Military Child Woes
(November 7, 2010) |
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Bryson Couch, 2-year-old son of a Fightertown
Marine, looks at a photo of his father while sitting at home, Oct. 13,
2010. |
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. --
Service members sacrifice time with their
families to endure frequent moves, various
deployments and long separations to ensure
America remains safe, but the military child
also sacrifices for their country.
Military children grow up without seeing their
mother or father during some of the most crucial
years of their life. They have to go through
moving every so many years and breaking off
young relationships with others.
“It can be kind of exciting to move and meet new
friends,” said Jakob Knight, the 9-year-old son
of a Fightertown Marine. “But at the same time
it is hard to get used to the new school rules
and changes.”
Sometimes it is hard for children to understand
why their parents are away. The Air Station's
Marine Corps Family Team Building offers various
programs to help military children understand
why their parents have to do what they do and
how to fit in the military community.
“It is tough being a military child because
sometimes [military parents] go away on ships
and you don't get to see them,” said Elizabeth
Knight, the 7-year-old daughter of a Fightertown
Marine who was born while her father was
deployed and has since experienced two more
deployments. “Even though my dad is away a lot,
I'm still proud and understand why he has to be
gone.”
Sometimes families have to get creative while
they are separated to keep in contact, said
Nicole Bright-Hardee, an Air Station |
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readiness and deployment support trainer. |
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“We are bit of a cheesy family,” admitted Erin Knight, wife
of a Fightertown Marine. “While my husband is away he writes
stories for our children and leaves spaces for them to draw
in the pictures, we mark where he's at on the map and
sometimes he would even keep in contact with our children
while he was away through kid programs on the internet.”
No matter how creative a family is, nothing will make up for
the missing parent, according to Bright-Hardee. Families
should make an effort to stick together and stay connected
with them so it is not as complicated to connect when they
return.
“When my dad comes back I feel like I don't know him because
I get used to him being away,” Elizabeth said. “I am usually
shy at first when he comes back home, but I get used to him
being back.”
Children who live on base or are around other military
children are able to fit in more because they know what each
other experience.
“My children's friends think of it as normal that their
father is away for long periods of time because their family
goes through the same thing,” Erin said.
Some children act up or express their feelings negatively.
The Marine Corps Family Team Building offers various
programs that allow military children to express those
feelings positively through making crafts for their deployed
parent, networking with other children and channeling their
emotions in a healthy manner.
“Our resources (that MCFTB offers) are only beneficial if
families choose to take them,” Bright-Hardee said. “Our goal
is to help our children thrive in this military community
and give them hope.” |
Article and photo by USMC LCpl. Courtney White
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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