BRATship envy.

Growing up, I always wanted to be a military brat. Moving ever few years, exploring new area and meeting new people, what could be better? Alright, I'm sure there are those who fall on either side of the fence, those having loved being a military kid and those who despised all that came with it.

I find it slightly comical that Wikipedia refers to military brats as being part of an American subculture. Sounds so underground! Of course, Dr. David C. Pollock included military kids in a group he titled "Third Culture Kids". Who knew there was so much discussion and labeling of military children? One explanation of Third Culture Kids comes from Interaction, Inc. and it goes as follows: “Third culture kids (TCKs) are not new, and they are not few. They have been a part of the earth’s population from the earliest migrations. They are normal people with the usual struggles and pleasures of life. But because they have grown up with different experiences from those who have lived primarily in one culture, TCKs are sometimes seen as slightly strange by the people around them."

I'm sorry, but what? Honestly, that describes a large percentage of the world's children. Aren't all kids strange? They have odd habits sometimes, they do funny things. Of course, they have been a part of the earth from earliest migration, it's that whole which came first the chicken or the egg thing. Seriously? Perhaps this is way over my head and I'm not on that intellectual plain to comprehend the delicate and complex issue at hand. Maybe this guy actually trying to come up with something brilliant here and he had knowledge that not everyone possesses. It all sounds a little Indigo Child to me, of course, many things may be opposite, but you get them point. I am hugely digressing here. Anyway, like me, people (who didn't grow up military) seem to be fascinated with brathood.

I suppose I wouldn't have liked being analyzed and labeled by doctors, philosopher and psychologists. Still, aside from that, the life intrigues me. My children are, obviously, military brats. Ironically, *takes voice down to a whisper* they have all been born in the same hospital. Shhh. I don't share that with too many military wives, it's insanely unheard of, and I'm very lucky to have had my three kids delivered by the same OB staff. True story.
Nonetheless, they will have lived in different locations. They will have stories about my husband's comings and goings. They will have pictures, scrapbooks, treasures and other memorabilia to collect throughout the years that will tell a tale of their military family and the travels they endured. They will, in my assessment, have a leg up on some of their civilian friends for they may very well be exposed to more ethnicities, cultures and religions in their childhood because of our situation. Oh, wait, that's also a personal thing. I do think any parent, civilian or military, can give such exposure to their child. Still, I do think it kind of goes hand in hand with the military life. You know, the whole nomadic life experience thing.

My biggest concern is that of moving schools. Okay, I take that back. I have a teeny concern about it. There are options. I'm okay with moving a bunch during the elementary school years. Still, what comes of these kids when they get up their in age and start seriously establishing themselves in school districts? Is it terribly traumatic on them to uproot them and replant them during junior year of high school? (My husband thinks this won't be an issue for us, but I've got him doing 30 years whether he likes it or not. ;) ).

When I start to think about this I remember my junior year of high school. We had this girl move to our district from who-knows-where. Her dad was in the service. She had just been named her high school's junior prom Queen the month before she moved to our school. She bragged about it and made it her 'break the ice with the home team' information. Well, our school's prom was the next month. We were late in the year. The girl actually brought her sash to our prom. Wouldn't you know it, she even walked around the junior girls circle thingy to be judged (how cruel, is that anyway?) to hopefully make prom court. Well, I kid you not, this chick actually got chosen as Queen of OUR junior prom too. Then, she moved over the summer (nods head) and didn't even go to school with us senior year. we never heard from her again. We had a theory that her dad wasn't really in the military, that they just moved so she could collect prom sashes.

Anyway, I'm so completely off topic. LOL

So, I guess for kids like THAT, it can be fun and cool. Still, what of the kid who doesn't really fit in and doesn't do well in new situations? Do you just homeschool or tell them to suck it up? You could GEO I suppose, but man, that can be tough too.

I'd love to hear some brat stories and see your experiences. What have your kids been through thus far? Do you think the Coast Guard brats are any different than other service brats? How so? (You like the homework assignment?) :)

The underground super secret network of spouses.

Outside of the base, live Coast Guard members and their families. Some are integrated into the local military community and others choose not to be for a variety of reasons. We used to be those people. Well, in a way, we still are. My husband, the man in blue, (for whom I still need a catchy nickname) is adamant about keeping our family life and the military separate. That was really easy when he was on land. It was also really easy when I had my own crazy workaholic hours at a job in the private sector. It was also extremely easy when we had no children.

