It's a life that not many people get to experience. A life that has its highs and lows, hardships, and benefits. Coming from personal experience, I know that growing up with a parent in the military has helped me become the person I am today.
Here are 15 signs that you grew up in the military world.
1. You're not "from" anywhere.
Whenever people ask where you grew up, there's never really an answer. Is Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania or Germany the place you call home? You don't entirely know.
2. The sound of duct tape makes you cringe.
Every summer a crew of people invade your house with loads of cardboard boxes and rolls of the ever-so-annoying duct tape to seal your belongings with. For hours, days even, all you can hear is the echoing, peeling and snapping -- it get's old after the first move.
3. You roll your eyes when a friend complains about their mom or dad leaving for two weeks.
A business trip to New York? Please. It isn't easy to be away from family for everyone, but you say, "Try a deployment to Afghanistan for a year and then get back to me."
4. Going to one school bores you.
It always sucks leaving the school you had so much fun at. But then you realize that you've already done it three other times. What's going to one more school going to do?
5. Moving stickers.
No matter how many times you peel them off, you still find these bad boys all over your house -- and you will for years.
6. "Do you offer a military discount?"
You can't leave any store without asking the golden question.
7. You're a fan of five different professional sports franchises.
Because you lived all over the country, you love different teams from different states. Hockey, football, and basketball? Easy: Penguins, Packers, Bulls. People don't understand it at first, but you don't care.
8. Goodbyes are the norm.
They're never fun or easy, but you're used to it. While you have to say goodbye and move, you still keep in touch will the friends you made two moves ago.
9. "Your mom/dad is so intimidating."
You know that it's just the uniform, and that secretly he or she isn't.
10. Homecoming has two meanings.
Sure, the dance is something you always look forward to in high school, but it's the homecoming of your parent that means the most.
11. Adulthood starts when you're 10.
Not really, but you do get your military ID, which is pretty freakin' cool at the time.
12. The commissary is heaven to you.
Second week of the month? You know mom is going to the commissary and coming back with all of the goods.
13. Always being the "new kid."
The first day of school is something that always excites you because you're used to change. You're the new face, name and talk of your class. People swarm you with questions and are blown away when you tell them all the places you've lived.
14. You naturally stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance before a movie.
Those movie theaters on base taught you to always show respect to the flag.
15. The idea of growing up any different doesn't cross your mind.
It has its ups and downs, growing up with a parent in the military. But the experiences, lessons and relationships you made along the way makes it worth it.
