• Parenting as a soldier is demanding, but it is also a rewarding experience. It requires constant balancing, but the love for one's family and country provides powerful motivation. The challenges these families face are significant, but the strength and resilience they display inspire all.

Parenting entails many things, like providing a secure and loving environment and having open and honest conversations with your children, among other things. Parenting as a soldier is a constant juggle, balancing between the call of duty and the needs of a growing child. Dedication, discipline, and resilience are drilled into every recruit. But for those who are also parents, a whole new facet of responsibility is added.

The most immediate challenge is deployment. Separations can be long and unpredictable, leaving a gaping hole in a child's life and a heavy weight on the deployed parent's heart. Military families learn to adapt. Often, the remaining parent shoulders a heavier load, managing single parenthood on top of their anxieties about their deployed spouse. Children also grapple with the absence. They may struggle with emotions they do not fully understand, leading to behavioural issues or academic challenges.

Women Service Corps (WSC) was a women-only unit in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)created in 1971 to support fighting units during war. It was later disbanded and allowed to join the Army, Air Force and Navy. Before they were integrated with the rest, they were not given the rights of being parents.

The group (WSC) was disabled, and they were allowed to join the rest of the soldiers, all thanks to the former retired General Daudi Tonje, who brought the Tonje rules that, among other things, gave the women soldiers a chance to experience parenting like their counterparts. Parenting is difficult in most occupations, too, but there are many ways to manoeuvre so as to ensure effective parenting, unlike those in uniform.

The return home presents a different set of hurdles. Soldiers returning from deployments often carry invisible baggage - the weight of experiences they can't share with their families. Recuperation takes time and patience. Communication becomes crucial, with parents needing to find a way to share their experiences in a way that is age-appropriate and protects their children.

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Despite the challenges, there are strengths unique to military families. The military community provides a strong support system, with other families who understand the unique challenges of deployment and reintegration. Soldiers, by nature, are resourceful and adaptable, skills that translate well to the complexities of parenting.

Furthermore, military experience can instil valuable lessons in children. They learn about resilience, sacrifice, and serving a cause greater than oneself. They witness firsthand the dedication and selflessness of their parents, fostering a deep sense of pride.

Parenting as a soldier is demanding, but it is also a rewarding experience. It requires constant balancing, but the love for one's family and country provides powerful motivation. The challenges these families face are significant, but the strength and resilience they display inspire all.