Military Children

I just read a friends blog....Thanks Ginger and it pulled deeply at my heart strings. Then I thought of my daughter and her trials and tribulations of being a Military Child.

I can totally relate to a friends blog about letting go of things. In her case it was baby towels and wash cloths. I have never kept anything of our daughter's (terrible I know), but the simple fact is we move every 3 years and to keep things is just impossible! I was always afraid that the movers would lose it and it would end up only God knows where. Some dark warehouse, collecting dust? Or even worse, things that are never claimed so some unknown stranger can throw it away? I think not! So I have always turned around and given it to someone less fortunate (i.e. another Military family that really needed it). Not for someone to buy but some poor PVT that needed it more than me holding onto it. After all that's why we take so many pictures of our children in thier cute outfits right? And the Military does take care of it's own!

As for our daughter....this year she turns 13. UUUGGGHHH Teenagers are NOT fun! But she has come into her own. She sits and talks to me about Dad's next deployment. Where he's going, will it be the same (insert sarcasum and will Mom be a crazy loon again till he gets home). I wish I could tell her that it will be the same, but every Deployment is different and brings new challenges.

She sounds like an adult and the boy talks. EEEWWWWW No mom wants to hear about which boys are hot and which one's are not! We have always measured her life by Duty Stations and which one's that she can remember that were her favorites.

I totally agree with Ginger that I want her to thrive, grow, make mistakes (hopefully learn from them) and be the great child that she is. But I can't get past the everytime I look at her I still see my "Baby Girl". And I really need to learn to "Let Her Go" and become the interesting, smart, funny young woman that she is.

She has had to deal with a crazy mom (when dad's gone), 6 moves in her short 13 years, and 6 different schools to top it off.

Military children are truly a breed apart! They adapt and overcome the most stressful of circumstances. So next time you see a Military Child, maybe thank them also for what they do! A little prayer might help to! They sacrifice one of their parents being gone(for however long) to fight for your Freedom! They are very Proud and Patriotic Children that have a strength like no other!

To the one's that have come before them....THANK YOU.....And HOOAH!

Ah....Another PCS Move....

I was sitting here thinking to myself of the lists of stuff I need to make. List you say? Yes lists...Cause anyone out there that is a Military Spouse knows exactly what I mean! And those that were Military Brats also can flash back and remember your parents sitting down making lists. Why do we make PCS lists?....Here's why:

If you don't make a list there is ALWAYS SOMETHING that you forget. Hell even with the lists you forget SOMETHING!

Of course you have MULTIPLE lists:

1) Things to keep out so the movers don't pack them(i.e. vacuum, pots, pans and plates cause it's too expensive to eat out 3 squares a day... cleaning supplies(of course if it's a liquid they're not going to pack it anyway).
2) Plastic tuff boxes to put the small TV and DVD's in, cause you never know how long it will take to get cable(took us almost 3 weeks when we got to VA)
3) clothes to keep out....now granted this all changes if you go on leave in between posts.
4)Medications....Important documents (it never fails if you ship them SOMEONE will need them and you'll never get anything done without them)...make-up, soap etc.
5) Make sure that the blow up mattress' don't have holes in them(a lot can happen to them in storage) Oh and sheets for them of course....cause who wants to sleep on plastic? The pump to fill it up every night BEFORE you go to bed. And the number for a good Chiropractor after sleeping on them for any amount of time!

I'm really not a crazy person....but if I don't have a plan or list I will go insane!


I can go on and on......but we look at PCS' as an adventure. If you don't it will drive you mad. I do worry about our stuff when it's packed and in storage. You never know what is going to be broken or missing when it shows up(that's why I make them UNPACK our stuff). That way there's no surprises. And after all of the stress I can fuss at someone....Mover's really don't like me that much, but we've worked too hard for the things we have.

Then there's always the feeling of being homeless. If you think about you really are for awhile! You have no where to call home......I don't care if it's an apartment, Government Quarters or you bought a house.....You're still homeless. And all you can do is chuckle and reminisce about your past travels. Hey remember that PCS to Germany and our stuff showed up 2 days before Christmas? Yes folks 2 days before Christmas....so putting a house together and setting up for Christmas was exciting! OH and let's throw in there YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY!

This move though is a good one...going back to somewhere we enjoyed. Now on our Anniversary our house will be packed up! That doesn't bother me because that means we're getting out of here. This just isn't a place for people like us!

The next month and a half will be here and gone and next thing we'll know is that we're back at Fort Bragg. But my list's are incomplete and time is running out. I guess I better get on the ball cause it's now starting to roll.

Please say some prayers for me(well for my sanity). And pray for Lee cause he's the one that has to put up with me!

Where does the time go?

So after reading a friend of mine's blog and chatting with her she convinced me to blog. So all of this is Ginger's fault! Maybe now I can keep my sanity!

It has come to my attention that my 20 year class reunion is next year. REALLY? When did I get that old? Also our daughter is turning 13 this year. Once again I ask: Where does the time go? My daughter will be driving in 2 years folks! I remember my mom teaching me how to drive(bless her) and I tell ya it wasn't pretty! But we all made it through unscathed, well for the most part anyways. Now comes the decision on who exactly is going to teach our daughter how to drive. We offered her my full size truck...noticed I said Full Size cause at least she'll be protected, but she has informed me that now she wants her daddy's truck cause it's 4 wheel drive! UGH! Now granted she has never grown up in the south like we did, but I guess the apple never falls far from the tree. There are times I wonder just how she ended up the way that she did......then I look at the two of us. Hey at least I can laugh about it....Right? She's a good girl and I might just have to take out the back seats so no one else can ride with her except for 1 other person. I know what you're thinking and nope I don't think that will fly either. A mom can dream though.....Right? She has become a wonderfull young girl, I won't say lady cause I still can't get her into a dress....but she does like my heels. Of course my expensive ones(Like I said apple and tree comes to mind). I do look at her and go hhhmmmmm.....how come I couldn't have the girly girl? Then she comes in with her skateboard and bruises and scrapes and I realise that I wouldn't have her any other way!

The truck thing is humorous to me cause it's either that or a Jeep Wrangler with the large Super Swampers and the bull bar and wench. She is a total gear head also(thanks to her dad) If only we could get her to fish she would be the complete redneck girl! LOL But that's ok we'll take her as she is! Boys on the other hand they better watch out cause she's gonna break quite a few hearts and put them in thier place. She has no brain to mouth filter so she's gonna tell it like it is.

Ahhhhhh the joys of having a teenager and realising you've been away from home for 16 years! Seeing all of the people with kids now and remembering some of the things we did it's like all of us are screwed. Let's just hope they NEVER find out and they can try but we'll catch them cause we were sneakier than they can ever think about being! Sounds good right?

Times are deffinately different than 20+ years ago, but look at all of us....we turned out alright! Parenting now a days isn't anything like what our parents had to deal with. So to all of you with kids......Blessings to you! We all turned out alright!