April is an important month for our military families because it is the “Month of the Military Child.” As a military spouse, many of us chose to “marry into” the military life, whereas our children were simply born into it. They are strong, brave, courageous, flexible, resilient and truly the “little heroes” of our country. There are approximately 2 million military children, ranging in ages from newborn to 18 years old and I am so happy that we can make the month of April all about them!
This month, there are several events honoring our military children. Morale, Welfare and Recreation will be hosting a Family Movie Night in the El Prado Room. Kids under 18 years of age eat free, and adults are just $8. This month’s movie is The Greatest Showman. There is also a craft for the kids that begins at 5:00 pm, dinner at 5:45 pm and the movie starts at 6:00 pm. Make a note that these family movie nights are the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Movie nights are a great way to have a “family date night” during the week.
On Saturday, April 13, head over to Stillwell Community Center on Fort Ord for the Celebrating Military Children Event. We attended this event last year, and it was awesome–so many amazing giveaways, vendors, food, and activities. The event is from 10:00am-1:00pm. For more information or details visit www.presidio.armymwr.com.
After the Celebrating Military Children event head to the Monterey Bay Parent Magazine Spring Family Fun Expo! I had the pleasure of helping with this event last year, and it did not disappoint. If you are new to the area or are looking for summer camps, dance classes or a new school for your child, this is a fantastic way to accomplish all of these things. The event is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Santa Catalina School at 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey. Visit www.montereybayparent.com to register for a free goody bag.
The military is known for their use of acronyms and even as a seasoned military spouse, I sometimes find myself wondering what some acronyms mean. One that we should all be familiar with is EFMP. EFMP stands for Exceptional Family Member Program and is a great resource afforded to our military families who have dependents with special needs. The program ensures special needs are considered during assignments and by easing access to assistance wherever you are. Jodi Hooper is the EFMP Liaison for Naval Support Activity Monterey. She is a great resource and can help you to establish eligibility and also determine the category and provide resources. She is in the Fleet and Family Support Center” (FFSC) at 1280 Leahy Road and can be reached by email at jdhooper@nps.edu.
As April closes out, I wish you a wonderful Easter and spring break (for some schools) with your family. Remember to celebrate your military children all month and help them feel appreciated for all the sacrifices that they make so their parents can serve.
Allison Chance is a military spouse and mom to Charlotte, 5, and Hux, 1. She is a Realtor and has been lucky to call Florida, Hawaii, and now California home during her family’s military adventure.