April is the month of the military child.
This month has a lot of meaning to my family.
My son has already gone through a short, 2 month separation in his 7 months of life from his daddy, and I know that it won't be his first.
My daughter....
I can't even count the months or years that she has spent without her father around.
I cant count the days of her life that I've missed out on because of my own commitments to the Marine Corps.
Commitments, deployments, and training for the Marine Corps....
They all take away precious time away from our children's lives
So this month has a special place in our family.
I'm a grown woman who has spent 10 years as an active duty Marine, so for me, separations are normal.
It doesn't make them easier for me, but the fact that I am old enough to comprehend things about life and the Marine Corps, it's not nearly as hard for me as it is for my kids.
However, at the end of the day, my kids get an opportunity that most kids don't get.
They get to see the world.
They get to experience different cultures.
They learn to appreciate the time that they have with their father.
They learn to "adapt and overcome".
Nick and I are so proud of the child Dannika is becoming.
It does not even faze her when we break the news to her that "daddy is leaving again."
If anything, she takes it better than me.
She keeps me sane when he's gone, and she comforts me.
I think it's awesome that there's an entire month dedicated to celebrating "military brats".
They deserve some recognition.
They're seriously the real "silent ranks".
Dannika's first time seeing Daddy in 7 months.
She was 13 months old in this photo, and he left right when she was 6 months.
This photo ended up in the LA Times!
This was seeing daddy for the first time after his second deployment to Afghanistan!
She was 2 1/2!
And the newest "military brat" to our family...
Aw!
ReplyDeleteIt's tough. My Mom was also in the military. She wasn't deployed a lot, but she did work long hours.
My kids have gone without their daddy many times.
This is beautifully written and made me tear up. Those photos of your husband and daughter are so precious, I'm sure you cherish them a great deal. I am in awe of you and your family's strength and the service you and your hubby do for all of us. You're an amazing mom and a hero <3
ReplyDeleteGosh I love homecoming pictures! Seeing a child's joy over having their parent back home again is just amazing. That picture that made the LA Times is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine multiple deployments. My husband was in the air force, so I know it's different, but he went once for a year. That was it and that was enough :)
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