Return to Sender: Month of the Military Child Reflections
One of my most fond memories of being a military kid was living in Yokosuka, Japan, in the late 90s.
Living on base felt no less normal than suburban life. It was easy and safe without question to visit and spend time with friends living in townhouses or the towers.
And when we moved, we did what kids did before email and social media: we mailed each other postcards. 💌
It was normal to have a PO Box as an address, and dropping off mail at the post office was joyful for me.
Then one day, one of my thoughtfully put-together postcards came back…
“Return to Sender”
One by one, the friends I stayed in touch with seemed to have disappeared. Until we, too, moved. And that was that.
At the time, I just accepted it. Military life moved on. I don’t think I had the capacity to process it as a loss. It was just... what happened. 🤷🏻♀️
I imagine it’s easier for military kids today to stay in touch, thanks to social media. But I wonder if the conditioning feels the same: that long-term, in-person friendships are temporary.
Looking back as an adult, I can see how that shaped the way I make and maintain friendships. But for my younger self, the one who maybe didn’t want those friendships to disappear so soon, I’d say this:
Don’t worry, there will be more options for staying in touch with friends soon enough.
Happy Month of the Military Child. 💜
— Jen