Through Their Eyes: The Military Child’s Perspective

  • Published
  • By Rachel Schluckebier
  • Student Writer
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Life isn't always easy for a military child. In fact, military children have many obstacles to face as they grow up. Military children move frequently, having to leave the familiar behind to venture into a new school, a new group of kids, a new state or even a new country. Also, with active-duty members being deployed often, many children have to face up to a year or more with a parent in another country.

It's definitely a tough job being a military child, yet many of them have strategies and different outlooks on the situations they face that help them to cope with the challenges that are thrown at them. Three military children, 4th grader Lauren Ingrodi, 6th grader Jordan Parker, and 9th grader Bobby Geoke, spoke on the trials they encounter as military children and how they are able to deal with them in a way that makes each experience not only bearable, but also enjoyable.

Each military child is presently encountering a challenge of their own. Lauren is moving to Virginia this summer, Jordan is moving to Germany this summer, and Bobby's father is deployed. Each child spoke on what it's like to experience these challenges, and what difficulties they bring.

Lauren said that the hardest part of moving for her is leaving her friends behind, and having to introduce herself to other kids in order to make new ones. She also said it was hard to pick which toys to bring and which ones to give away.

Jordan similarly noted that it's hard to leave her friends behind. When asked about the challenges of moving. Jordan said, "Definitely the cleaning up. It's really hard; figuring out what you want to sell and what you want to keep, and what you want to put into storage."

When asked the same question, Bobby said, "The toughest part on me is not being able to talk to my dad on a regular basis. I talk to him about once or twice a week when he's deployed."

Although these situations seem rough, military kids have many special strategies to help them find the best in every situation.

When asked about what strategies they use to cope, the military children had many different methods.

"I try to think of what good could happen in the next place I move. It helps to think positively. I also try to keep in touch with my friends, by talking on the phone or writing letters. Also, when I try to make new friends, I try to be myself," Lauren said.

She also said that when she was moving from Maryland to Massachusetts, she dreaded the idea of moving, but then learned that it turned out to be a great experience. She tries to remember that move when she thinks about moving to Virginia. "Just like the Maryland move, it might be great," Lauren said.

When asked about her approach to moving, Jordan said, "I try to keep my head high, and remember that there are friends everywhere. I try to be myself when making new friends, because if they don't like me for who I really am, they aren't really my friends. It also helps to be flexible, especially moving to Germany. I have to be flexible so I can adjust to the new culture, and get the most out of it, by trying new foods and wearing new clothes."

"I try to surround myself with close friends, and get involved with my life rather than sitting around thinking about how my dad is gone. I focus on extra curricular activities, schoolwork and my close friends to make the experience better," said Bobby on his strategy for coping with a deployment.

Military children are certainly special, in that they adjust to their challenges by making the best out of them, with expert positivity and flexibility. The skills military children gain through their experiences make them stronger; allowing them to see their challenges with a positive light in order to enjoy their unique experiences.

For example, Jordan said she doesn't look at her upcoming move to another country as being a negative experience, but tries to look forward to the good things that the move may offer. "I'm really excited about moving to Germany," she said, "I can't wait to go shopping and just take in the new culture."

Lauren said she tries to focus on the things she is excited about to keep a positive point of view. She said, "I have two pools, and I get to be closer to my family members. I'm excited."

It takes a lot to endure the challenges that military children face. However, just as Lauren, Jordan and Bobby all mentioned, it can be just as fun as it is challenging. By focusing on the positive things and enjoying the new experience rather than being sad about it, being a military child can be a blast.

By under going the incredible obstacles that these children and many others face, military children not only develop skills and points of view that will help them later in life, but they also get the most out of every experience, and have lots of fun doing it.