You're moving to Israel? you realize your children will have to go to the army right?

When the thought of making aliyah stopped being a vague idea flying around our heads and became topic of discussion among our families, many tools and weapons were used to convinced us not to move, but one con that my mom thought for sure was going to make me doubt my decision, was "your children are going to have to go to the army".

I think I am a great mother, I love my children more than anything in the world, but does it make me a terrible person that that life-changing-immensely-important-fact didn't even make it onto my pro-con list?

Maybe it's the fact that my oldest son is only 6 and the army is years down the road, or the fact that the army weighed against all the wonderful things I can give them by moving to Israel doesn't seem like such a big trade off.  The fact is that my children going to the army didn't stop me from making aliyah.

I am here now and I get to witness every day the role the army plays in this society and in the life of every Israeli and the role society and every Israeli play in the army.

Yesterday, thanks to an invitation from Nefesh B Nefesh, we had the opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony for Hel Avir, the Israeli Air Force. We made a trip out of it and spent the entire day on base looking at planes at the Hel Avir Museum, we watched a flying demonstration of different air crafts. Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Zar ha Bitajon, and various commanders gave speeches congratulating the new soldiers of Hel Avir.  It was all very exciting, but my heart was with the soldiers. Seeing this kids - because that's who they are, kids- turn into soldiers and thinking that one day my kids will proudly wear that uniform turned my heart upside down. Not in a bad way though. Not in a way that made me think of my mother's words before I moved, or that made me regret making aliyah. Not for a second did I feel scared that one day it will be my kid defending this country. Yesterday's ceremony made my heart turn because I felt proud of this kids and of our country. My heart turned because I realized that one day, I will be like one of the many proud parents who were there yesterday to see their children. My heart turned, because I heard my little 6 year old who has only been in Israel for 4 months sing the Hatikva.

I can't even come close to imagining what a mother of an 18 year old kid must feel when she sees her little boy dressed in army green, carrying an M16 leaving out the door to defend our country. She probably doesn't sleep at night while her son is gone, so you and I can. But as scared as she may be, she is also proud that her little boy is responsible for your and my safety.

Yesterday, as much as an Olah Hadasha as I looked, I felt very Israeli.