Women in the Army, Mother and Daughter

How You Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm?

My daughter, Chenoa, recently completed a hitch in the Army and is home from Georgia for the summer while she plans her next big adventure. From what I can see, she left the Army with two things. First, an annoying southern accent. I’m not too worried about that because with a little nonstop nagging, I can convert her back to her native tongue, an annoying New York accent, so that’s covered. The other thing she brought home is a boatload of wisdom she is sharing with me.

“Mom, a good work ethic is really important. You have to show up on time, identify the mission and keep a good attitude.”
“Really? I never thought of that.”
“And know your responsibilities.”
“Be responsible? Wait, this is getting good. Let me get a pencil, I gotta write this down.”
“Speak clearly to the people you work with. Don’t be afraid to exercise your vocabulary and articulate precisely what you want to say.”
“Vocabulary, speak clearly, get exercise, got it. What else did the Army teach you?”
“Organization helps a lot, Mom. Organize your home and work environment to serve the mission. Decide where things should live and return them to that spot when you’re done using them.”
“Ah, sort of like when I’d always yell at you to, “put it back where you found it”. “
“I’ll show you how to organize a closet, Mom. Similar things go together.”
“Like in my closet?”
“Yeah, now that I think if it.”
“Be patient with people. That’s very important. Not everybody comprehends or works at the same speed.”
“Oh yes, the importance of being patient, like if you were raising a rebellious teenage daughter?”
“Yes, but you didn’t have that. I wasn’t rebellious. Mom? Mom! Are you all right? Let me help you get up in the chair. Why are you grabbing your chest? Do you want me to call 911?”
“No, I’m okay. I just thought I heard you say you weren’t rebellious. I flashed on the time you ran away from home for a month when you were 16.”
“Oh, that. That’s ancient history. It wasn’t like I was an ongoing problem child. What are you doing now? Why are you wedging that knife between the counter tops? You’re not a Roman General, Mother, you don’t need to fall on your steak knife, I get the point. So, maybe I had a few problems with authority. I think I’m over it now. Besides, while I was in the Army, you really seem to have grown as a human being. You’re so different now from when I was a teenager.”
“In a good way I hope?”
“Yeah, very good. For one thing, you’re funny and interesting to talk to. It’s like your personality bloomed while I was away.”
“Right. I really didn’t have any personality before. This is all new, I just got it. I bought a “21 Days to a New You” personality course from late night TV and completed it just before you got home.”
“Well didn’t the Army teach YOU anything when you were in?”
“Not much really, just responsibility, work ethic, focus, organization, patience and such. Things I tried to pass along to my children.”
“You see that, Mom, the Army taught us both a lot. We have more in common now.”
“Yep. Whoda thunk it?”