Day 217: Army Brats

I saw this picture today on Facebook and I had to smile because it really is true. How many people really think about how tough it is on these little kids when they say "see you later" to their daddies or mommies, or both? Growing up, my dad would be away for work for a week at a time, maybe even a few weeks at a time. In all that time, I never worried about my dad's safety. I know accidents happen and things happen, even to civilians, but I never feared that my dad would not come home. I never had to imagine my dad fighting a war everyday and the possibility of him being hurt or killed. I never had to worry about if my daddy will remember me after a year away, or if I would remember how he plays or what he smells like. I never had to wonder if daddy would still like me after a year apart or if he would come back different. Military kids, my own included, worry about all of this. They are not oblivious. They know what war means. Despite our best efforts as parents to keep them protected, they see stuff on the news (or commercials of it), they hear it from their friends, on the radio, or read about it at school. They know what war is, they know their parent is there, and they know the real dangers involved. Still, every day, they get up, do what they are supposed to, and tell their deployed parent every chance they can just how much they love and miss them. 

I can only imagine what it is like for my Army brats who worry constantly about their daddy at war. I worry about him and am scared too. I love him and he is my best friend and can't imagine him being hurt. I can handle the stress of those worries and fears now as an adult. As a child, it would have taken a lot to be able to deal with a deployment. That is why I love this picture. These Army brats have more courage than most people will ever have. This kind of thing seems common place to me because these are the kids I work with and the people I live around. Before my husband joined the military, I knew a few people who served or were serving, and I knew no "military brats," so I never knew the courage it took. I realize now how small of a population military is in this big country versus the military towns I have been living in these past 8 years. The military and the children involved seems so big to me right now because I am only living in military towns, but when I look back to my hometown, I realize just how few there were around me. I just makes me realize how amazing these soldiers are and how courageous their kids are for dealing with all of this at such a young age.

My kids are my driving force and are my heroes. They do everything they can to get through this and to behave for me. I know it is hard for them, but they are good for the most part. They also show their daddy love as much as they can and stifle the fears they have when they are talking to him. They save it for me, because they know I can handle it. They are such amazing "brats" and Ian and I could not be prouder to be raising them. They are strong, courageous, and amazing children who are only getting stronger.