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Submissions for Month of the Military Child by Ms. Bauman’s 5th graders.
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Being a military child is hard at first. You have to move, but that is fun. I think making new friends is hard. You miss your old friends, but you still have to go through it. I’ve been a military kid for 11 years. I’ve been to England, North Carolina, and Japan. It’s really not that bad being a military kid. You go to different places and meet new friends, and my favorite place is England. Then I moved in the middle of third grade then we moved to North Carolina. I like it there. Everyone loves to do TikTok dances. It was funny but I loved it. Then I moved at the end of fourth grade. We moved to Japan where I am now. I like it here and I was born here. I used to go to this school in PreK so I know a little bit about it but Japan is really fun the food here is good like really good. That’s how it feels to be a military kid you move a lot of times and make new friends.
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Life as a military child is normal to me. I’ve been a military child ever since I was born. I’ve lived in Virginia, California, Alaska, South Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan. It’s hard to leave friends behind because you know you most likely will not see them again. It’s also hard when your dad (because that’s my parent in the military) goes on deployment. I didn’t see my dad (in person) for 6 months! He was even gone on Christmas. It was the worst / best Christmas ever. It was the best because we (my sister and I) got the most presents we ever got. I think it was about 30 or more presents.
I think that if I weren’t a military child I would be bored every day, in the same house every day. With the same school every day. With the same people every day. I think that would be really boring. Anyway, when you hate somewhere and you want to move, well you will in 3 years. Love somewhere and don’t want to move, well too bad! The military has its ups and downs but I still don’t mind being a military child. I think it’s ok.
And now a short poem
Roses are red, violets are blue.
I think being a military child is fun.
Do you?
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Dear other military child,
Being a military child is hard. Almost all of it is bad. But there is some hope. I know moving is hard. I myself have moved many places. Left many friends behind. But there is a light in the darkness that took me some time to find. Being a military child is hard. I get it and I think all military children know that too. A couple of years ago I left a good friend to move to Tokyo. I left good friends in Tokyo to come here. We will go through hardships, and you have to be brave enough to go through those hardships. For instance, my dad is deployed as you read this and even when he is here, he leaves for work at 4:00Am and comes home around 10:00/11:00Pm, but I use every moment we have to use it to its best use. And when he’s gone, I have my family such as my brothers and my mom. Another perk is that you move all around the world. I have lived in many, many, many places. In all, being a military child is sometimes hard. But when you have all of your friends and family, it can make the experience the best just to have fun with family and friends!
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When I was born my dad was already in the military, I was born in Texas and spent most of my life there. We transferred from Texas to Maryland. At first, we lived in an apartment then we moved into a bigger house that had a porch that my sister and I liked to go under sometimes.
I moved from Maryland to Okinawa. I transferred over to Japanese school, there were two English speaking kids in my class who would translate for me. After a few years in Okinawa, I moved to Sicily and transferred back to homeschooling again. Then, I went to Sigonella Elementary. I moved back to Okinawa and now I go to Kadena Elementary school.
One thing I like about Okinawa is the food. I also like how nice the people are here. I also like hanging out with my friends. One last thing I like is living on base. I like it because I’m close to my friends and I can walk to Family Mart from there. That is why I love being a military child.
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My life as a military child was sad and exciting. I mean I love being a military child but, it’s not the best. There are a couple things I like about it. One of the things I like about it is that me and my family get the opportunity to move from one place to another. Also, when we move there are always new places to go and new stuff to try. I also like being a military child because there are schools and within those schools I make new friends.
My life as a military child also has disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is moving. I hate moving. Two, I’m LEAVING friends I’ve known for a very long time. Three, I lived in Florida with my uncle, aunties, and cousins. And when I live with family and be a military child at the same time there’s only one result that happens. One, my parents tell me we’re moving and that we have to pack up our stuff. Two, we have to say “goodbye” which makes me really sad. And three, when we get to the airport and leave, I feel really depressed.
These are the reasons why I try to live my best life when I live somewhere. This is also why I try to make friends everywhere I go. As a military child I know I won’t live somewhere forever, so I try to do the best I can anywhere.
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Dear Reader,
I am writing to you about being a Military child. A Military child is a child who has parents/a parent working in the military. Pretty simple, am I right? There is a lot more to it than you think, so why don’t I tell you about some of it.
