Letters

My name is Jacqueline Delaney and I understand that April is month of the military child.  I would like to applaud mine and all military children young and old.  I believe that they have a very hard job as children of a military member.  As their parents we think we have it hard and we do, but they, they have it the hardest...

Without being able to have any say in whether or not mommy or daddy has to go away, they accept and understand there is a job to be done.  They understand that it will be a long time before they will see mom or dad. They may not have the concept of time yet so to them that could seem like a lifetime away.

Some children may act out to show they are hurting, missing, loving, and needing that missing mom or dad.  However these little or maybe not so little people are very, very resilient and oh so forgiving.  These innocent souls who haven't done anything to deserve the emotional sadness will deal with it however they can and maybe with our help we as the other stronghold in their life can help ease a little of that pain by understanding what they must be going through inside.

So if you have  children and they have a deployed parent during this month, give them all the hugs they are missing from that deployed mom or dad.  Give them understanding when they cry....praise when they do something good....but above all give them love because our children have the BIGGEST and BRAVEST hearts of all.