So, April is the month of the Military Child and I am proud and happy to be the mother of 6 of them and our 4 grandchildren also just so happen to be Military Children as well. To be a military child is to be brave, strong, resilient, adventurous, proud, flexible, lonely, imaginative, resourceful, funny, amongst so many other things. I can give you an example of what our oldest 4 kids went through in a 2 year period. We moved to Germany so they started a new school, got settled in and BAM, daddy had to deploy. This would be their first deployment as older children and they knew the risk for their daddio and it was a scary and uncertain time, dad returned safely from 1 year in Iraq and then we PCSd (moved) to Missouri, where again, new schools, new styles, new traditions, new life. This is pretty normal for most Military Children and they thrive very well! When the service members are gone off to war, the community embraces these kids and they all inherit several parents that help take care of them.. It truly takes a village with military families and I love, love, love it! So, in today's installment of my blog, I interviewed our 4 oldest military brats, who are now adults and living all over the globe. SGT Nicholas Giovanni Urzi is an MP and stationed at Ft Bliss, Ashlee Marie Urzi-Seidel is now an Army Wife and medical tech in Tennessee, Cassidy Renee Urzi is living in Texas and going to College, Anthony Giancarlo Urzi is a college student here in Alaska and will be transferring to Iowa this fall to finish school. Our 2 youngest kiddos need an honorable mention, they are Dominic Gianluca Urzi, who is an aspiring comic and future celebrity and Roman Gianmarco Urzi who wants to be a Chef one day. So, here is the interview with our oldest. Hope you enjoy..
ME: Where were you born?
Nick- Luke AFB
Ash- Virginia (Ft Belvoir)
Cass- Frankfurt Germany
Tony- "mom, you know where I was born" (Luke AFB)
ME: Tell me 2 things you liked about being an Army Brat
Nick- Moving around and doing something new in different countries
Ash- Moving to new places, meeting new people
Cass- Exploring new cultures, having friends all over the world
Tony- Being spoiled and seeing different places
ME: What are 2 things you didn't like?
Nick- Graduating in Waynesville, Not graduating at Ft Bliss
Ash- Not having dad home for special moments (Ashlee has her own rules and only gave 1)
Cass- Starting new schools and being far from other family members
Tony- Moving and leaving friends
ME: Favorite Duty Station?
Nick- Camp Darby, Italy-It's our homeland
Ash- Giessen Germany, it's where I met my future husband and my best memories are there.
Cass- Ft Bliss Texas because it's where I graduated and it's my home.
Tony- Ft Bliss, but Alaska too, because it's where I met Dana Rae (love of his life)
ME: What thoughts went through your mind when your dad would deploy?
Nick- Nothing, I knew it was for a bigger purpose and he WOULD be back....
Ash- My thought was what would life be life if I lost my dad? I was pissed, upset, sad but also
very proud of him for having the courage to do what he was about to do and show
amazing strength.
Cass- Scared, proud, nervous and sad just because you never knew what could happen.
Tony- "Here we go again, I thought it was dumb but a good thing we was going to protect us"
ME: What was life like when he was gone? Did you mom go crazy?
Nick- Life was normal, we kept going through the motions and mom tried hiding it, but I new it
Was eating her inside.
Ash- When dad would leave we would go on as normal as possible. One example comes to
mind, it was Christmas and normally dad would be the one to pass out all the presents but
that year, Nick did. He stepped up when dad was gone. Without a doubt, we drove mom
crazy!! Dad was gone and with 4 kids at the time, it's hard to discipline all of us for things
when you are focused on one child LOL so we got away with some things-BUT it was
VERY RARE!!! Mom was always so strong, I don't think I ever saw her shed a tear
While my dad was gone which as an Army Wife now, I don't know how she did it
because being strong in this lifestyle is easier said than done!!!!!!!
Cass- Life was hectic but we made the most of it. And only sometimes did we drive you crazy
Tony- It wasn't too hard for me, I knew dad would be back home and YES She was MEXICAN
CRAZY.
ME: What would YOU tell a military child aged 10-17?
Nick- How lucky they are to experience everything all over the world and not live sheltered
Ash- I would tell them that they are a special kind of child. We go through so much heartache
and separation than most civilian adults and that things will sometimes be hard to do, like
say goodbye to many amazing people, but we get to see different cultures and people and
places that some people save their whole lives for to see, or never get the chance. We
appreciate small moments that most take for granted.
Cass- That it is hard, but we make the most if it. Not everyone gets to experience this life.
Tony- I would tell them to enjoy the lifestyle while it lasts!!!
ME: Do you ever resent your AWESOME mom and dad for bringing you up in such a life?
Nick- Never
Ash-Never! They have raised us this way, and it's normal for us. It's an honor to be in this life.
Cass- Never! We always ended up meeting old friends again!
Tony- Naw
ME: Do you think being a military child better prepared you for the real world?
Nick- Yes, in every way because we saw everything and had a lot of freedoms to learn for
ourselves.
Ash- I think our parents prepared us for the real world. Being a military child did teach me not
to fear change and to never sweat the small stuff and to show those we love that we love
them because we should not take life for granted.
Cass- NO! I didn't know anything about rent, bills, water, trash, LOL Now I have to figure it out
Tony- Sort of-Major change going from spoiled to YOYO (you're on your own) LOL
ME: Did being part of a military family make you want to join the military or run for the hills?
Nick- That's obvious lol.. It's been 6 years since I put on the suit (uniform)
Ash- I strongly considered it, but then I got married!!
Tony- Ash, you would have never survived the military HAHAHA!
Cass- I never thought ever once that I would join the military, It was great as a child.
Tony- Nah, I ran for the hills! College is my route. I want to live in one spot only!
ME: Last one- Your fave childhood memory-
Nick- My favorite moment was good and bad LOL. The day dad got back from OIF1. Right
before we went to pick dad up, mom stopped at the post office and my report card and I
had gotten a C on something and mom said dad was going to kill me! When he got off the
bus, he wasn't too mad LOL
Ash- My favorite memory? That's hard because there are so many, but my most fondest goes
back to when dad was home, he always made it a point to spend time with us one on one
and make those memories. So, it was homecoming day in Giessen and in Germany, they
don't have corsages LOL. Dad went all over town to find one and when he couldn't, he got
creative and made one. He got fresh flowers close to the color of my dress and a purple
hair tie and a hot glue gun and made me the best corsage ever. Mom was out of the country
helping my aunt, so he was on his own! He took me to the YAYAs(my other mommies)
and they did my makeup . My most cherished memory.
Cass- Giessen Bingo Nights!!!! A lot of the parents were deployed so everyone always got
together and just enjoyed it all together. We were like one big family
Tony- LOL Tony doesn't have a fave memory, LOL
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