Mome reads Mommy, My daughter's way to spell it when she was younger... It stuck. My son calls me Mome... just like it looks. I now sign all my notes to them "Love, Mome". It's our inside secret and makes them smile. I always want them to smile.

Monday, March 28, 2011

I Guess I am Not Patriotic. Let's just play Medal of Honor.

**Spoiler Alert***
If you have not seen the most recent episode of Army Wives, stop reading, come back later after you have watched it.

I love Army Wives.  I did not grow up with a lot of Military families, in fact, I can't recall a single one.  When I moved to Virginia, I had the opportunity to meet several Military wives and Servicemen and women.  I respect all that they sacrifice to fight for our country but... I don't want to be a Military Mom.  My 7 year old thinks being in the Army would be cool.  I support him in all he desires... except this.  I can not imagine getting the news as Denise did on last nights episode.  This is not something I envision for my child. 

My neighbor is so proud of her son who is in the Air Force.  He was thinking of getting out and she is encouraging him to stay in.  I do not get this.  It is not my decision to make for them.  Maybe it's a difference of growing up surrounded by the Military versus NOT growing up with it as a part of your life.  My step-father was in the Navy and served in WWII.  This was before I knew him and before I was even born.  Hearing his stories kinda freaked me out but it still didn't seem all that real.  I can not imagine worrying every. single. day. that something awful would happen to my child.  It's not a sacrifice I'm willing to make.  Of course, if 10 years from now my son feels the same way he does now... I'll have to adjust.  Or change the way things are done.  Here's my proposal...

Instead of heading off to foreign countries to battle actual people and fight for other's causes, let's just set up a huge game of Medal of Honor, or some other simulated war game.  Let's have each participating country gather their best gamers and let them battle it out on the screen.  The rest of us could watch their efforts and cheer them on, knowing it's not real people being killed.  The innocent bystanders would be computer generated so we would not have to feel the loss for their families.  Each country could decide to concede to the winner and know that no blood was shed.  Win or lose, their land and structures would be in tact, all their people spared of horrible deaths. 

Then, I might let Handsome join in.

5 comments:

  1. I feel the same way. My son talks about wanting to join the Army or something of the like when he turns 18. And quite frankly, I'm hoping that's just a phase, because much like you, I can not imagine worrying every. single. day. that something awful would happen to my child.

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  2. If I had married a military man I could tolerate HIM being in and even understand why a child might want to follow, but... the kid gets his guts from me and that is not how I want him to use them:)

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  3. My son's best friend was killed in Iraq. I can honestly say that becoming a marine was the single thing that Bobby was most proud of. He loved his country and he believed in fighting for it. While we have lost him, we know that it is him and men like him that allow us the freedoms we have. My 22 year old wants to join now and I won't try to talk him out of it. I have a huge roll of duct tape and some rope though and i swear I will hog tie that boy and duct tape him to the darn wall til he changes his mind.

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  4. Nessa~ So sorry for the loss of this friend. I get that it's about fighting for our freedoms and respect the hell out of anyone who chooses to fight and those that support them. I guess I'm just a coward. I would try anything to change my childs mind but would ultimately support his decision. I would be a complete basket case every day. I don't know how parents and spouses do it.

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  5. My son's best friend was killed in Iraq. I can honestly say that becoming a marine was the single thing that Bobby was most proud of. He loved his country and he believed in fighting for it. While we have lost him, we know that it is him and men like him that allow us the freedoms we have. My 22 year old wants to join now and I won't try to talk him out of it. I have a huge roll of duct tape and some rope though and i swear I will hog tie that boy and duct tape him to the darn wall til he changes his mind.

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