Growing up is hard. You have to learn both how to be your own person and how to function in a community around other people. Everyone finds their way to adulthood differently. Growing up as a child of someone in the Air Force, or any one of the military branches, you experienced your childhood world in a different way than those who grew up civilian.
1. What is a hometown?
"Where are you from?" is quite possibly one of the most perplexing questions you will ever find yourself confronted with and, unfortunately, it is also one of the most common ice breakers. Are you asking where I was born? Where I spent the most time living? Where I live right now? I'm going to need to ask you to be specific.
2. You know what coffee is, but not exactly what a "coffee" is.
Sometimes your non-military parent goes to these mysterious gatherings with other military spouses. No one knows for sure what goes on in these meetings.
3. You need to know how to make friends.
This is one of the worst parts of moving. For an introverted person, no matter how many times you move to a new town and have to make new friends, this process never gets easier.
4. Getting your first military ID was one of the most exciting memories of your childhood.
Getting that ID meant having something other than play money to put in your wallet. You couldn't wait for the next time you entered the base, only to find out that they didn't even check your ID!
5. Military discounts are a blessing.
After you've entered the age of independence (A.k.a. your parents wouldn't buy you things anymore), this nifty little card is always there to help out your financial endeavors, where accepted.
6. Everyone goes to the same church, but no one is of the same faith denomination.
The base chapel was a one-size-fits-all facility and you probably didn't see your first one-faith church until after your military parent retired.
7. Visiting your parent at work made you feel like you were allowed in on top secret business.
In reality, though, this was just a glorified babysitting session, which usually meant you got some M&Ms from the vending machine.
8. Potlucks made everything better.
Church gathering? Potluck. Squadron party? Potluck. Family picnic? Potluck. You just can't beat good old fashioned, free homemade food.
9. Moving was an adventure!
Okay, playing with the empty boxes while everyone else was doing all the work was an adventure. When moving day actually came, however.
10. Moving made you an emotional train wreck.
This was it. You really had to say goodbye to your old house and all of your friends you'd made since the last move. The worst part of it all? You knew this same thing was going to happen at the next place you lived.
11. Adjusting to civilian life after retirement is just weird.
Are you talking about normal-people things? Do you know what normal-people things are? What is this sense of hometown pride? How have these people had the same best friend since they were four years old?
12. You wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
You may not have gotten to live anywhere outside of the continental U.S., or you may have been all over the world. However, what you have learned and experienced during your time as a military brat, whether it be about respect, order or life in general, will inform and continue to influence your life for years to come.
