0500 and all is quiet on the home front. Too quiet for a seasoned veteran like me. I am not a veteran of foreign wars, but I am a veteran of the home front. I am in many Mother Occupation Specialties, and I hold many ranks. I am the acting Commander in Chief when my husband’s deployed, Four Star (four kids!) General, and every rank known down to Private.

I am the Infantry when on foot and running after a busy and precocious toddler. I am Cavalry and my transportation is my noble SUV, complete with half-empty sippy cups, crushed up crackers and toddler music blaring! It could scare the toughest enemy! I am Artillery and I can launch a dirty diaper and hit the destination target faster than the speed of light. I am in Special Forces and my handle is “Stealth Mom.” I am able to walk down hallways past a sleeping child’s room more quietly than a feather on the wind. I put Spider Man to shame - he has no moves on me. I can go undetected by toddler radar for up to 20 minutes in the morning. I have also been known to know much more about a teenager’s friends than they thought I should know as well as their exact global location.

Legal services, medical, psychological and special equipment? Been there doing that. Oh, and let’s not forget about the Physical Fitness requirements. I can sprint faster than a toddler running through the toy isle at Target. I can jump baby gates like an Olympic runner jumping hurdles, and my life consists of a constant squat thrust as I walk through my house picking up toys, socks, shoes, and cheerios off of the floor. “Two steps, squat, grab, back up we go…” and the reps continue. All day long. Sit ups? Well I will have to actually have time to lay on the floor before I can tell you how many of those I can actually do.

Recruiting and retention have been successful. We have had 50% of our recruits stay until retirement, and we fully expect the other 50% to do the same. So far it looks as if this home base is being run quite well. I think we have earned a little R& R!

My little daughter, whom I affectionately call “the curly headed pirate” is starting preschool next week. She will be going to a sister base to receive additional training from another unit. Soon, this veteran mom will have some off duty time.

What will I do with my copious amounts of luxury time in the near future? Actually that question was answered before I had that free time. I will be doing what I have been doing, and a little more. I think I may actually get some unfinished projects done! Of course I said that last year. Being a Veteran Mother means being flexible and always being right in the middle of everything that is going on. One of my favorite funny sayings about soldiers is, “The only time you have to worry about a soldier is when they stop complaining.” With Veteran Mothers, the only time you need to worry is when they stop talking about how busy they always are.

On a quick closing note, I am officially, as of Saturday, a Mother in Law. My oldest son entered into wedded bliss this weekend, and now this Veteran Mom has a role she has never tackled before. Do the challenges and changes ever end? I hope not!

Claire, Out!!

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