Parents Education Corner: Celebrating Military Children
Did you know that “Celebrating Military Children and Youth: Building Stronger Character and Relationships” is the theme for this year’s Month of the Military Child? Purple Up! is on April 17, and to show support for all military children, people wear purple. Many in our area are active duty, retired, veterans, or know a family that fits that description. I am the daughter of an Air Force veteran.
My sister and I are 12 months apart. Our father, an Air Force veteran, left for Vietnam when we were babies. I remember our dad when he returned, but my sister did not. Our village consisted of our grandparents, aunts, uncles, church members, and military friends. It took years for their relationship to build and grow to where it is today.
Being a daddy’s girl, I never wanted to marry a man in any type of uniform because I didn’t want to face the knock on the door, hearing that he wouldn’t be coming home to me and our family. Life is funny, though, because I married a Naval officer, and now we have four sons—four military children.
The military community and our village are truly amazing. Even more incredible is the resiliency of military children. The most challenging deployment for us was when my husband was stationed in Iraq. At the time, our eldest son was seven, our twins were 23 months old, and our youngest son was just eight months old. We needed—and greatly appreciated—the support of our local spouse club, family, neighbors, mom’s club members, and our local elementary school.
Despite all the support, our youngest son, like my sister, didn’t remember his dad and would not go to him without me nearby. It took time for their relationship to flourish into what it is today.
The impact of military life on children varies for each family member, whether immediate or distant, but it is always present. Here are some resources in Stafford County to support military families:
Marine Corps Base Quantico (Fredericksburg City Public Schools, Spotsylvania County Public Schools, and Stafford County Public Schools)
Penny Rowley
Email: Penny.rowley@usmc-mccs.org
Phone: 703.789.3458Stafford County Public Schools Division (Division-Based Military Student Support)
Sandra Osborn
Email: osbornpeterssk@staffordschools.net
Phone: 540.658.6000Virginia Department of Education (Military Student and Family Specialist)
Daniel Dunham
Email: Dan.Dunham@doe.virginia.gov
Phone: 804.923.0958
Military children deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged. I hope you will wear purple on April 17 to honor and celebrate the Military Child.
