Blake Hall
April is the Month of the Military Child. To celebrate the bond between military dads and their daughters, Navy veteran and photographer Vanessa Hicks invited service members and their children to ‘Military Tea Time.’
At tea time, fathers wearing their dress uniforms share a cup of tea with their young daughters while Hicks takes photos. The results could give you cavities.
Hicks told TODAY that the Military Tea Time photos are an opportunity for kids to bond with their military dads and walk away with a keepsake.
“I am always thinking of creative ways to document and honor our military members,” Hicks told TODAY. “April is the Month of the Military Child, and I truly love this month because it needs to be remembered how much these kids sacrifice as well … I thought creating an intimate setting, something that all little girls love like playing dress-up and drinking tea with their hero, would be a great way to honor this month.”
Studies have found that military children are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse and physical violence than civilian children. This connection becomes stronger during wartime when military parents may be deployed.
It can be an uphill battle for young kids who don’t understand the risks of their mother or father’s career. But for today, the little girls in Hicks’ photos can put those worries behind them and enjoy a cup of tea with their heroes.