How do you explain your military life to your children?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 10:12:36 -0500

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.  

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2013 11:55 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 11:55:53 -0500

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AivYEQ91OkHOsit0seW9dca1ZaHpxsloHDZSg-8xjTY?feat=directlink

This was my method of explaining all the moves, influential persons during my journey, milestones, and the numerous moves.

Photo by Kyle Scott

Nov 24, 2013 - A military life explained

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 13 at 2013 4:57 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 16:57:36 -0500

This is really cool. Thanks for sharing! Did you make this yourself, or did you use some application to put it together?

Response by SN Jennifer M. made Dec 7 at 2014 4:18 AM

SN Jennifer M. — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 04:18:31 -0500

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.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 8 at 2015 1:25 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 13:25:48 -0500

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.

Response by CPT Chris Newport made Mar 25 at 2016 10:08 PM

CPT Chris Newport — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 22:08:02 -0400

As an Army Brat, I just seemed to understand but if they were not born into it there will be problems.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2019 12:27 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 May 2019 12:27:13 -0400

Honestly haven't yet. The 3 year old knows that "Daddy's gone to work." But I leave for civilian life before he's up, and get home late. For military life, I often come off orders and home from the airport much after he's gone to sleep. So, just, "Daddy's at work for a while." Pretty resilient. Kinda funny though, my wife had me in her phone by my first name. So when he got on it and talked to "G-Pa, Mimi, Babu, GGMom" etc. he could now talk to me. Didn't know it was me, just someone mommy had in her phone before anyone else. When I got home, he asked my wife if he could call me. That was fun, "No, Daddy IS Adam!"
They came out to Boston, as I was on orders when promoted. Got to tour the USS Constitution; that may have been only the 3rd time he's seen me in uniform. Got to see the Chaplain's stateroom onboard, and in the days of sail the Chaplain was also a teacher. So we talked a little bit about "this is what daddy does (both civilian and military life)."
Great ideas from everyone; I'm using some for how to talk about it when the boys get older.