In response to the “Be flexible with Navy kids” (Letters, Aug. 26).

As a retired Navy wife I have raised three children in various schools — in and out of the country. It is not only a privilege but also a choice to move with your husband to the various duty stations. If we have special privileges or exceptions because children are from a military family that not only puts them in a light of being different from other children but also will make them stand out in school as “special children.” Not all bases have schools and many times the children go to the public schools for that area. With everything that is happening in the world today do you really want a military child to stand out in the crowd?

Two of my children were, as you put it, held back because of their birth date being at the wrong time for the school district. They weren’t the oldest kids in their classes and didn’t feel as though they were losing out on anything because of starting school at the age of 6 instead of 5, they really don’t know the difference unless you make a big deal out of it.

We moved back to this wonderful island approximately four years ago and have been stationed here two previous times during my husband’s Navy career. Many of the children my kids went to school with at the various times were or were not here when we returned, it is part of choosing to move around with your husband to his various duty stations.

Military children don’t “sacrifice their education due to their parent fighting for our country.” They go to school, learn, play and grow just as any other child does. Your husband is in the military, that is his job he chose to do. Do you realize that military children are more well-rounded adults because of the experiences they have learning various cultures. They learn to handle stresses such as changes and moving earlier in life than those that live in one place their entire life.

You not only have offended me I think you have just offended the majority if not all of the military community when you screamed that you’re a military wife with kids and need more support than what you already have! It was your choice to move to this wonderful area and be with your husband whenever he is home. That is the choice of the military wife. If you are so concerned about your child not being able to start school when you want him/her to because of the area school rules then maybe you should consider moving back home early and not moving again when your husband’s duty station changes.

Military families have more support now than they’ve had in the past.

No person’s family is more special than another’s because of the job a person has chosen to do.

As a retired Navy wife I will pray for your husband’s safe return from his travels in the world and pray that you choose to not expect people to treat you or your children special because of the job your husband does.

Michele Carney

Oak Harbor