Then one day, I became a mother and I started to work from home. Soon the working from home dwindled down and my days ached to be filled with something. I longed for involvement in something other than diaper duty and grocery shopping. So, I started talking to *gasp* other Coast Guard wives. I would meet them on the pier when the ship pulled in or I would connect with them through some other underground super secret network that would send my husband into a tizzy. Yes, my friends, he detested the wives groups. In fact, he refused to tell people he was married for fear that the wives network would swoop in like vultures and snatch me into their secret society. Okay, so that is not at all true, but if you met the man in blue back then, you would totally appreciate what I am talking about. Fast forward to today. I am a little more than involved. I am integrated. I have a vested interested in the sometimes seemingly unpopular spouse sect. I pledge my allegiance to the sisterhood affirming that I am not a slovenly gossipmonger or mindless follower. Honest. Enough about what I am not, let me tell you what I am.

I have a passion for all things military. I become engrossed with military history, tradition and legacy. I am the person in the grocery store parking lot who sees a USCG or DOD decal on a car and hope I will run into the owner. Don’t ask me why. On second thought, go ahead. The reason is, as I have said before, we are so far out of the military area. So, such cars and decals are far and few between. Alright, so I might be considered a decal stalker. Seriously, I am only a little fanatical. I love my husband. Obviously, I would love him no matter what his profession, but I love that he chose to join the service and despite his original intentions of getting out, he reenlisted and reenlisted, and, well you get the point. I like military brats. They each have their own unique travel story to tell. Olive Oyl’s kids, as some of our other families here, are a great example of this as they have been all over the map. What kid really gets to experience such different cultures, climates and touristy destinations all before age 18? Not too many in this day and age. That is the beauty of the military; we are nomadic, well most of us anyway. That to me is enthralling and keeps me eager for each new PCS season. With each new place comes new faces. New experiences abound and new chances.

The other day, our family journeyed to a nearby town (way out in the sticks) where another Coast Guard family lived. They are even further out then us and have little if anything to do with the husband’s shipmates, the base and/or other families. The wife, who was a boatload of fun and someone I’d really like to hang out with more, asked me about my involvement in the “life” around here. I chuckled and told her I was bit embarrassed to share. Upon telling her the things I did and people I knew, she laughed and said her husband might lose his mind if that were her. Overhearing our conversation, my husband urged, no, begged me not to try and recruit her into the network. I assured him AND her husband that I was just answering her questions. Sheesh. You would think I got a commission or something and they were the regulatory board making sure I did not solicit off limit spouses.

Anyway, the wife mentioned how she had gotten to know a bunch of military spouses (from all branches) at a previous unit. She did not like the fact that rank was an issue for many. Can you blame her? Nonetheless, I hear this time and again from spouses and members. This is just pure silliness.

So that I don’t go on and on in a rant about how spouses have no rank, I will leave you with this: If you are a spouse who has been burned by other groups, fear not. We are not all nuts. I am, but just a wee little bit. Give your new area a chance. Get to know some new faces. All spouse groups, families and members are not the same. And, for the husbands who are on their knees pleading with their wives to ‘stay out of it’, please know it’s not all about you and getting in your business. Honestly, we just like hanging out and commiserating with like-minded folk.

Look at that tumbleweed.

Did you see that roll by? It's a ghost town around these parts this summer. Well, it would appear that we have readership though. In fact, we just went over 5,000 visits to our lovely little blog. Not too shabby bad, eh? Especially given that we started a mere 6 months ago and no one really cares what spouses have to say. ;)

Honestly, we have things going on behind the scenes folks. Our website will be updated in the next two weeks with some fun and exciting stuff. So, keep your eyes open and check back.

Until then, let me share a snippet of my life.

The man in blue is away again. The children are running amok requiring me to partake in some badly needed PT as I chase them down. I'm plotting my list of household jobs to attack on this trip. Months ago I swore I was going to finish updating our kitchen while he was deployed, but priorities were all fumbled up. Needless to say, the kitchen still calls me and it's not looking pretty folks. So, wish me luck this week as I finish removing wallpaper and repaint another wall. I'm not sure if I will get to much more as the wainscoting may be more than I bargained for. Let's just say I'm not that handy. Lucky husband, he'll have something to do when he comes home.

Oh, shoot the baby is calling me. I've got to run. Stay tuned readers and if you have something you want to see written about (within reason), let us know.

Happy upcoming CG day! Oh, well see, there I have something to write about tomorrow, don't I?

Cheers!