The Military has definitely changed our way of life in the past nine years. We were civilians five years before the hubs rejoined the Army. Our first child was born in 2006 on the cusp of moving to our first official duty station together at Fort Bragg, NC. There is where I learned about the Army community, met other Army families (I didn’t happen to meet any families from other branches there at Bragg) and I learned about the month of April being Month of the Military Child. I love that our children are honored by the Military community. I truly believe that they serve too.
This post is about My Two Army Brats.
The resilience of a Military child is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Granted they don’t have a choice and they were born into this life, but they way each child handles it is truly amazing.
We have two Army brats of our own, Aramis & Ezra. At ages seven and two the Military life is all they know. Aramis is the oldest, has three moves under his belt. He was an infant the majority of our time at Ft. Bragg, so he had baby friends that he doesn’t remember, but I still keep in touch with the moms. Our next pcs to MacDill AFB has definitely been his favorite. My sister and her family live in that area so we got a lot of family time in. He also started school there too. We all made wonderful friends there that we still keep in touch with. And he misses them very much. That move was the best and the worst in that sense. He still asks to speak to his friends from Tampa. It breaks my heart, but it’s part of the life we live right now. How does he feel about moving around? He says, he likes it. It’s an adventure for our whole family and he says we are “Travelers.” He loves getting to visit new places and learn new things about the places we visit. We are so lucky to have such a sweet, happy go lucky child that welcomes the family adventures that the Army sends us on.
Ezra is still little and this was his first move. He was a baby so he had no clue, now that he’s 2 he’s going to figure it out pretty quickly. Recently he pulled at my heart strings; when we arrived home he announced, “Our house!” His verbal skills are getting better daily and I just wanted to cry. Knowing that this home is only temporary for us ; he will wonder what happened to his room and his stuff etc. Our normal routine will be disrupted until a new home is found at our new duty station and he will wonder why and probably be a little fussier than normal. It’s all to be expected and it breaks my heart. His adventure as a Military child has just begun. Our next move will be hard on him, but hopefully he will take after his big brother and get thru it like a boss.
The moving is temporary and we will eventually retire back home and we’ll move into our “Forever Home,” as Aramis calls it. As a family we do the best we can to make each move as easy a transition as possible for ourselves and mostly the boys. They didn’t ask to be Army brats, but they are doing a damn good job at it. Crabbiness and all. 🙂
Love this post Candy. I think military families are some of the most resilient. I have seen it affect families differently, some handle it and some dont. I love that you are helping the boys transition.
Aw thanks Anjanette! It was truly a personal post. Thank you! xoxo
Long story:
My husband is retired air force. He retired last October after 20 years. When I met him he came with a son (who is now 16) and before he was stationed here in MA, which is where he is from, they moved all over the place including a 3 year stint in Panama. My step son is the most mature, well-rounded teenager I have ever met. I think all the moving helped him be able to fit in to any situation and be able to adapt to change instantly.
What a sweet post! The resiliency of children completely amazes me at times. They seem very happy, and much of that is because you’re such a great mom.
Cute pictures! Moving was always so hard on me when I was little, but I got through it with time.
By the time I was 10, I had already moved 4 times. And no, we weren’t military, my Dad is a remediation scientist. When the mess is cleaned up, move on to the next one. But everyone thought we were military. The last time we moved, I refused to unpack because we were just going to move again anyway.
I am thankful to your husband and all the men and women in the Military for their service. Thank you for telling us that April is the Month of the Military Child. I think that is a wonderful thing.
God bless your husband and family. I can’t imagine going through everything you do and moving like that. We have moved but literally down the street so it didn’t affect my kids at all
Thank you Jennifer.
Tell your husband Thank you for all he does for us! And also Thank you and your boys for allowing him too! Means a lot!
Your husband is a brave man!
Your kiddos are too cute! We have a big move coming up; thankfully, my little one is too small to really notice a difference! Good luck with everything!
Thanks Megan! All the best to you too!
We will be eventually moving in the next couple of years and I know it’s going to be hard for my daughter to understand. My husband and I have moved a few times before we had her so we’re used to it though.
My husband almost joined the Air Force before we had kids. I’m glad he chose another route. I’m sure moving around a lot is difficult for everyone!
Please tell your hubby that we appreciate his service! And I also appreciate the sacrifices of military families. It can be hard to pack up and move. I have 4 kids who are all adopted and they’ve all had lots of moving and change. We got our oldest when she was 12 (she’s now 18), our next daughter at 9 (she’ll be 16 in 2 weeks) and our twins at 7 (they’re 8 now). It’s definitely hard to move, change friends, and all that other stuff!
Thanks Lisa. The Army is in his blood and he loves it. I’m happy if he’s happy. 🙂 Sounds like you have a beautiful family. Glad you are their rock.
We have not done any moving yet. But we were about to when my hub lost his job. Luckily, we are not moving for now so change has been arverted.