My name is Carmen, writing to you as a military child. Being a Military child means you have to take big steps in your life. For example, I used to live in Florida, it was the best with all of my great friends. Until the day my parents told us we were moving. I was young at the time so I didn’t understand until it actually happened, you know? Another example is having your mom/dad go on many trips, like one summer, my dad left for the whole May. It was very sad, and my mom cried a lot without him. So did I, though. But the bright side is that we can go on fun, fun trips! For example, we get to visit cousins, grandparents, and even places like Australia, Hawaii, Disney, Universal, and other places around the globe, too! We can also live on base with cool places like the BX (Base Exchange). All of this happens because my dad is in the military, isn’t that cool? I hope you find my letter helpful for the future somehow.
Your military child friend,
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My life has been good as a military child because throughout the years. I have been able to play baseball, which I really enjoy the opportunities that I have been given from my family. I have also enjoyed being a military child because throughout the years I have been able to cherish all of the moments and important exciting things that have happened as a military child. travel to different places not all people get to go to because they are usually places out of America, so I do not have to stay just in the USA my whole life. Sometimes being a military child can be hard because every time that I move I am shy and nervous, and kind of hard to make new friends because sometimes I move so quick that I barely get to spend time with my friends that were hard to make, and when you’re a military child that just keeps happening all so quick. I like being a military child because if I had not moved here, I would never have met all my friends and be on the baseball team that I’m on. That is special to me and a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to excel in baseball and be able to have a longer career playing baseball. I have also liked being a military child because recently I have learned that from being a military child that I must make it worth it at every single moment today.
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I move every 3 years, unless they ask us if we want to stay longer. I love moving sometimes. The reason why I like moving is because I love seeing all new places. It is so cool. The other reason why I like moving is because I make new friends along the way. I have lots of friends, but I have to move so I have their phone number, so I don’t forget them. I love moving with my family. Sometimes the babies cry on the plane. It is not fun having them cry.
I don’t like planes, so I try to get some sleep on the plane. Sometimes I do not like moving. I do not like moving because I have to say bye to all of my best friends and just my friends. It is not that fun to say bye to my best friends. When I move it is fun and not fun. When I move, I get to make new friends and more friends. My family lives where I used to live. It was very hard to say goodbye. Two of my aunts came to take me to my plane and that was my last time seeing them until they visit me or I visit them or I move to them. I have a lot of new friends now.
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You meet lots of people in your life, friends and family but later you have to go somewhere new because your parents are going to be stationed there. I am in Okinawa right now. But when you do get to the station and you don’t want to go, no worries because you will meet more friends and family and learn a new language. And your parents might get moved for a while if you stay with your mom or dad. Then the other parent will come back later. For me to take things off my mind I like to do these things. I like to play basketball or video games like Fortnite or 2k26. And once you get used to being stationed it will be easier to go to the place you are in then you will feel normal and you will be used to things around you and if your friends come to you then you can show them around. I am always traveling the world and have met all kinds of people. People say being a Military child is hard, but it is not because you have people that love and take care of you so never forget you are you and be amazing and make tons of friends right where you are right now.
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My life as a military child is kind of hard. I say that because I have to move every 3-4 years. It’s hard to hang on to friends because I move constantly. Even though I have amazing friends now I fear it won’t last for long. I want to have a life somewhere I can live forever instead of moving. I also want to be able to have friends to hang on to for long instead of having to make new friends everywhere I move. I mean yeah, it does seem nice to make new friends and move to different places but I don’t want to move constantly.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to have a real culture because I move so often. I mean I’m kind of glad we moved because I wouldn’t have met my friends now. But I want a real culture. I don’t want to be nothing. I don’t want to be a military child because there is nothing to do and I never got to grow up anywhere or stay somewhere for at least 3 years. Sure, I have a cool ethnicity and good life as a military child but I want something more.
