Another excuse for kids to be screwed up
 

Both my sister and I grew up in a military family, we turned out pretty damned well. Our father was in Europe during WWII as well as numerous unaccompanied tours during 30 years of military service. Of course they wouldn't dare to say anything negative about growing up with two mothers or a single parent drug infested environment.

Pediatricians warned children of military personnel face mental health risks - CBS News

I think kids today regardless have a high risk for mental health issues. Between the over-busy and sheltered life-style we start them off with , the "sound bite" education system, prevalence of drugs and alcohol in schools, "fly-by" parenting, messed-up social lives, lack of play time outside, too much computer/TV time, etc - I'm surprised any of these kids turn out "normal".

Excessive worrying? Seriously? I sure hope it doesn't lead to restless leg syndrome!!!

My wife and I have studied this a lot. So far, so good w/ our two. My only hope when confronting St. Peter is that I was a good parent.

Every parent screws up their kids in some way, it's a learning experience for all involved with no instruction book.

I was a military brat

I have my share of issues just like anyone else that's "normal"

Frankly, I think it'd have had most of the same issues if I hadn't traveled the world, plus some, plus not having had some amazing life experiences

I think my parents and my personality had a lot more to do with me turning out well (and having issues) than the military life did

The military experience have me the opportunity to have a much richer set of life experiences

Sometimes I miss it a lot, but I make a lot more money than if I was in the military

Another Air Force Brat here. The AF stole my daddy for 18 months in one stretch. Many 3 months at a time stints. We moved a lot, and I have no life long friends from childhood. Every year was a new best friend. I can't remember any of their names.

I would say I am as normal and stable as anyone.

When is someone going to admit that the real problem is parents that don't want to parent and would instead rather drug their kids into submission, and the doctors that are more than willing to make a fortune selling prescriptions to kids?

Jobs, moving, friends, they just provide a context. If kids have a loving and stable home, the rest of it is just noise.

this!

I hadn't previously clicked on the article, but I have now. The primary focus of the article is about children whose parents have been deployed to war recently. I can see the stress of long term separation from a parent and the constant worry about ever seeing them again and the stress that is felt by the remaining parent being pretty rough on a child.

I got lucky. My dad went back in the military when I was 4 or 5, he had one, one year unaccompanied tour when I was 4-5, and from then on, we always went with him. When I was in my mid-teens, he did a few stints on submarines, but they were only for 4-6 weeks at a time and there was usually quite a bit of time between them.

What can I say, being a pediatrician and all.. :)

"and I have no life long friends from childhood."

This is as well my only regret. I actually have contact with some early HS friends but no lifelong friends. I always thought moving and seeing new places and making new friends was an exciting part of life. I also enjoyed the benefits of living on military installations and still feel very at home in that environment.

National Guard families seem to have the worst situation, working in the real world one day and on the way to war the next, that could be very traumatic for a family.