Month of the Military Child
April is the DoD’s Month of the Military Child. Most people probably don’t even know (or care) anything about it. But, I want to take this time to send a special note to my military children. As a military child myself, I know the sacrifices that military children make throughout their lives. As a father during a time of war, I can only imagine the thoughts that go through my kids’ minds each day I walk out that door for an extended period of time.
When I got back from Iraq, leaving for more than a day was a tear-inducing event. I remember my kids asking if I was going back to the war. I would always convince them that I would not be gone long. I was not going to “fight the bad guys again.”
I work a long day, leaving the house around 0530 in the morning and usually not getting home again until after 1800 one a good day. It is a rare weekend that I do not have to answer a phone call, respond to an email, or go even go into the office for an hour or two (or four).
My greatest fear is letting them down as a father as I do my duty as a Soldier. I’m a self-acknowledged perfectionist and when I think I haven’t done something right at work, I’m like a psycho-worker until I fix it. But, I love my kids more than anything in the world and would leave the Army in a minute if I thought my service was negatively affecting them. I love my country, but I love my family more. So, to my kids:
I love you so much. I appreciate everything that you do while I’m gone. I love watching how excited you get when I come home from a long trip. I love telling you all about the many different places I’ve been and hope to one day take you to many of them. I feel fulfilled knowing that you have everything you need and that, while I’m gone, you are safe and taken care of.
Your life is harder than most kids have to worry about. I apologize that I cannot spend as much time with you as I’d like. I know that I come home very stressed out much of the time, but seeing your smiling faces reverses those feelings (until you start fighting – then I get stressed again!). From the bottom of my heart, I love you. Thank you for chosing me to be your father!
