April is the month of the military child. A time to reflect on and celebrate this “tiny humans” and all they go through in this life. Sometimes the life of a military child seem to be quite challenging; the sacrifices that they are made to make and hardships that they have to deal with seem to be simply unbelievable!
In spite of all that, there are plenty of benefits of being a military child. Although they didn’t “choose” this life, they experience it in ways that we as adults do not get to experience. What are such advantages of being a military child, or MILKID? I’m about to tell you!
A MILKID Knows Sacrifice
In military life, sacrifice is part of the package. So a military kid grows up watching one or both of his/her parent serving their country. This level of sacrifice sets an example for children as of how to live life selflessly. It is hoped that this mindset will get passed down from parent to the child. A the sacrifice I am referring to is not just from the service member, but also the parent left at home, holding down the fort. Military children often are found volunteering and mentoring for giving back to their communities.
A MILKID Shows Maturity
Difficulty situations arise in military life, and let’s face it, sometimes it plain old sucks. No matter their age, all military kids at one time or another have to cope with difficult situations; separation from parents or friends, moving regularly, leaving behind loved one, etc. They also must experience everything quite early in their lives. Because of this, they become mature enough to lead the life almost better than some adult MILSOS.
A MILKID Appreciates Relationships
One of the worst parts of the lives of military students is that they spend very little time with their parents when compared to the civilians. It lets them realize the real meaning of that quality time which they spend with their parents. In turn, they usually end up being more sensitive towards all kinds of relationships, including with those not related to him. This appreciation also gives them a bump when it comes to making friends in the first place.
A MILKID Is Adaptable
Being adaptive is a necessity and MILKIDs learn really quickly to pick up that trait. They need to adapt to new places, schools, peers etc., which requires a high extent of openness and flexibility. They become adaptable by nature which further helps them to always thrive in this world while keeping their heads high!
A MILKID Learns Independence
Sometimes military life means saying goodbye to loved ones, over and over again. As a MILSO, saying goodbye is hard each and every time my husband leaves. I use to worry about my kids and how they would manage, but I feel they hand the separation even more than me. Of course there will be moments where there will be tears, but for the most part, we know we got this.
A MILKID’s Life is Full of Adventures:
Each of my children have been born in different places, and by the time my oldest turned 4, she had lived in 3 different homes in different corners of the country. Most military kids grow up staying in different parts of the world, with opportunities to see and experience things that other civilian children may not have the chance. Make sure to take advantage of those adventurous opportunities when you get a chance!
A MILKID is PROUD
It doesn’t take a genius to know that my children naturally look up to their parents and other adults/older siblings who are close to them. MILKIDS have a different level of pride. After all, how many kids can say they have a parent who serve their county? We are proud of our service members; we love them, we support them and we know that they are doing amazing work. These kids show their pride in each letter, skype call and show-and-tell with their Daddy Doll.
We Love Our MILKIDS
Throughout this life that they didn’t ask for, military children again and again show us just how amazing they are. I am pretty sure we adults can learn a thing or two from them!
