As the daughter of a Lieutenant Colonel, I know what it means to be an Army brat. Growing up in Europe, traveling to over 20 different countries and meeting some of my very best friends has taught me to always treasure my childhood. This weekend, I was texting one of my best friends from sixth grade about the little things that kids experience and know to be true while living with a military parent. Sara and I met in Belgium when our dads both worked at SHAPE military base and have been BFFs ever since, and together we came up with a pretty solid list of things all military kids relate to:
1. The hesitation in your voice after someone asks you where you're from.
Well, do you mean where I was born or where I grew up? Or maybe where I just moved from? Where I just moved to? I lived in this place the longest, but I liked living in that place more. Should I just tell you where my parents are from? I'm sorry, I guess I'm not really sure I understand the question.
2. Maybe that's why you will never get how people can grow up and live in the same town surrounded by the same people their whole lives.
At first, you might be a little jealous that your new neighbors have all known each other since they were in kindergarten. But then again, you grew up right down the road from a medieval European castle, so.
3. The way your heart breaks every time you have to leave your new best friends.
You just started to feel like you were fitting in. Honestly, it doesn't get much easier with time, either.
4. But now you have a best friend to call, no matter the time zone.
You'll cherish those friends for the rest of your life. No one gets a military brat like another military brat. It's a bond that will never be broken, no matter the number of seas between you.
5. The way you adopt your friend's families as your own because yours aren't anywhere close.
You have an entire non-blood-related family that you treat like your very own. Those are the friends you still love eight years and six moves later (*cough cough* Sara *cough*).
6. Those family arguments over which international city you want to visit during your next vacation
Mom might want to go take up the Polish pottery tours in Poland, but you and your sister will always vote the Spanish beaches.
7. Not wanting to feel snobby when you talk about all the places you've visited (which is super hard because you've seen some pretty amazing stuff).
Well, I could just say DC but honestly, Ireland was my favorite vacation. But I did really enjoy London and our weekend trip to Prague. Oh, wait! Nevermind I think Athens, Greece might be towards the top of my list. But then again Dubai was fantabulous, so get back to me on that.
8. The shock and confusion you felt when you went to your first off-base movie theater and they didn't play the Star Spangled Banner before the trailers.
Wait, that's a thing? It just doesn't feel right.
9. Your love/hate relationship with AFN.
To this very day, I will never ride a motorcycle without wearing the proper gear or even think about chewing tobacco. I will never shake my baby and will always be on the lookout for signs of identity theft. And thank you, Hercules, for explaining the importance of having a power of attorney. Honestly, what would we do without those commercials?
10. The nod of approval when your favorite stores give military discounts
Respect, that's what I'm talking about. Heck yes, I'll take that 10 percent discount!
11. And the judgmental look you give the cashier when they say they DON'T offer military discounts.
Get your life together, Target.
12. It's fine, you'll just wait for the next time your mom takes a trip to the commissary so you can run in the PX and buy what you need.
Tax-free, baby. But don't get sidetracked in the Power Zone or your mom might have to come inside and find you. She has frozen stuff in the trunk; you better hurry up!
13. The eye roll you try to hold back when your friends complain about their dad's weekend business trips away.
Three days? Try twelve months.
14. Celebrating Thanksgiving or Christmas two weeks early because that's when your dad will be home for R&R.
But hey, who cares when you celebrate because your daddy's home and you couldn't be happier?
15. You actually have little to no idea what your dad does at work.
My dad's in the Army, what other kind of explanation do you need? I'm kidding, I honestly have no clue what he does but I know it's definitely the coolest job in the world.
16. You definitely tear up a little each time someone thanks your dad for his service.
Ugh, you're so stinkin' proud you just want to hug him right then and there.
17. Knowing no matter where the Army takes you, as long as you're with your family, you are home.
You've been through a lot together, and honestly, you couldn't imagine going on these military-kid-adventures with anyone else by your side.
Sara and I on a Christmas vacation to the Alps back in 2010.
Then reunited after what felt like forever in the summer of 2015! Friendships like these are ones to be cherished.
