April is Month of the Military Child. Did you know there about 1.6 million children that have a parent or caregiver in the United States Armed Forces? It's important to realize the amount of military youth in our schools, neighborhoods, and communities here. As residents of Oceanside we have one of the Marine Corps’ largest bases, Camp Pendleton, as a neighbor. There are also various Naval Commands throughout San Diego county. While the military lifestyle can be challenging, the support of friends and neighbors can be a lifeline for many military kids. So this month, let's support the military youth of Oceanside, San Diego County and Nationwide.
How can you support the military children in your life?
- Be a friend. Military kids move every 2 to 3 years on average. Being the new kid in school is hard. Make the investment to say hello and be a friend. It means a lot. Our milkid daughter has moved 4 times both cross-country and internationally by her 9th birthday!
- Wear purple on April 15th. Day of the Military Child is recognized as "Purple Up Day" is celebrated annually on April 15th. Purple is the color used to represent military youth because it’s the blend of the United States military's Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force branch colors together. Along with purple, the dandelion is the flower for military children. Like a dandelion, the military child can grow and thrive in any environment, as military life carries him/her around the nation and globe.
- Recognize the sacrifice. Trainings, travel and deployment make for a lot of separation from Dad or Mom. Simple acts of saying thank you or giving words of encouragement can make the world a difference to military kids and their caregivers.
 Image credit: Department of Defense, Military OneSource for Month of the Military Child |
Are you a caregiver navigating military life?
There are a variety of resources available for military families. They include:
- The Department of Defense has a dedicated site for military children.
- Sesame Street has a great program for children, especially those from 2 to 7 years old. There are videos, games and parent resources to help navigate military life during deployments and transitions.
- Military OneSource has a variety of resources and programming for military families. There is free counseling available as well.
These are some of our favorite books to share with you, as we read these many times during deployments:
- When You are Away by Dominique James Ed.D. One of our family favorites about two little brothers with Dad deployed. Find the book reading here by USO Rota.
- Lily hates Goodbyes by Jerilyn Marler. This book discusses emotions around Lily’s fathers absence. There are two editions of this book; one is specifically for those with U.S. Navy affiliation. Click on the book link to find resources for parents as well. Find the book reading here.
- Boo Boo Bear Mission: The True Story of Teddy Bear's Adventures in Iraq by Mary Linda Sather. We love this book because the illustration is all artwork by military kids! Find the book reading here.
- Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut. A sweet story of a Dad and son who toss the moon back and forth each night. Find the book reading here.
Publishers Note: I hope that these resources help you navigate military life. We've has been a military family for over 20 years now. When I was pregnant with my daughter and getting ready for an overseas move, I asked a coworker how she handled military life as she was a seasoned military spouse. What was her tip for handled the frequent moves with her two young daughters? Her wisdom imparted to me was that she treated each move as adventure. She printed a map and they would plan out areas to explore in their new neighborhood and city. With your local edition of Macaroni KID you can find cool things to do, fun playgrounds and family-friendly events across the U.S. While military life isn't easy, it's also a grand adventure full of friends, new places to explore and interesting experiences. I wish you the best in the journey and thank you for supporting our military children.
