The Month of the Military Child is a time for our nation to rally around and support our military kids (more than 1.8 million of them). The Month of the Military Child is a time to acknowledge, celebrate, and recognize the sacrifices our military children make. So often, when the general public thinks of "service and sacrifice", they tend to think of soldiers and spouses. But as we well know, our military kids sacrifice too, and it's important to remind others around the country -- who may not be familiar with our lifestyle -- of this fact.
We can attest that our children do not have easy lives. Their childhoods are constantly disrupted with frequent moves and long separations from parents. Our kids always have to say good-bye and start over, and they shed as many tears as they carry happy memories. They switch schools, leave friends and family, and have to adjust and readjust to new circumstances and unfamiliar environments.
Mil kids also cope with deployment. They know when they give mom or dad that last kiss good-bye, it is going to be one they will carry with them for a long time. There are no good-night kisses, no games of catch, and no good morning smiles or end-of-the-school-day hugs. Our mil children learn to wait (not always patiently) in order to celebrate Christmas, birthdays and holidays with their deployed parents. They learn to wait for the special letter or package in the mail, that video chat, or the fifteen minute phone call. They also learn coping mechanisms to deal with the stress and anxiety that comes from having a parent in a combat zone. And while our children show tremendous resiliency and strength, seeming able to bounce back from trying circumstances, it is not without pain and suffering.
As we well know, it is uncommon for military children who are coping with stress to express their anxieties through their behaviors or emotions. It is not unusual for an outgoing child to suddenly become an introvert, for a child to stop eating, for a child to regress to a previously outgrown stage, like bedwetting. Older children can have abrupt mood swings, can have angry outbursts, may fail to respond to authority, or may simply stop doing well in school. The good news is that this response tends to be cyclical and fades as the child adjusts to mom or dad being deployed. What is very important is that those adults who interact with mil children are attuned to their sensitivities and behaviors. And for all parents, a good rule of thumb: any child exhibiting unusual behaviors for more than three weeks should be seen by a doctor.
So this month, I encourage you to reach out to your local civilian community, friends, family and support groups and share this national celebration. Invite your non-military contacts to show their support of Military Kids. Post a message on your Facebook page, forward this article to your email group, tweet about Month of the Military Child, write a human interest story about your own kid's military experiences and send it to your local paper. Start a blog. Remind the public what our children endure. And educate them that sometimes, all military children need is to know that people care.
Kirsten O'Neill, Founder and CEO of Silent Rank Sisterhood, is a proud Air Force spouse, artist and mom. Her non-profit organization provides direct support and opportunities with local, national, and international outreach for active-duty service members, military spouses and their families.
