How a 5-year-old gets by while his mom's in Iraq

Daily Herald (newspaper serving the NW/W Chicago metro area) ^ | March 28, 2003 | Melissa Nielsen Daily Herald Staff Writer

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

War is too complicated for 5-year-old Jonathan Lane to understand.

Jonathan Lane

He only knows the simple things - his mom is gone and he misses her. He wants to cuddle with her, show her that he can tie his shoes. He wants her to escort him to school on his first day of kindergarten.

But Kristin Lane of Batavia is in Iraq.

Jonathan prays every night that his mom will return safely.

American flags wave over a red, white and blue sign outside the home his mom shared with his grandparents, Susan and Chuck Timm. Outlined with American flag garland and a drawing of his favorite monster Godzilla, it reads "Please pray for my mommy and our troops."

"He was so excited when we put it up," Susan Timm said. "He was waving flags and hollering to people. It raised his confidence."

Last night, a family stapled a balloon and a letter to the sign, promising Jonathan they would pray for his mom every day.

"It has really made him feel better. Just knowing that people are looking at it and praying makes him feel good," she said.

Three weeks ago, Kristin Lane, a single mom, left her son with his grandparents to be deployed with the 44th Army Rear Area Operation unit following right behind the 101st Airborne.

The rambunctious ball of energy could be the Timms' full-time job for the next year, prompting Chuck to retire early and family members and neighbors to volunteer baby-sitting services.

But military life is not something new to this family. With a long line of military blood dating back to the Civil War, Kristin followed in the steps of her father, a Vietnam War Air Force vet. All three of her uncles were Navy men and her grandfather served in the Air Force.

"She had the courage to stand by her convictions. They gave her the option to not go and take a dishonorable discharge ... but she thought it was right to go," Susan said.

For now, letters, pictures and tearful phone calls once a week keep Jonathon connected, and the support of strangers keeps him hopeful.

"I say I miss you more than you miss me, sometimes more than Godzilla," he said.

Boy: Making flag helps youngster

[optik_b]

Wow that must be terrifying for the poor kid.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

At least he's got a great set of grandparents to take care of him!

[lizma]

If you want a career and a dependent, get a dog.

Where in the heck is dad?

This is not right. This is cruel.

[cyborg]

Fathers are out of style.

[429CJ]

There must be a reason that down thru history tribes and nations (with very few desperate exceptions) have not sent their women off to war.

There is just something wrong with the soul of a nation that sends its daughters, its wives, its sisters, and its mothers off the meet the barbarians on the field of battle.

Something very wrong indeed.

[NMFXSTC]

A bit sad, yes...but a clear statement of why "single moms" should NOT be in the rnaks! Additionally, the Reserves are full of single parents and we rely heavily on them for deployments.

I'm all for service and all of that (I did 27 years active service), but the onslaught of single parents decreases mission rediness and single parents are a drain on the services (doubt that?...ask any active duty memebr!)

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I was wondering the same thing.