Becoming a Military Mom

 

It’s two days before Christmas, and the house is currently empty, so I took advantage of the quiet moments and began reading Be Safe, Love Mom this morning. The book is written by a mom of four whose children serve in different U.S. military branches. It was a recommended read by a mom who has long been on this journey that we are soon approaching.

From an early age, I knew my son wouldn’t go down the college route. Jeremy despised school. There were many parent-teacher conferences in those early years, and most teachers commented that Jeremy was too impulsive, un-focused, and disruptive to the class but had a heart of gold. I remember saying, “if I can just get him to graduate high school.” That’s how those thoughts ended for me, as I wasn’t sure what would come next for him. There wasn’t an urgency to have anything figured out back then, as time was on our side. As he matured, his character proved to be one I am very proud of. We often talked about the military as he grew, and I felt he would do well in that, but I couldn’t give much advice as I had never been a part of a military family. In 2016, I married a man who served twelve years in the Air Force. My husband, Chad, has helped guide Jeremy much better than I could regarding enlisting and everything related to that way of life. I am so thankful for the example Chad has set for him. By Jeremy’s junior year, when asked, “what do you want to do after high school?” the answer has consistently been to join the Armed Forces.

Parenting includes so many moments of continually releasing our children, little by little, until one day you wake up and it’s their senior year. And here we are… 6 months before he graduates high school. He will swear into the United States Navy next month and head to boot camp this July. I have six months left with him before life as we know it will change. All the years of teaching, correcting, disciplining, and praying led to where we are right now. He will step into unknown territory just as all kids do when they leave the nest. There are so many life lessons that happen in that transition. More than just living independently, this will be a new way of life for him. He will learn leadership skills, the importance of teamwork, and what words like honor, service, and country genuinely mean. And it will be a new way of life at home and figuring out what comes next.

As I flipped through the book I was reading, I stumbled upon a receipt from August 2015, when it was originally purchased. My mind drifted to who this person was, and I somehow felt strangely connected to them. I recently joined a few Facebook groups for military moms and realized I am not alone. I think of the hundreds of thousands of children who have joined the service to leave their families and the comforts of home behind. I think of the moms who have stood proud as they wave their children goodbye, only to shed tears in their empty bedrooms. I think of graduation day and seeing him in his uniform for the first time. Becoming a military mom has simultaneously ignited feelings of pride, worry, fear, excitement, and sadness. I’m proud he wants to serve his country and worry over the what if’s that haven’t even happened. I’m excited for his future but sad this chapter is ending.

If I’m not careful, I can let the grief of letting go and the worry over the future consume me, which doesn’t change circumstances or help anything. Or I can look at it from another perspective. In all His goodness, the Lord gifted me with my son, whom He loves far more than I can imagine. Yes, he is my earthly son, but Jeremy belongs to God as all His children do. He has written my son’s story and, thankfully, is in complete control over every facet of his life. I must trust that God's grip will remain as I release my grip to let him spread his wings.

I guess it turns out that Jeremy isn't the only one with much to learn, as I am learning how to rely on God through this season of change. I am sure no one can better understand than the One who gave his only Son for us all.