Guest Blog Post by Kim Denryter
Operation Military Moms – Before – During – After is a closed Facebook group where over one thousand mothers of military service members find fellowship, comfort, support and compassion. The group’s founder, Kim Denryter, shares the story behind the organization, and why it means so much to her.
In The Beginning
We started Operation Military Moms – Before – During – After two years ago after a similar Facebook military mom support group had disbanded. Some of us simply could not bear the thought of losing the fellowship and connection we found with each other – it had become our lifeline.
When it was announced that the old group was going to close, I kept waiting for signs that someone – anyone – would step up to take the lead and spin us off into a new group, but it didn’t happen. Then, a day or so before old group was to disband, my fingers seemed to take on a life of their own, and a few keyboard strokes later, Military Moms – Before – During – After was officially born.
Suddenly, we were live. I freaked out over the fact that I had no experience — not even a clue — about running a Facebook group. But here we are, almost two years later, over a thousand moms strong and welcoming new moms every day.
How We Got Our Name
Our group’s name came about after a lot of deliberation. “Operation” was for my son’s first deployment, “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” I added “Military Moms” to make it clear that you have to be a mother to join the group. “Before,” was included because I wished I’d had group like this when my son was preparing to leave on his first deployment, and “During,” goes without saying.
“After” was a must – I wanted to encourage mothers to stay, even after their children had returned and or left the military because these seasoned military moms hold a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experiences that is of the most important resources to our new mothers.
The Mission
Like so many others, I wanted to do something to support the troops and their families. I have some serious health issues, but this project allows me to make a difference; it keeps me going, especially on days when I’m not doing so well. My goal is simple — to be there for other moms.
No mother should feel alone or without support on this journey as she watches her child follow a career path that fills her with both pride and fear. The focus of our online conversation isn’t always related to military issues. Not every mother’s child is deployed or even serving active duty; many are parents of members of the National Guard. Having a child in the military is what brings us together, but being a mom is what keeps us together. One of us, either me or a co-administrator, gets the conversation going a couple times each day by picking a “safe” topic to get things started. “What’s cooking tonight,” is a popular way to kick things off.
Our members represent all branches of the military, and we meet needs that are not necessarily addressed in other military parent groups. The group I was in before focused on military-related issues, providing ideas and constant reminders of things that should be kept up-to-date – passports, Red Cross information, how to mail care packages, etc.
While we do provide valuable links and resources, and help questions as they come up about these topics, we provide so much more than information. I often find myself up in the middle of the night supporting a mom who is having an emotional melt-down. We mothers are usually the ones who stay strong for the rest of the family, we keep everyone together. But it can be tiring, and we worry. Sometimes our members simply need an understanding ear to bend, or a unconditional shoulder to lean on – or cry on.
A number of our members are Gold Star Moms, mothers of service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and in some cases, this group is their only connection to other mothers who truly understand and share their pain. Above all, we are there for each other, always, no matter what.
Join Us!
If you are a military mother who would like to join Operation Military Moms – Before – During – After, click here, and please like/share this post so that other military moms will find it too.
About Kim
Kim Denryter is a proud Air Force / National Guard mom who has worried through more deployments than she’d care to mention. She juggled raising a family and working from home as office manager for her dad’s carpet cleaning company until her youngest child was eight, then entered the health care field. After signing on to her local volunteer fire department, Kim served her community as an Emergency Medical Technician. These days, when she’s not busy with Operation Military Moms – Before – During – After — where she devotes hours each day to welcoming new military moms, answering questions and moderating discussions – Kim enjoys spending time with family and, when she can find the time, working in her garden.
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