Through Her Eyes: Life as a Military Child

In celebration of the Month of the Military Child 

Written by Helen Massy, People Partner at Pinnacle Service Families.

April is the Month of the Military Child—a time to honour and celebrate the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of the youngest members of our Armed Forces families. Military children are often called “dandelions” because, like the resilient flower, they can thrive wherever the wind carries them—rooting, growing, and blooming in new places all around the world. We have three military children aged 5, 7 and 10. Our eldest daughter Matilda, aged 10, opened up about her life as a military child. Through her honest words, we see both the challenges and the quiet courage that so many military children carry with them every day.

“Sometimes it can be hard when moving everywhere…”

For Matilda, life has meant packing up and starting over—again and again. From Canada to the Falklands, and multiple houses across England, she’s experienced more moves than most adults.

“Sometimes it can be hard when moving everywhere. It’s hard to move and leave everything,” she shared. “But I’m lucky that when we’ve moved away to other countries, we’ve always moved back to England, so I’ve been able to reconnect with old friends. And I love meeting new people when we are away.”

Saying goodbye, staying strong

One of the toughest parts of military life is saying goodbye. Friends come and go, and each farewell carries its own weight. But Matilda has learned to look forward, not back.

“Yes, sometimes it’s hard,” she admits. “But I try not to get too sad because I can’t change it. I try to look to the future and the good things that are going on. I just try to be myself when making new friends.”

Holding the fort while Daddy’s away

When her Dad deploys, the impact is deeply felt at home.

“We love him very much, so I miss him when he’s away,” she said. “I also have a brother and sister who don’t always behave when he’s gone, and Mummy has to look after us. I’m the eldest, and I think the younger two get more attention when Daddy’s away. It’s really hard to get one-on-one time with Mummy because we all want to be with her.”

Despite the emotional and practical challenges, she found ways to cope—through support at school and small traditions at home.

“We did lots of trips with Mummy to visit family and friends, which made the time go quicker. It can be tough at school, as it carries on as normal, and it feels like everyone is busy around you and doesn’t understand. But I could speak to the school counsellor, and that helped a lot, it made me feel like there was someone there to talk about it when I needed to. We had countdown charts and sweet jars to help us know when he’s coming back. As we got closer, that feeling got better. And when he came home—it was a feeling like no other. Just the best.”

Learning, growing, and dreaming big

Military life has helped her grow in ways she never expected.

“Being part of a military family has made me stronger. Sometimes you don’t want to do something like move, but you have to. You just need to be positive and make the most of it. I look at the good things.”

Her dream? To follow in her dad’s footsteps—soaring even higher.

“I want to be a pilot. Travel, be physically active, and be good at my job.”

A message from the heart

When asked what Matilda wishes others knew about military families, her answer was simple and full of wisdom:

“If you’re really good friends with someone in a military family, they may move, so be prepared for that. But don’t shy away from the friendship—we can still be the best of friends.”

And what is she most proud of?

“I’m really lucky to have had these experiences of living in different countries, seeing different animals, and experiencing things that other kids might not. But mostly, I’m proud of Daddy for doing his job and supporting other countries.”

Honouring the invisible strength

Military children carry a quiet strength that often goes unseen. They may not wear uniforms, but they serve in their own way—through every move, every goodbye, and every moment of waiting. Matilda’s story is just one of many, but her words shine a light on the resilience, courage, and big-hearted optimism that military children show every single day.