By Dakota Voirol
Being a military brat really stinks sometimes. It’s something all of us recognize, and we’ve all just come to live with it. Eventually we all come up with our own ways of dealing with the struggles of being in a military family.
One of the hardest things a brat goes through is relocating. Military families get moved around, and some of them move a lot. This can bring up quite a few issues, especially for military kids. You have to meet new people, change schools, try to make new friends, and get used to a completely new environment. So I’ve developed a list of tips for relocation that might help you deal with life in the military.
- Don’t be stubborn. A move is hard enough without making things difficult for yourself or others. You’re going to be moving, and while that might be tough, it’s nearly inevitable. So don’t whine and complain; instead, actively try to look for ways to make things easier for yourself.
- Find closure. You might be leaving a lot of friends behind when you move, so make sure to say all of your goodbyes before you go. But also remember that just because you’re moving away doesn’t mean you have to forget them and move on. Especially today, there’s no reason why you can’t keep in touch, whether by phone or social media.
- Optimism, optimism, optimism. Moving means a fresh start that can allow you to totally reinvent yourself. Nobody will know you, so get excited about who you want to be to those new people—and about the new things you want to do. Maybe this time around, you’ll join a sports team or a school club.
- Educate yourself. What does your family’s new duty station have to offer? Will you be overseas with the opportunity to travel? Does your new duty station have an active youth and teen center? Discover the cool things about your new location and get excited about all of the fun you will have!
- Get back in the game. Play sports and moving midyear? There were a few times when we moved during the middle of a school year that I missed the next year’s football tryouts for my new school. However, I was lucky enough to have some awesome coaches who helped me put together some game and practice film and wrote recommendations for me to give the coaches at my new school. This allowed me to walk right back into a team and the instant friendships that came with it!
- Think about the future! Remember, although you will always be a military brat, you may not always move as a military brat. These constant moves enable you to explore where you may want to settle down and plant roots! For me, after moving 11 times in 19 years, that place is now Virginia. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to explore so many other locations that led me to this decision.