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I couldn’t compare an American childhood to mine. I have lived in Okinawa since I was a baby. I went to this school 1st through 5th grade. If you didn’t know that is something special in my eyes, especially only one other person in this grade has done that. Moving back, I went to kindergarten until I was 7. There I met a best FRIEND!!! After second grade I lost my besto friend to PCS’ing. Anyway I went into the summer and made a Best FRIEND! We went into third grade, and this was a big jump for me. I went upstairs! Hear me out, my school has 2 floors, the first one has the lower grade classes. Second floor has upper grade classes. I was there twice a week, so being up there was awesome. Moving on to fourth grade me and my best friend added two people to the friend group! We had a lot of fun until fifth grade. Fifth grade is very awesome, but it is not the problem. Usually when I go to the next grade in elementary only around 3-5 people leave. Now people will not only PCS, but also go to different schools. Two friends are PCSing. Other friends are going to different schools. Leaving me with one. I still do think I will have a fun time at middle school!
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My life as a military child is well, complicated and that is how it will stay until my dad retires from the Air Force. When I was a few years old my Dad joined the Air Force. When I was old enough my dad told me that my Grandpa was a tank driver in his younger years. When I heard that I was thinking this was going to be fun. Then after a long time in Texas, we moved, it was shocking. I wanted to stay in Texas for a lot of reasons. The first is that we had a house all to ourselves and it was the nicest house ever. The second reason is that in Texas we had this fun water park called Sea World. The next reason is that there was a Walmart, the best super store there ever was. It was packed with everything you could need from toys to every Halloween costume you could ever wish for. Then after about 1,000,000,000,000 plane trips we landed in Okinawa in the time that in Texas it would have been bedtime but instead it was broad daylight. I have had lots of sad and happy memories in Okinawa but the happy outnumber the sad ones by 1,000,000,000,000. That is why my life as a military child is complicated.
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I remember when I was laying on my bed, saying good night to my dad in Spain, deployed, when I was little. Sometimes my mom would call him when my dad wasn’t busy. When he got back, he was in a big box wrapped up. When me and my siblings walked towards the box my dad popped out of it. Later when I was living in Washington, we moved back to North Carolina. There, in North Carolina, we had family, friends, and a pet. A few months after our dog passed away, we had to leave our families and friends to move to Okinawa, Japan. I was very sad. I remember making a time capsule with my cousins before we left. When we arrived at Okinawa I was scared. But I had cousins that live here too. When school started, I went to the same school with one of my cousins. I had to start a new life with new friends, new school, and cousins I didn’t remember. I slowly made my way of getting used to Okinawa. I have sleepovers with my cousins that I am now really close to now. But she will have to leave soon. As a military child I know that life is kinda like building blocks. You build up a new life at a new place all for it just to fall down again and start building again and again.
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I have been a Military child since I was born. The reason why I’m a Military child is because my dad is in the Air Force. He has been in the Air Force for 13 years. When I was about 3 years old my dad went on a trip to work there from October - March. And it was a lot of work for my dad.
When I was growing up, I realized that being a military child was hard. It is because you have to move a lot and make new friends and leave your old friends that helped you during your hard life and hard times. It’s hard to leave your friends and start a new life. And one more thing try to make new memories and forget the hurtful memories and start a new life.
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My life being a military child is good because in Okinawa I get to try lots of things like food, go to the beach play with my friends, hang out. I get to do lots of things. Me and my family have fun together too. We get ramen, we get sushi, we even go to the beach together, and I saw a sea snake. Why I like being a military child is because I can travel. I moved here from Nevada and it was a desert there it was not that green like here in Okinawa. When I got here it was
scary but then I faced my fears. I like being a military child because I get to make new friends, meet new people and have fun. My family has been here for three months and it is already getting exciting. I love this place already.
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Every time when I move on to new unit it feels like I keep going on as a military child and it’s hard to go on but I have to learn and learn. Every time I move out of the country, I feel sad because I lost my friends so I have to get new friends, but that’s hard for me so when I go to a new school try to get new friends but the important thing is school.
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Life as a military child has many challenges. One is that sometimes friends move away. Another is moving away from friends. But there are also benefits. Like moving to cool new places. Also sometimes meeting old friends or learning different languages.
I have many reasons why I like being a military child and not being a military child. Like how I hate moving away from friends and friends moving away. But I like traveling to places to meet new people, new cultures, and new places. Another thing that I hate about being a military child are the flights. One reason is that you have to wait for a long time most of the time and two usually the leg room is small. A third reason is that when you go higher in the air your ears start to hurt and usually you will only be able to pop one of your ears. But the pain is always worth it.
