single mothers in the military
Thanks to Stealthbadger for pointing me towards this article in the Washington Post about single parents in today’s military: Yearning to be Whole Again. I can’t imagine what it must be like Over There for the blesh and blood we collectively lump under the faceless label of ‘the military’ or ‘our troops’ or what have you. Heaven forbid we should ever take a good look at the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, children of grieving parents that they each are.
If we think divorce is bad, consider the thousands of children whose parent(s) are suddenly called to go to war, leaving them orphaned without a funeral. And facing the very real fear that their parent might not come home…
Last week, Nishimura, in uniform, gave a presentation about Iraq to her sons’ Cub Scout pack. The boys were about to make care packages for U.S. troops, and she wanted to let them know about life as a soldier.
“I carried my M-16 wherever I went,” she told them.
T.J. listened wide-eyed.
“I had to go one whole year without seeing my kids,” she let them know. “How would you feel if you went one whole year without seeing your Mommy and Daddy?”
“Lonely,” volunteered one scout.
“I would go crazy,” another said emphatically.
T.J. spoke up without reluctance.
“I cried a lot,” he told them.
His mother was surprised by his admission, then glad.
When the boys went on to making cards for the troops, T.J. said he was reminded of all the letters he had sent her in Iraq. His own message to the war zone was simple. It read, “Come back safely!”
Come back safely, every one. And phone home as often as you can, no matter where you are. Your children need to hear from you. This goes for non-military parents, too. Just cause you can’t stand your ex, don’t not call. Get in touch with your kids. They miss you. They need you.
Tags: coping, military, separation, single-mom, single-mother, single-parentRelated Stories
POSTED IN: PSA, emotional pain, separation, stress
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