All Roads Lead to Home (and Other Military Kid Adages)

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The early bird gets the worm.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. 

Adages and proverbs like these have been repeated for generations around the world. Advice and observations are passed through their familiar words. The phrases’ meanings are universal, but changing a few words can make them even more personal. 

The military kid experience can be messy, and sometimes advice is needed. Sure, some adages can be applied to our situations, but why stop there? We need customized sayings for our hectic lives. Here are some well-loved platitudes, now fitted to the military teen lifestyle.

Birds of a feather don’t always flock together. The traditional phrase means that people with similar interests can be found as a group. Military kids after a PCS know that isn’t always the case, and that the truest friends aren’t always where you first look. By being open to meeting people different from yourself, you might find an unexpected kindred spirit.

A rolling stone does gather moss. The original saying claims that those who move often accumulate no commitments or responsibilities. Essentially, they have no roots. Most military kids I know can prove that adage wrong with friendships that transcend state lines, loyalties that last lifetimes, and indelible memories. Moving does not erase the connections that are forged. Saying goodbye to places and people we have come to love does not sever our links to them; in fact, military kids have roots planted all over the world.

Those who live in base houses shouldn’t throw stones. This new adage doesn't have much to do with its original counterpart, but I couldn't resist. I can’t be the only one who gets nervous about the rules and regulations of military housing.

All roads lead to home. This won’t apply to every situation, but hopefully, most military kids can relate. In my experience, every move has ultimately led to something good. Some transitions were smoother than others. Some felt awful. Yet, all of them worked out.

In second grade, my new school was much more difficult than my previous one; I spent all of the math class trying not to cry. By the end of the year, I’d caught up to my classmates and loved the challenges I had in my English class. Moving to the South after years of crystal-clear, dry mountain atmosphere made me feel like I was drowning just by standing outside. Months later, I cherished the sweet, garden-scented air that greeted me every time I rode my bike. It didn't matter where I was stationed; eventually, wherever I was became comfortable.

Military teens deal with a lot of uncertainty and new experiences. Hopefully, these edited adages hold as much wisdom as they did originally and can help advise us throughout our unique lives.