Help a Kid Hug Their Hero

I am one of those people who has spent most of her life with a wedgie from sitting on the fence.  I prefer to say that I can see both sides of most issues, and can often find something to agree with on either side if the arguments are presented rationally.

Thus, despite my feelings about all of these military engagements and wars we keep jumping into, I still feel a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform. 

It is a great fear that my kids will end up in the military, mainly because of the potential for them to be harmed.  I wouldn't try to talk them out of it, though.  My brother was a Marine.  Bio-dad, a sailor.  Grandfather, a sailor.  I am proud of the service of my family, but will state openly, I'm not cut out for it... for a lot of reasons.

Some people are.  I can't believe the sacrifices people make for our country.  How can they do that?  I don't know, but they do.

There's a relatively new TV show called, "Welcome Home."  It's full of stories about soldiers coming home and what their reunions are like.  I tape it and watch it in private with a full box of tissue.

Recently a mom on one of my birth boards (the ones for kiddos born at the same time as Madeladelyn) mentioned that her husband was leaving for a year and that she was going to get a Hug a Hero doll for their three year old.

I had to check it out.  Maybe you should too.

They call them Daddy Dolls, but you can get one for Mommy, too.  Or really, anyone.  But the main idea behind them is that a child gets to hold "Daddy" or "Mommy" or whomever while that person is off doing hero work.

Maybe you know a little someone who is missing their mom or dad.  Or will be missing them, in which case you can get the little voice recorder to go with it, and have that person record a special message before deploying.

Or maybe you don't know anybody, but still think it would be cool to help a little boy or girl deal with those long months without their hero.  If that's you, you can make a donation and a doll will be created for an eligible child.

I was fortunate enough to get to make one for a particular little girl.  She's having a hard time dealing with Daddy being gone, but I hear that her Daddy doll arrived and has been helping her a little.