2024/Mia-

Growing up as a military child, I can't say that I've enjoyed every second of it but I can say that it's been an experience that I can appreciate. While it's definitely had its ups and downs, part of being a military child is learning to adapt to everything thrown at us, such as having to move and make new friends, dealing with deployments, and the late work nights our parents may have. Being a military child has taught me many lessons, and I'm glad to have been a military child, even with the difficulties that accompany it.

Keeping house items down to a minimum to ensure everything can be packed up and ready to move is something my parents have done for as long as I can remember. Being ready to get orders and trying to make the best of the situation, saying goodbye to friends, and feeling the terror of moving to a foreign place are all things I've grown used to, and things I once hated. As a child, I hated being told we had to move again because it filled me with sadness, knowing I would probably never see my friends again, and would never see the places I had grown so used to seeing on a daily basis. But as I grew older, I found myself enjoying the move and learning to adapt to new environments and schools, learning how to talk to new people and make friends. Starting over doesn't have to be a bad thing, and moving around allows for a fresh start every few years and teaches one to be positive even during tough times.

Another difficult thing about being a military child is dealing with deployments. My father has deployed a grand total of 12 times, sometimes up to a year at a time. Having to go about daily life without my dad was difficult and sad for me, but even more so for my mother, who had to take care of both me and my sister at very young ages. I can only imagine how much stress and worry she had, but my mother always stayed strong for both me and my sister, never wavering and succumbing to the stress of having to keep the household running, working, and taking care of the house. As a child, I did my best to help my mom out by attempting to clean and cook, and because of that I now am great at household chores. That way I can still help my mother out. While the times without my father were tough, my mother and I did our best to stay positive and await his return from wherever he was stationed. I'm grateful for my mother, who was always there for me when my dad wasn't and grateful for the skills I gained while my father was gone, and incredi;y grateful for the positive outlook that I gained from his leaving, something I'm not sure I would have had if he hadn't left.

Being a military child is not for the weak, it takes adjustment and a positive attitude to take whatever is given to you and make the best of any situation. It hasn't always been easy, but I'm grateful for the experience of being a military child and all the things I've learned from being one. If I wasn't a military child, I’m sure I would be a very different person today.