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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

month of the military child

April is the Month of the Military Child. It is the month that we celebrate the bravest, most resilient children I know.

Here’s a few things that make my “military kids” different from other kids.

✷ One was born without her daddy here.

Sadie Caroline #1 005

✷ They yell “DADDY!!!” when a helicopter flies over.

✷ They say things like this: “Can I throw grenades and flip tires in skinny jeans?”.

✷ They have answers like this:

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✷ They move every 1-2 years.

✷ The four of them were born in three different places.

✷ Since Harper has been born, her daddy has been gone for over 25 months.

✷ They are pros at making “welcome home” signs.

✷ They can tell you what RLTW means


✷ They sleep with daddy dolls, build a bears with their daddy’s voice inside,and posters of their daddy on the wall.

✷ When you ask them what their daddy’s job is, they say “keeping us safe”.

✷ They know big words like “Afghanistan” and “deployed”.

✷ They know to say “I love you” and “I am proud of you” and “Be careful,Daddy” every chance they get.

✷ They can plan and pack a mean care package.

✷ Among Sadie’s first words was “work”. As in…where is daddy? “uk”.

✷ They have a HUGE family. Not just sisters and mommy and daddy and grandparents…they have an extended “ranger family”. Friends that are like siblings. Women who are like second mommies, who love them and admonish them gently.


✷ They make countdown paper chains several times a year.

They

are

amazing.

Brave, strong,vulnerable, honest. They shoulder more worries and fear than children should have to. I think of the fear,anxiety,and sadness that I have in my heart sometimes. Then I imagine those emotions in the body and heart of a child, and it kills me.

Here’s to the month of the military child. And to my military children. The strongest of the strong.

xo

s

Comments

  1. Beautiful Steph. I’m in tears my friend. You and your girls amaze me with your strength and togetherness. I just admire you so much.
    Bug Hugs and what a great month!

  2. Tears in my eyes as I read this.
    For your military children, and for my own little guy. His Daddy is turning in paperwork right now as his “Marine job” comes to an end due to injuries, but in my eyes “Once a Marine’s child, always a Marine’s child”. He has been through just one deployment with his Daddy (out of 4), but we all know that even when he is “home”, he’s rarely at the dinner table. My guy has seen his share of separation as well.
    Anyways, sorry to hijack, I’m swimming in a sea of emotions right now, and your post was just beautiful. God Bless you, your husband and your children.

  3. This post made me cry, too. I think about your little family and the sacrifices each of you make, and your *larger* family with thousands of sacrifices made to keep my little family safe. Bless you all!

  4. I cried too, but imagine what strong, respectable girls they are going to grow into. They’re going to be such amazing ladies, like their mum.
    xx

  5. sniffling here. Your girls are growing into amazing women because of this experience and the role model they have in their mama!

  6. Thanks for your beautiful post Stephanie. As a former military pediatrician I’ve seen my share of unbelievably brave, resilient children as well; they are truly amazing.

  8. So true. Our kids are such troopers. They understand things that I never dreamed of having to think about as a child. God Bless the military child!

  9. I have tears in my eyes reading your post. (And obviously I couldn’t see because I originally typed “ears” instead of “eyes”. Sheesh!!). Thank you to your whole family for your service to our country. And you know–your kids are so strong–and caring–because they are raised to be that way!!

  10. uh! This was simply beautiful, made me tear up. thank you for sharing this–your girls are amazing because they have a FANTASTIC role model in you!

  12. thank you for all that you and your whole family does for me and my family. i pray everynight for jimmy and your family…

  13. Please let your kids know that I truly appreciate what they do. It takes bravery and courage to go through what they go through every day. A BIG THANK YOU AND LOTS OF PRAYERS FOR THEM.

  14. Oh Stephanie,how beautiful. Thank you all for everything you do for our country. Little girls shouldn’t have to face the realities of war. I pray everyday for Jimmy’s safety & strength & peace for you.

  15. Oh my goodness. You have me in tears. We are but a few months away from our first deployment with a child and I am just so scared. Your courage and strength (and your children’s courage and strength) is beyond inspiring. Thank you.

  16. Your posts are always so touching, yes I am in tears….tears for these beautiful, strong children who endure so much. Just want to give you all a great big HUG!

  18. I think of your family so often – and have you in my prayers … you all (military families) give so much …thank you!!!

  20. This is one of those posts I was talking about Stephanie – sweet, real posts that make me want to cry for all you and your girls and all the other military families go through on a daily basis, and it makes me feel more grateful knowing the inside story. My nephew is in Afghanistan until June and he has a new wife (they just had their 1st anniversary a million miles apart) and 2 new daughters (hers and now his) and I know it is hard for them. I pray every day that God will bring them all safely home – all of them…. soon… Big hugs to you and your little sweeties!

