My son is taking an extended trip and the weeks before he left were a logistical whirlwind. Parents of newly-fledged adults can probably relate except my son isn’t taking a vacation. Mac is a U.S. Marine and this is his first deployment.

His brother is also a Marine, and he’s stationed thousands of miles away too. It’s not what I expected from my life as an artsy, peace-loving, British transplant. What happened to make my sweet babies aspire to be like the gun-toting, camo-clad meatheads of the movies?

This essay is dedicated to all the Military Moms:

Wherever you are, I know whose side you’re on and I send you love. May your gods bless you kindly. 🕊️

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