Milspouse Matters Episode 52 with Jen McDonald
This episode is for parents of military members who may be looking for information and support. If that’s not you, I think you still might find some helpful resources, and at the least you can pass it on to your OWN parents and in-laws.
My husband had served on active duty for over 25 years when our oldest son Matthew announced that he’d decided to join the military, too. It came as a bit of a shock to his father and me, as Matt had always discussed other career plans before that time.
I’ve written in a previous article, A Letter to My Active Duty Son, about the conflicting feelings that assailed me when he left for basic training and how different it was to watch my own child take on a life of service as opposed to my husband, whom I’d always known as a military member.
“It is different with you, of course, and I feel fiercely protective… I was not prepared for the wave of emotion that threatened to choke me the day you boarded the plane to leave for basic training. I’ve always had the mindset of the all-volunteer force, you know: ‘If no one volunteers, where will our country be?’ But I will admit that there are times when dark thoughts hit me in the quiet hours of the night. The military has my husband–does it need my child, too? With all the policy changes lately, is this a good decision for you and your wife? What about my future grandchildren? Will the military be good to you all? Is it worthy of you?”
If you have no background as a military family, you may not be sure about this choice your child has made or maybe you’re just looking for some resources. I think we all feel this way, though, about our child going into the military:
But the dust settles, your child graduates from basic military training, receives their first set of orders, perhaps even goes on his or her first deployment. And if you’re a long-time military spouse like me, you think, Yeah, I’ve got this. I know how this whole military thing works.
And it’s true. You DO know. But one thing I realized was that there was so much I didn’t understand as the parent of a military member. It’s different when it’s your child. It’s been over five years now since our son became an active duty Airman, and we’ve watched with pride as he’s made it through basic and technical training, been promoted, made several moves with his little family, and deployed to the Middle East. Boy, is it different. So whether you’re a military-spouse-turned-parent-of-military-member like me or you’re just looking for information to help you in this new world of being a military parent, I’m sharing some things I’ve learned over the past few years.
Remember, military mom and dad, you’ve got this. You’re not alone.
Next, stay tuned as I share the brand new single release “God And Country” from country music recording artist and former U.S. Army intelligence Sergeant, Jenny Leigh Miller, which will be available on all digital retail and streaming outlets on Friday, November 6, 2020. Reflecting on her decision to join the military at the age of 18, the emotional track chronicles Miller’s early life chapters and her calling to serve God and her country.
Jenny joins me to discuss the story behind the song, some of her thoughts about military service, along with her parent’s reaction to her decision to go into the military right after her high school graduation.
Find out more about Jenny Leigh Miller here:
- JennyLeighMiller.com
- Jenny Leigh Miller on Facebook and Instagram
Resources for parents of military members:
- Milspouse Matters Episode 22: When Your Child Joins the Military
- Jen on the Spouse Angle Podcast: When Your Kid Goes to War
- Elaine Brye’s Facebook page for military parents: Be Safe, Love Mom
- Operation We Are Here
- Look for support groups for parents of military members through your place of worship or community.
Specific service branch support:
- U.S. Army Parents & Family
- National Guard for Parents
- Marines.com for Parents and Mentors
- Air Force for Parents
- Air Force Reserve for Parents
- Air National Guard for Parents
- Navy for Families
- Coast Guard Families
Articles and Books for Parents of Military Members
- A Letter to My Active Duty Son
- From Military Spouse to Parent of Active Duty
- A Civilian’s Guide to the U.S. Military
- A Prayer Journey Through Deployment
- Battles of the Heart: Boot Camp for Military Moms
- Basic Combat Training by Army Mom, Army Strong
- Be Safe, Love Mom
- Courage After Fire for Parents of Service Members: Strategies for Coping When Your Son or Daughter Returns from Deployment
- Everyone Serves: A Handbook for Family & Friends of Service Members During Pre-Deployment, Deployment and Reintegration FREE EBOOK by Blue Star Families
- Mom’s Field Guide: What You Need to Know to Make It Through Your Loved One’s Military Deployment
- My Son Is a Marine
- Rise Up, Military Moms: A Journal for Living Life with Strength and Purpose
- The Heart of a Military Mom
- While My Soldier Serves: Prayers for Those With Loved Ones in the Military
- Your Soldier, Your Army: a Parent’s Guide (FREE to read through AUSA, just click link)
More resources for your military life:
- Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
- Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
- Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode
Get Jen’s book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse.
Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who’d be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.
2 Responses
Thank you Jen for these resources.
It sure helps to have info like this as a military parent.
Our son will be leaving on his first deployment in a few weeks.
My daughter-in-love and I share helpful info with each other as our son pursues his military career. She sent this info for parents today.
We fully support our son 💙 and his growing family and we’re so proud of him and of them.
Thank you again.
Hi Kandy, I’m so glad it’s helpful! Best of luck and all blessings to your son, his wife, and all of you!