In our linen closet we have a box of curtains tucked away. They don’t fit the windows in our current rental, but they might fit the next one. If there is one thing we know with certainty, there will be a next one, and probably one more after that.  We aren’t just renters, we’re military renters.  And when we change rental homes, our kids don’t just change rooms. For a military child, when it’s time to change rentals there is a very slim chance it’s down the road. A change in rental usually means a change of state or country. The new rental comes with a new soccer team, a new swim coach, a new school, and hopefully, new friends.

If military renters are “flexible”, then 1.2 million military children are world class gymnasts.  During our last move we told our kids we were moving to California. Orders were in hand, it was time to prepare. As a family, we looked at pictures of our soon to be house and encouraged the kids to reconnect with friends in the area. Then, as they sometimes do, orders changed.  

We ripped the bandaid off, and started over. Our kids were disappointed, we tried to keep them focused on all the amazing things D.C had to offer. We house hunted, signed a lease and scheduled our move. This was going to be a great adventure, and the excitement had started to build.

Then, as they sometimes do, orders changed, again. As we faced an international move our kids took little interest in what was to come, because they didn’t actually believe it was coming. 

“Military kids are resilient” is what we tend to say. The truth of the matter is, military kids are incredible. The average military child will move up to nine times during their school years, three times more than the average non-military child. 

This year military children around the world faced months in hotel rooms as their parents’ military moves were halted due to COVID-19, just as they were about to depart. With their belongings already enroute to a new base, they adjusted to a new normal, yet again. Thousands more military children are waiting and preparing for the chance to say goodbye to friends before their summer moves, with completely unknown timelines.  

And after months of anticipation, and counting the days until mom or dad returned from deployment, countdowns have stalled. As if it were possible to make a deployment more stressful on a military child, a pandemic brought their parent’s return home to a standstill. All the uncertainty and anxieties the world has felt over COVID-19 has been yet another shift in the always shifting world of military children.

One third of school-age military children show behaviors of being anxious and worried. They didn’t choose to be part of the military family, but their strength, support, and sacrifices are unique contributions to our country. 

April is our chance to recognize military children. Whether you are a parent to a military child, a teacher to one, or just know one, take the opportunity to show them you notice their sacrifices. With social distancing in full effect, get creative in celebrating your military child, because they are definitely worth celebrating. Here’s a few activities to honor your military child while at home.

Schools often give children the chance to share their experiences as a military child. If your child is currently schooling at home, encourage them to write down or draw a picture sharing what being a military child means to them. If they are doing virtual learning, ask the teacher if they can share it with their class, or share it on your social media.

April 22 is Purple Up Day. Just because you are at home, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fully embrace it.  Being home may actually may give you a chance to participate even more. Why just one day? Make every Wednesday this month a purple up day. You could have a purple up pajamas day, purple pancakes, purple nail polish. Find creative ways to show how proud you are of our military children.

Encourage your military child to connect with their fellow military brats. They are part of a strong, proud military family.  Make a family tree, make each branch of the tree a place they have lived at and fill the branch with names of people who were important to them at those bases.  Take the month of April to really foster those relationships and reconnect with old friends.

Celebrate the experiences and places your military child has been by looking back, but also talk about their hopes and dreams for the future. If you have young children, this sheet is a great activity.

Remind your military child that although they are INCREDIBLE, they are never on this journey alone.  You can read and sign THIS pledge as a family, or you can write and design your very own.

The support of the family enables military members to focus on the mission. That is no small thing to ask of a child, yet they step up to the plate through deployments, moves, exercises, uncertainty, and constant change.  To military children everywhere, THANK YOU!