  22. Tears in the eyes! Prayers in my heart! Wonderfully stated Thanks for sharing.

  25. I laughed about the throwing hand grenades and flipping tires in skinny jeans..then choked up about their daddy’s job being to keep them safe. You are such a strong, wonderful mother and a great inspiration. Your girls are lucky to have you.

  26. I love this post! It definitely made me teary.
    Thank you to all of our military families!!!!

  28. Tears in my eyes, love the way your write. God bless you and your family!! He is lucky to have 5 amazing and strong ladies in his life while he’s gone, your doing a GREAT JOB!!!

  29. This is so moving, and you’ve shared so many details I’d never thought about. Thank you to you, your husband, and your kids. I am grateful.

  31. Amen! from a 72 year old Army Brat to your little ones.
    Once an Army Brat, always an Army Brat. The feeling never goes away.
    When they are older, they will “know” when they run into another “Brat”.
    God bless you all.

  32. Always hated that my kids are known as “Navy Brats”. These kids are not Brats by any means. I am so thankful that they have seen this beautiful country we live in and experienced different ways of living. We are a stronger family because of the military because we hang on to each other when we settle into a new station. I am so proud of my military kids and all of those around the country. They are so special!

  33. Wow, teary eyes as I read this beautiful post. What a strong family you are. Thanks for J’s service and for yours! Your family-such blessings. Hugs and prayers sent!

  35. Although I think this is very wonderful and beautiful, lets not forget that many, many children (and families) are facing similar situations with their daddy/husband being gone. They aren’t military families. They are regular American families. Ones that are trying to survive a horrible, yucky economy. Ones that don’t have an extended family. They don’t have the support of the military or services provided to them. They are struggling. Fighting. Surviving. They are all too often forgotten, yet they are just as important as any military family. And they don’t complain or write blogs posts. Yes, your soldier is in harms way. But so are these regular men and women who are sacrificing so much each and every day…..they are hundreds and thousands of miles from “home”. They too are in harms way just to provide food & housing for their families. And let’s not forget……they have children JUST like yours.

  36. some of those things were simply heart-wrenching to hear…how hard it must be. then i thought, those are sure going to be some strong women when they grow up as i’m sure they are already strong little ladies! it’s all about turning our trials into testimonies…

  37. Thanks for your comment and your perspective Alisha. I agree with you and in no way did I ever say that there were not people worse off than us. Also, in no way am I complaining. It is the month of the military child. I have military children. Thats why I wrote this post. Thanks for stopping by today.
    Sent from my iPhone

  39. ok, you’ve got me crying again, from now on I get the tissues out before I read your posts…every word you said is true, being a military child is a tough road, but they have you, an amazing mom and lots of friends to get them through..hugs…

  41. I have to say I loved growing up an Army brat – all 13 moves and 12 schools of it! I got to see more of our country and the world by the time I graduated from high school then many see in a lifetime. I think a military childhood creates a resilience and an openness to change that those who grew up that way can cherish for a lifetime. Hope your girls will always feel that way too!

  46. I love this! My favorite is a paper my 8 year old wrote about his step-daddy with words like responsibility, dedication, perseverance, and keeping us safe…moving post xoxo

  47. what sweet, strong, and brave girls you have. thank you so much for all your family does to protect the freedoms of our country. I can’t help but think of what amazing and strong women your chickies will grow to be!!!!

  48. I. Love. This. Post. Thank you for sharing. Those precious girls have such an excellent example in you.

  50. Lew says THIS is the reason our kids turned out to be ‘f’ ing awesome people. BRATS are special (and only WE can call them BRATS).
    He teared up, that brave, bold, military man of mine, reading this.

  51. Wow. What a powerful, emotional post. Your daughters are learning so much from you about what supporting someone you love looks like. Keep up the good work!

  55. Wow, AMAZING post that will hit home for any military family. Thanks for reminding us to remember not just what we carry around in our hearts but what crazy changes our children deal with every couple of years. A very touching post indeed!

  56. Steph, Thanks for posting this.
    As a “military brat,” I lived the life your girls are living and it’s so very hard to have a parent who’s away so much, to move so often (21 times before I was 16!) and to never really feel “at home” anywhere.
    What I can tell you is that it makes one a very resilient woman, someone who makes friends easily (and quickly), who doesn’t wast time because time is always of the essence, and who can adapt to most any situation with ease and grace.
    My dad did three tours in Vietnam and was gone for more of my childhood than he was home. Thankfully, he made it home safe and sound every time…and I’m still his girl after all these years. This year he turned 75 and I couldn’t be more proud of all he has done for his country…and for me.