Month of the Military Child

It's officially April, and April is known for so many things; there's April Fools' Day, April Showers brings May flowers, and even in like a lion out like a lamb. However, did you know it is also the month of the Military Child?  Our military children deserve some extra special recognition, which is why I will be dedicating this month's blog posts to them.  

When you think of the military child, do you think of frequently moving, a parent being deployed, a strict upbringing, or any of the many other associations that come with being a military brat? What so many do not see, especially when a parent is catastrophically wounded, are the multitude of challenges these children must adapt to.

Growing up in a home with a catastrophically wounded parent is unlike any other childhood. The children of war must learn to navigate their new normal just as their parents but without the life experiences, wisdom, or even cognitive ability to do so. They must grow up much sooner than anyone would want due to the unrealistic expectations placed upon their young shoulders.

These children learn to help out around the home in ways that are traditionally reserved for the dual-parent roles. They earn a medical degree in the physical injuries of their parent, often knowing wound care, medication dosage, and equipment care. They help manage the home life and the environment outside of the home.

They know they can't simply leave toys or other childhood items lying on the floor as they create fall hazards. They look for rocks, cracks in the sidewalks, and other hazards outside the home, and they know certain places are simply off-limits to their childhood because of the inaccessibility it poses to their injured parent.

These brilliant mini caretakers even learn to navigate the minefield that comes with invisible injuries. Children of parents with hidden wounds quickly become adapted to the triggers and how to avoid them, far exceeding in their compassion to do so than their adult peers. The understanding of why their parent is the way they are is just accepted, even if they fail to truly understand, they simply accept them for who they are now.

Children of wounded veterans are growing up with a level of responsibility most adults would turn away from. Their strength, grace, and resiliency are that to be admired. They may lose a large part of their innocence and childhood growing up with a catastrophically wounded parent, but they do so with true pride and a smile on their face. They are the true unsung heroes. 

Written by a Veteran Caregiver