I haven’t had to move with my kids yet, but I was exposed to moving a lot when little. WE called it a “new adventure”
Yes, we do too Christie! Because honestly, it truly is a new adventure. 🙂
Awww now your sons are so adorable and I love their names 😉 So unique (to me anyway). Love them! Sounds like your boys are resiliant and clever 😉 Thanks for sharing a little slice of what it’s like to be an army brat!
We’ve been in the same house since before my oldest was born, but I don’t see this as our “forever home”. I hope to move before he starts school so we don’t have to uproot him from friends and such!
Oh, goodness…..Aramis and Ezra are ADORABLE. And Aramis’ quote about your “forever home” just melts my heart. Thanks for sharing!
This post pulls at my heart strings. I’m not from a military family but did move a lot as a child and even though I now know people from different places, it didn’t make leaving any easier after getting to know new friends. The good thing is that it will teach them how to be outgoing and they’ll be the type of people that can easily walk up to a new set of classmates or neighbors and make friends. They’ll be the people at work that everyone knows, the icebreakers, the well traveled.
I truly hope hope so Mina 🙂 Thanks for your wonderful comment.
I lived in and grew up in the same house from the time I was 3 until I moved out to get married at 22. I often wonder how I’ve have handled moving, because I am not good at adjusting to new places or people. I am always so impressed by those who are able to do that, and give you huge props. Huge props to your children, too; sounds like they’re handling it like champs! I’m sure your littlest will do just fine at the new house. 🙂
They are so adorable! I think they will look back and be thankful! My husband was an army brat and had the chance to live in some amazing places!
Thanks for your husbands service!! It’s a pretty amazing thing to be a military family
We moved a lot when my dad was in the Navy. My grandfather also served, and my mom (and her siblings) have lived all over the world. My mom always tried to include us in the move to prepare us. We didn’t have a say in where we were going, but she could try to include us in some of the home decisions (even when I was almost in middle school.) It made moving to different states so much easier.
That’s a wonderful legacy of Service members Jaime 🙂 We let the boys know after it’s 100% confirmed. That’s a wonderful idea, I’ll have to let my oldest in on the home search. 🙂 Thanks Jaime!!
Adorable children!! I’m always amazed at the military lifestyle. Thank you for sharing a peek into your life.
Thank you 🙂 Thanks for reading!
What little sweeties! I never did move as a child and so far my 5-year-old nephew hasn’t either. I think it would be rough, but your guys seem to have a good way of handling it!
My granddaughter is an Army baby. Right now it doesn’t affect her much, and her daddy’s talking about getting out. But, he and his wife are also talking about having baby #2, so things could change. 😉
I grew up with mostly military families. We lived in Hawaii, surrounded by several military bases. It was difficult to loose my friends so often.
Aww I hate that Keikilani! I’ve had people tell me they don’t like to befriend Military folks b/c they leave. 🙁
Your army brats sure are cute! I’m sure the moving takes a lot of adjustments!
Thanks Erica. Yes it does.. but it’s a new adventure every time too LOL.
You’ve got some little cuties there! When I was a kid I wanted to be an army brat so bad!
Thanks Amber. I just wanted to be the new kid.. LOL
How cure are they. Nice to have a month that celebrates them as army children. Enjoy!
Your boys are so cute! I think military kids learn a lot about rolling with the changes.
Aw, so sweet. i can imagine how hard it is to move around, but I always just stayed in the same place and wanted to move!
I always wondered what it would be like to be the “New Kid” Jennifer. LOL I def get my share of that now.. LOL
Children are extremely adaptable and can make friends anywhere. We’ve only moved once since we had children and that was within the same city. We wanted to have them grow up in one place the way we both did.
We will eventually move back home after he retires. We love the idea of them growing up and graduating from the same high school too.
This is something I really needed to read right now as my husband enlisted in the Navy and we’re trying to find our way, to learn as much as possible before he leaves in September.
Ashley I’ll be writing more about being apart. My husband will be going to training in the near future and will be away for a good bit 🙁 Please send me an email if there’s anything I can help out with. info at candypo dot com. Here for you!
It is really tough to deal with moving but I think it is even tougher when we are adults compared to when we are still young. When we move from a place where we grew up, it is definitely more difficult to adjust if you have loved and cherished your home already. But personally, it is really not a big issue for me as long as the reason of moving is reasonable. 🙂
I can’t imagine moving so much, but kids are resilient and will adapt pretty quickly. I’m sure it’ll be hard at first for them, but as long as you keep the lines of communication open, they’ll be just fine.
you have very cute boys. i like Aramis’ curly cue coming down on his forehead
Thanks Melinda! He’s my curly boy. 🙂
Aww, they are the cutest brats I’ve ever seen. We have had some change and as hubby is going through the retirement process, there is much more change in the future. I think all you can do is make sure that they know that home is where Mommy and Daddy are — moving away from friends is tough but family is what matters most. It is tough, though. Stay strong Momma!
XOXO
Traci