April is the month of the Military Child!

Being a military spouse isn’t easy; being a military child is even more challenging. Military spouses make a more or less conscious choice to be part of the extended military family, but children are born into this lifestyle. There are many great things about growing up in the extended military family, but this lifestyle can also present challenges for our little heroes. And indeed they are heroes, who make big sacrifices for their families and their country.
Military kids deal with moves, leaving friends behind, deployments, changes of plans at the last minute, and parents who aren’t there for important milestones, birthdays, sicknesses, school triumphs and challenges, sport’s events and family vacations.
For younger children it’s difficult to grasp the concept of time, how long will mom or dad be gone, and for older ones the disappointment of not having a parent present for important milestones is challenging. Military children learn to be resilient and self-sufficient at a young age.
When my husband went to a good friend’s home to drop off some cookies, the two kids went crazy upon hearing a male voice thinking that it was their daddy back from deployment, but were very disappointed when they saw my husband’s shaved head towering over the door step of their home.
My own five daughters have often asked me if daddy was home whenever they saw his car in the driveway (anytime we left the house or arrived home) hoping that he was finally back.
It’s not all bad though.
I wanted to find out what my own children what they thought of being military brats. After asking me excitedly if military brats meant that they would make dolls who looked like them, this is what they answered:

Luisa age 8 – “It’s hard when daddy’s gone because he is a Ninja. But I also kind of like it a little bit when he’s gone, because mommy gets us more pizza and McDonalds and stuff that we don’t get all the time when daddy’s here”. Husband if you are reading this, I almost never get McDonalds. I prefer Wendy’s.
Anna age 6 – “I like it when daddy goes to war because when he gets back I get chocolate. Hershey’s chocolate in a little brown bag”.
Eva age 5- “Why can’t they have the war here so daddy can come home every night? And if he dies do we get a new daddy?”
Livia age 2 – “I want to go with daddy and take my pony”.
Nina age 10 months – “Gu, gu, ga, ga…. “

This month let’s remember to honor military children everywhere by participating in events or initiatives for our little heroes and by praising them.
Positive reinforcement goes a long way for our little troops!

Anita was born and raised in Rome, Italy which explains her temper and her impeccable sense of style. Anita is well on her mission to overpopulate the planet. She has five daughters and a terrified husband who happens to be a military Ninja, probably the only reason he survives at home. Anita is an American Citizen and is trying to live the American Dream though she still refuses to overcook her pasta.

Visit Anita's Personal Blog- Ovolina