Peek Inside a MilKid's Summer Vacation

Jun 4, 2019
3 min read

Ahhhh, summer - full of lazy days, beach trips, and fun in the sun. Unless you’re a MilKids on the move. And then you’ll be having a little bit of a different summer vacation!

Peek Inside a MilKid’s Summer Vacation

Since only a minority of families are serving, and even fewer have children, it’s hard to imagine what summer “vacation” might be like for a military kid on the move.

Not every military child moves every summer. It’s usually something that happens only every two or three years, but it can totally disrupt a summer vacation!

Busy Before Summer Moving Starts

For families moving, or PCSing, this summer, the process starts well before the actual “move” takes place. Even kids can feel the stress of waiting for orders, getting orders, and starting the house hunt.

Parents are on-edge waiting for news. And that stress trickles down to the kids, too.

At school, teachers might notice that MilKids are less attentive or more disruptive. They might be quieter or more withdrawn. Military-connected kids might be starting the process to detaching from their friends and communities, hoping to make the move easier and miss their friends less.

Saying Goodbye to Friends

Right before a move happens, military kids need to say farewell to their friends. Sometimes, this is a rushed process - especially when a move needs to happen really quickly.

Other times, military parents make it more fun, with a party or other celebration. This can help provide a happy event that makes leaving a little easier.

Military kids will often collect email or mailing addresses, phone numbers, or other contact details.

Is your child friends with a MilKid? Make sure you share that contact info! You can keep the friendship alive through emails, letters, cards, and thoughtful care packages. Receiving mail or even emails from faraway friends can make it easier for military kids to settle into their new hometown. Plus, for friends who have stayed behind, you can look forward to cool care packages with unique items from interesting places!

Purging & Packing

Throughout the end of the school year, military families on the move will be decluttering their homes to prep for the packers.

MilKids take part in this, too. They’ll need to weed out clothes that no longer fit or just won’t work for their next hometown. Kids will also need to go through toys and books, hoping to cut down weight.

Military families are only allowed to move so much stuff. The moving companies and military will track and weigh their shipments. Some military families stay well under the max weight limits, but others cut it close.

This could mean that MilKids need to make some hard choices about what to take and what to leave.

On the Road Again

During a PCS summer, vacation time might be the road trip cross country! For military families moving within the lower 48 states, many will pack up their cars and drive to their next duty station. They will stop along the way, experiencing local sites and attractions. Some families plan their road trips to hit major cities or theme parks, like Washington DC or Disney World.

For military families moving overseas, their summer vacation might be spent with their extended families. This might be the last opportunity to spend time together in-person for two or three years! So instead of a big summer trip to a big city or theme park, these MilKids will head back to their parents’ hometowns for quality time with family.

Settling Into Their New Hometown

When MilKids finally arrive at their next location, the long unpacking and settling in process begins. It can be scary to go to summer camp or start school knowing no one at all!

Your family can help MilKids feel welcome and at home:

Connect local summer camps to KOAH. We can provide tips and tricks to help camps welcome MilKids!
Work with your PTA to create welcome kits for military families. Include school directories, maps, coupons, and a friendly face! Knowing another family in the community can help military families feel more welcome and at home.
Host a “Back to School Bash” in your neighborhood, church or other community group. Invite new military kids to join. Knowing another child on the first day of school can make it less scary!
Reach out and make friends. Create a Facebook group or email list for your child’s classroom. Get to know the other parents and connect. It can help all parents feel welcome and locate important school resources.
Work with the local or base library to host MilKid events over the summer. Meeting other military kids can help to ease the loneliness and make friends!