I did, and here is my sister on my go-kart outside the family’s married quarters when, as you can see, we were very small.

Growing up in a military household is a particular experience:

• moving frequently with the attendant loss of your bedroom, friends and school, activities, and familiar places;

• a parent away from home for long periods of time with no clear idea about when they might or even if they will return;

• going to boarding school;

• experiencing different cultures.

Some of this was exciting, really interesting, and I wouldn’t be without many of the experiences I had and memories I have. But some of it was hard, especially the impact it had on family dynamics and the ways it has affected my sense of who I am and how I relate to others; there’s an enduring sense of dislocation, that where I am is temporary, and that relationships will inevitably end.

It’s taken time in therapy to unravel the seemingly indelible effects of my childhood and teenage years but it’s given me an appreciation for what might be happening for you. I may be be able to help you make changes too, whether your experiences are in the past or are your daily life today. Feel free to ask me more.