Letting Go During a PCS Move is Easier Said than Done Among Children

Letting Go During a PCS Move
is Easier said than done
Among Children

A Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is a familiar experience among children in military families because sooner or later, new assignments and new orders will make relocation a must. It is easy to assume that because children are resilient, a PCS move is easy for them. However, military parents know even children can have issues about PCS moves.

If you have just received the notice about an imminent PCS move, you will want to know how your children really feel about the news. Observing their words and their non-verbal responses will give you a deeper insight into their emotions. It will also help you discern when counseling is needed to help them manage the coming change in their lives.

Verbal Responses

It is easy to read what a child feels when inner feelings are expressed loudly. Statements like “Yessss!” or “Oh no, not again!” clearly express what is going on inside a child’s mind when parents tell them a PCS is imminent. It is the non-verbal behavior that you need to be more attuned to.

An out-and-out argument from your children is not necessarily a bad thing; they are merely manifestations of a justifiable reaction. However, when arguments continue and escalate into belligerent and openly resentful behavior, it may be time to seek support so that your child is helped to accept the coming change.

What Non-verbal Responses May Actually Mean

Non-verbal responses can vary from child to child. Silence, for example, can mean so many things. It can mean that your child is not happy about the news, but is aware that nothing can be done to prevent it. Silence could mean your child is deeply upset. On the other hand, it could also mean the news is not a surprise and your child accepts it.

What you need to be sensitive about is when your child becomes uncommunicative, withdrawn, and hostile. Remember, even quiet children have their ways of communicating, and there are activities that they are interested in. When children stop participating in activities they used to enjoy, it is time to stop and think about how they are doing emotionally.

Getting the Support You Need

If you and your family are facing a PCS and you sense that your children are deeply unhappy about it, the best thing you can do is to reach out for support and call Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC. Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC contracts with licensed professionals who work with you so that a major transition such as PCS can be less emotionally burdensome for your family. Remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. Call now for an appointment!