Military families and kid friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be less likely to facilitate a friendship with a military brat because I don't support the military.

You don't have a problem living in a country that has been defended by the military though.

I do, actually and we're moving out of the country in seven years.

And, you don't think your new country will have a military or rely on the US military? Can you go sooner?

Sadly, for both of us, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be less likely to facilitate a friendship with a military brat because I don't support the military.

You don't have a problem living in a country that has been defended by the military though.

I do, actually and we're moving out of the country in seven years.

And, you don't think your new country will have a military or rely on the US military? Can you go sooner?

+100
Hopefully, they are moving to Syria.
Maybe they can get a sense of what it is like to live in a country that doesn’t have a decent defense system.

[Anonymous]

OP - I am a military brat and thankfully, this attitude was not prevalent when I was growing up.
Yes, the friends may move, but you do understand that not only military people move. People who work in government jobs move. People who work in private industry move. People move for a variety of reasons.

Don’t discount what may be a long lasting friendship for your child simply because another child’s parents are military.

[Anonymous]

If my mom hadn't "facilitated" my friendships with kids in military family kids, I would have had a much less amazing childhood than I did. Signed, someone who grew up in VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be less likely to facilitate a friendship with a military brat because I don't support the military.

You don't have a problem living in a country that has been defended by the military though.

I do, actually and we're moving out of the country in seven years.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!! Too bad we have to put up with you for seven more years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be less likely to facilitate a friendship with a military brat because I don't support the military.

You don't have a problem living in a country that has been defended by the military though.

I do, actually and we're moving out of the country in seven years.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!! Too bad we have to put up with you for seven more years.

Oh, get over yourself. One of the (several) things I hate about anything American military-related is that people involved in it always seem to need to talk about it. My husband and I don't need to talk about our jobs when we're not actually working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe this is your actual question. Very sad really on how shallow you are.

We were close with a military family and when they got ready to move, she started pulling up the emotional stakes about two or three months ahead as she obviously began to prepare herself for what she had already been through multiple times. Only heard from them once or twice after they left. We did a lot together and it really hurt my feelings -- and really hurt my kids' feelings, too, which is hard for me to forgive. They miss them.

I would think twice next time. My two cents based on experience.

[Anonymous]

My kids move about every 3 years for DH's work. My kids are pretty easy-going and can make friends with anyone. They are also very willing to befriend the "newcomers". This is a life skill they've learned over the years and I hope it continues. Of course they are sad when their friends move away. They make new friends (I wish it was as easy for me!). Life goes on.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be less likely to facilitate a friendship with a military brat because I don't support the military.

You don't have a problem living in a country that has been defended by the military though.

I do, actually and we're moving out of the country in seven years.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!! Too bad we have to put up with you for seven more years.

Oh, get over yourself. One of the (several) things I hate about anything American military-related is that people involved in it always seem to need to talk about it. My husband and I don't need to talk about our jobs when we're not actually working.

Then you clearly don't know any military folks. Military are among the least likely to spend time talking about their jobs to other people.

[Anonymous]

We were close with a military family and when they got ready to move, she started pulling up the emotional stakes about two or three months ahead as she obviously began to prepare herself for what she had already been through multiple times. Only heard from them once or twice after they left. We did a lot together and it really hurt my feelings -- and really hurt my kids' feelings, too, which is hard for me to forgive. They miss them.

I would think twice next time. My two cents based on experience.

This is pretty close to our experience. Our military neighbors just vanished - like, I think, they must have moved in the middle of the night. Really! They were just gone. They had mentioned casually that they would be leaving but now that I think about it, I think I initiated that conversation and pressed for details (thought the neighborhood might want to give them a send-off party) For as much "oxygen in the room" they took up on their arrival on the street, like expecting a parade, all eyes on them - they left without any fanfare. And yes, it can be hard on kids who don't understand. It's like the friendship wasn't authentic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We were close with a military family and when they got ready to move, she started pulling up the emotional stakes about two or three months ahead as she obviously began to prepare herself for what she had already been through multiple times. Only heard from them once or twice after they left. We did a lot together and it really hurt my feelings -- and really hurt my kids' feelings, too, which is hard for me to forgive. They miss them.

I would think twice next time. My two cents based on experience.

This is pretty close to our experience. Our military neighbors just vanished - like, I think, they must have moved in the middle of the night. Really! They were just gone. They had mentioned casually that they would be leaving but now that I think about it, I think I initiated that conversation and pressed for details (thought the neighborhood might want to give them a send-off party) For as much "oxygen in the room" they took up on their arrival on the street, like expecting a parade, all eyes on them - they left without any fanfare. And yes, it can be hard on kids who don't understand. It's like the friendship wasn't authentic.

Military moves can be quick - they arrange it all, send packers, do the move for the family, so while there is a lot to do, not anything like what someone else would have to do.

[Anonymous]

I am a military child and at 47 I am still best friends with a school mate I met in Germany at 14. So keep in mind the military world takes care of their own.

[Anonymous]

Social media makes it so much easier for the kids to keep in touch.

My kid has a couple different online gaming groups of friends from here and around the country, mixed between military and locals. They all get on and skype and play video games, spending more time interacting than they would if they were all here together at school.

[Anonymous]

Parents don't need to be "facilitating" friendships for 3rd and 4th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We were close with a military family and when they got ready to move, she started pulling up the emotional stakes about two or three months ahead as she obviously began to prepare herself for what she had already been through multiple times. Only heard from them once or twice after they left. We did a lot together and it really hurt my feelings -- and really hurt my kids' feelings, too, which is hard for me to forgive. They miss them.

I would think twice next time. My two cents based on experience.

This is pretty close to our experience. Our military neighbors just vanished - like, I think, they must have moved in the middle of the night. Really! They were just gone. They had mentioned casually that they would be leaving but now that I think about it, I think I initiated that conversation and pressed for details (thought the neighborhood might want to give them a send-off party) For as much "oxygen in the room" they took up on their arrival on the street, like expecting a parade, all eyes on them - they left without any fanfare. And yes, it can be hard on kids who don't understand. It's like the friendship wasn't authentic.

Military moves can be quick - they arrange it all, send packers, do the move for the family, so while there is a lot to do, not anything like what someone else would have to do.

Don't the military wives do all that?