When I was growing up my mom was in the Air Force until I was almost seven. I never saw her much. Up until the third grade (which was when she retired) I never stayed at a school for more than a year due to my mom being constantly stationed. I was “the new kid” a lot. This often led to bullying that frequently occurred up until I was in the fourth grade.

When I was born my mom broke her leg and had to get screws in her leg for almost a year. My mom never could nursed me, or breast fed me because she couldn’t walk. My dad would get the milk in a bottle and feed me. This led to me being closer to my dad than my mom.

Whenever my dad had to work and my mom was deployed my sister would care for me. I always had gotten along with my sister, so it wasn’t a hard task to baby sit me. My brothers are two different stories. Me being around my sister a lot is the reason she is my favorite sibling. She is now almost twenty-one, moved out, and in college.

I vividly remember one time when my mom came home for a week after being deployed for months away from home. I remember saying so energetically, “Mommy’s home.” The joy I would feel was amazing.

Life wasn’t that bad I had a twin brother to play with. I am proud of my mom. She served in the Air Force for twenty-one years, and fought in both Golf Wars in Iraq. I see my mom everyday now I have a good life, good friends, and I couldn’t ask for a better life.

Photograph By: Karen Kozub