Mom Reported to Military Duty With Kids in Tow

March 5, 2009

North Carolina mom Lisa Pagan is going to be given some type of an honorable discharge after she reported for military duty with her two young children. The mama of Elizabeth, 5, and Eric, 3, has been out of service for the past four years and said she has no one to care for her children if she is shipped out as her husband travels for business. Do you think military moms deserve exemptions for this reason?

7 Comments

AD1985 4 years 11 weeks

I feel no sympathy for this woman when there are thousands of parents deployed far away from their children at this very moment. Just because those cases involve one parent or other family member who is able to stay and care for the children, why should she be spared separation from her children simply because of a lack of planning? She signed a contract and made a commitment - in my opinion, she should not be honorably discharged because she put herself in a position in which she could not honor her end of the deal.

Kimpossible 4 years 11 weeks

I agree with the others, no, she made the commitment, she knew what was required of her, she had time to make arrangements (ample time at that). Not cool on her part IMO.

SweetnLow 4 years 11 weeks

Oh, and in 2005 when my husband was in Iraq, a friend of ours (who was a single father) was told to either make arrangements or be DIShonorably discharged.

SweetnLow 4 years 11 weeks

I feel badly for her situation- no one wants to leave their children- but why is she any different from the millions of other military families where they have to find a way to make it work? Speaking as a military wife and mother who has had to make sacrifices for my family and his duty, this kind of makes me mad.

pinkprincess1101 4 years 11 weeks

I say no, you made that commitment and obligation to the military, she knew that there was a possibility they would call her back, so should we bring back all the other mothers, would that be fair to the fathers why not bring them allback. I hate this (frivolous) war but that is an obligation they made.

NyckieRocks 4 years 11 weeks

My husband is in the military, and because of that I know that there are a lot of different child care options within the military (well, at least the Army). Also, other military families are usually eager to help out because they've often been in similar situations themselves. I understand where she is coming from, but I agree with Jesse- she signed her contract and knew what she would be getting into. I think that if you're going to sign yourself to then you should have to fulfill that obligation- mom or not. Also, if the roles were reversed (say it was a father being deployed and a mother that travels a lot for work) would the situation have had the same outcome?

jessie 4 years 11 weeks

okay...i have mixed feelings on this. granted she can't find anyone to watch her kids. i've read in other articles neither of their parents can't help. and in todays economy if dads working..by all means..keep working. i wouldn't want to be looking for another job. but then....she signed the contract...and knew that she might be called back to serve. she also had a full year to try and make accomdations for her children. whether it be a neighbor or a nanny. with many supporting the military, someone would of tried to help. makes me wonder how this will effect other women in the military. i feel she just gave military moms a bad rap. i'm on the fence with this one.

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