There are also many better things in Okinawa like having a convenience store almost everywhere you look besides on military bases. Another thing is that there are many nice resorts, restaurants, and beaches. A third reason is that stuff is cheaper than in America like most food, snacks, and toys. This is what life is like as a military child in Okinawa.
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Being a military child is not that different from a normal child. You do normal stuff and so on. But one thing about being a military child is moving. I absolutely hate moving and I’ll tell you that I have lived in a lot of different places. I left too many friends and it’s getting old. Like I make friends I live there for a couple of years happily and all of a sudden, you get news that you’re moving and you’re completely shocked! I was so sad I had to tell all my friends this! So that’s one negative about being a military child. But let’s talk positively. So, one good thing about being a military child is that you get to go on base, see military stuff and yeah. Also, you can tell your friends “Oh my dad is in the military isn’t that so cool.” But I don’t like to brag. Also being a military child is super fun. When I go into my dad’s office (at home) you can just watch him do everything. If your moms in the military, that’s cool too. But I’m not complaining that I’m a military child. I’m actually very grateful, and you should be too.
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My life as a military child is great and awesome. Even though it’s great I still miss my family back home. For example, I used to live in Orlando, Florida. There I have my nana and papa. Also in the states, I have my aunt. Also, I have friends that live in the states.
The good thing about living here is that Okinawa is warm and they have fun activities to do! The bad thing about living in Okinawa is that it gets really hot during the summer. In Orlando it gets really hot but a lot of kids there sell lemonade outside so when I’m thirsty, I can grab some coins and get some lemonade from outside.
Being a military child is awesome because I get to see my dad every day and ask him what important things he did today. Even though being a military child is awesome, I still miss everything that I have back in the states. The most favorite place I miss there is trampoline parks and arcades.
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Is being a military child hard, well sure, yes. But there are good things about it too. People say being a military child is bad because you leave your home and friends, or close family members. But if you just think about the bad stuff, you can’t enjoy the fun part about being a military child. Sure, it’s pretty bad to lose your home and friends, or close family members. But just think how many states, cities, or countries you went to. It’s not that hard for me. Because if I think about my friends and family members, I will not enjoy the fun part. I don’t care about that because I love traveling. I love being a military child because I get to travel and explore different countries. I love everything about it. I like to stay a military kid and not stay in the same place forever. My dad is in the Marines and I love how every 3 to 4 years I move. Soon my dad will retire and I will miss the fun parts of being a military kid. But I will always have fun memories of the nice places in the world.
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My life as a military child has been hard, but going to new places for me is exciting. I also get to meet new friends and learn new cultures. Also, I get to try new foods to see if I like it. I get to learn new languages, and most people in Japan speak English, but sometimes they don’t, so that’s why it’s always nice knowing the basics of Japanese. Also, it’s hard to leave behind my friends and family where I came from, but I will see them again. Japan has so many shrines and they’re so pretty! They also have fun events and things for kids to do. It’s really fun in Japan but I miss my best friend and my other family members. Our school Kadena Elementary school is where I went after I left one of the countries in the world, and it’s for other military kids just like me. Japan is very clean and sanitized. People in Japan are very kind and people at Kadena Elementary School are kind, and I met a lot of new friends. I’m leaving again in a couple months. I think it’s weird going to a new school but nice, because you get a fresh start, but nobody knows you well until you meet them. So that’s my life as a military child.
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Dear Reader,
I am a military child and there are perks and down sides. One of the perks is that I get to visit a lot of different places. There is one problem with that though. I make friends and I really like those friends. When I move around to different places, I leave my friends behind. I want to stay with them because they make me happy.
I also travel a lot. I visit many places and they are very cool. I learn different things. I learn new cultures, foods, and meet new people. I can also learn new languages. I can go to hot places or cold places and even places that snow. Even though I leave friends I make new ones. I don’t have to leave my friends forever. I can text and call them.
If you have a phone or other electronic device then you know you can contact people far away. For example, if the person you want to contact has a phone number or an email you can text them. I do that with a lot of my friends so I don’t completely leave them. You can stay in touch with the people you’re friends with. That is what I like about moving away. You can still have friends that live in different places. I love being a military child.
Sincerely,
