Did you know that April is the Month of the Military Child?
The Month of the Military Child is a time for our nation to rally around our military kids and show them our support. It is a time for us to acknowledge, celebrate, and recognize the sacrifices these children make. So often, when one thinks of service and sacrifice, one tends
to think of soldiers and spouses. But, our military kids sacrifice, too, and we need to let these children know that they are remembered.
Military children do not have easy lives. Their childhoods are constantly disrupted, with frequent moves and long separations from parents. They 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. And, these children also cope with deployment. They know when they give mom or dad that last kiss good-bye, it is going to be one that they will carry with them for a
long time. There are no good-night kisses, no talking on the phone, and no good morning smiles and no end of the school day hugs. These children learn to wait, to celebrate Christmas and birthdays, and holidays with their deployed parents. They learn to wait for the special letter
or package in the mail, the email, 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 these children show tremendous resiliency and strength, seeming to able to bounce back from trying circumstances, it is not without pain and suffering.
It is not uncommon for military children who are coping with stress to express their anxieties through their behaviors or emotions. Because these children are still developing, they lack the ability to express themselves adequately. It is not unusual for a 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, angry outbursts, fail to respond to authority, or 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. It is important that those who interact with these children attuned to their sensitivities and behaviors. 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 and show Military Kids your support. Remember what they endure. Sometimes, all that these children need is to know that people cares. Our nation needs to rally around these children and show them our support, love, care, and
concern. Celebrate the Military Children in your community!
~Kirsten O'Neill, Founder and CEO of Silent Rank Sisterhood, www.silentranksisterhood.com
