such a lot of causes as to why that is, however a lot of it simply has to do with what and the place turns into house over time. We hadn’t discovered that house till South Korea, and lacking that house has been so laborious. Alaska has been an journey in its personal proper, and we’re eternally grateful for this journey, but it surely’s been laborious for each single one in all us, and I received’t sugarcoat that.

Are you curious what The Month of the Army Little one seems to be like? It’s one thing like this…

• Our 9-year-old was born in Arizona, lived there for 2 weeks, and has lived in New York, Washington, South Korea, and now Alaska
• Our 7-year-old was born in New York, and he turned two someplace in the midst of South Dakota on the way in which to our obligation station in Washington
• Our 5-year-old was born in Washington and moved to South Korea at two, the place she realized the language and rapidly adopted a brand new tradition
• Our youngsters have attended a complete of 5 totally different in-person faculties of their brief lives
• We began homeschooling to facilitate adventures and mitigate gaps of their training
• The boys have seen daddy deploy 3 times, and our daughter has seen him deploy twice
• It’s regular for our children by no means to dwell nearer to their grandparents than an eight-hour drive and solely see them a few times in-person every year
• Our youngsters have mates in all places across the globe (actually – Hawaii, Germany, South Korea, Texas, Italy…)
• They know the distinction between the 24-hour and 12-hour clocks
• The children measure in each the metric and imperial system
• Their piggy banks are full of totally different currencies and so they set them apart for every location we go
• They’ve civilian passports and authorities passports, and so they know the distinction between the 2
• They’ve honorary aunties and uncles from each location we’ve lived with whom they keep in contact

Why Army Youngsters are Referred to as Dandelions

You’ll usually discover shirts and swag celebrating army youngsters with a picture of a dandelion on it. Curious why? Dandelions bloom the place they’re planted. They’re almost unattainable to destroy. They develop and thrive nearly wherever.

These kiddos are so resilient and so robust. As laborious as this journey (and particularly this final transfer) has been for Ryan and myself, it’s been infinitely tougher for them. And but, they persist. They made new mates in a matter of days. They handled being the “new youngsters” at their jiu jitsu health club and match proper in. They develop, and adapt, and thrive in all places we take them, and I couldn’t be extra proud.

I wish to say all of this with a robust caveat…they’re robust, however they’re not proof against the challenges, and it will get tougher and tougher every time. So, belief me, these kids should be celebrated throughout The Month of the Army Little one.