Posted on Nov 24, 2013
How do you explain your military life to your children?
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For that matter what have you found to be the most effective way of explaining this turbulent life to your non-military family and friends? I can remember as military brat trying to piece together the life stories of my mother and father. It was a challenge and more than a little confusing.
Family
Children
Friends
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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As an Army Brat, I just seemed to understand but if they were not born into it there will be problems.
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I'm a Grandpa now. Most of what I did is long time ago and has already been declassified. My Children always knew I was a Navy Spook. They just know now that I can go into great detail. I have books in my Home Library from most everything I did that has been written about. Probably the Only Surprise was that they found out recently that while in London I was handling the Messages for Iran-Contra and in 91 and 96 when most my ribbons and medals say I was in Desert Storm and Desert Strike I was actually much closer to Iran than I was to Iraq.
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Ok so my son was a baby when I was AD, but my husband is currently AD (Army- CW2). He has gone TDY a million times this year since we move to Germany. Poor guy. The kids... poor kids... certainly miss their dad. They don't know what he does either. He is in transportation. It has been hard on the kids this TDY since he is gone for over a month. My kids have really started asking for him. The boys ( 8 & 4) understand that he goes away, but my daughter (3) doesn't understand. I just have to get their minds off of it. We go to Christmas markets, shopping and mini trips here and there.
My oldest knows I was in the Navy, but he doesn't know what I did. He was born while I was in the Navy. I was undesignated when I sep'd out. I personally wish I would have stayed in. I pick up BM3 after I got out. I was disappointed about that. It has taken me a hot minute to get my bachelors, but I am graduating this week! Before I met my husband i wanted to go back in to the Navy as an officer, but my husband said it would be too difficult (I was married mil to mil before). I agreed.
When the kids get older I am sure they will understand more, but it is hard for the both of us (hubby and I). I have to explain to the kids why he is gone and why he is not here and my husband is missing what is going on in their life. I am so happy for Skype. It helps significantly.
My oldest knows I was in the Navy, but he doesn't know what I did. He was born while I was in the Navy. I was undesignated when I sep'd out. I personally wish I would have stayed in. I pick up BM3 after I got out. I was disappointed about that. It has taken me a hot minute to get my bachelors, but I am graduating this week! Before I met my husband i wanted to go back in to the Navy as an officer, but my husband said it would be too difficult (I was married mil to mil before). I agreed.
When the kids get older I am sure they will understand more, but it is hard for the both of us (hubby and I). I have to explain to the kids why he is gone and why he is not here and my husband is missing what is going on in their life. I am so happy for Skype. It helps significantly.
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