The soldier-to-Mom transition, with cupcakes

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Skylar Taylor said it was the best birthday gift ever. The third grader at Bishop McHugh Regional School here thought her class was attending an assembly with her sister Riley’s eighth grade class. After wishing Skylar a happy birthday, Principal Tom McGuire said he wanted to welcome a special visitor to the school. 

And then the Taylor’s mother, Chief Warrant Officer Christine Czaja, emerged in her army fatigues, home from a nine-month deployment in Iraq. The sisters realized it wasn’t a mirage and ran to embrace her as Principal McGuire thanked her for her service. Students and faculty members joined in a round of applause and sang Happy Birthday to Skylar.

Moving quickly back to mom mode, Czaja arrived with cupcakes for her daughters’ classes. On deck for later in the day were lacrosse practice and a family birthday celebration for Skylar. Soon Czaja will return to her civilian job as a probation officer for the State of New Jersey.

Czaja’s last deployment with the National Guard was before she had children. She readily admits how hard it was to be away from her family. 

“It’s part of the job and that’s what we do, but it certainly doesn’t make it easy when you have to go,” she said.

While she was gone she missed Riley’s 14th birthday and Skylar’s first holy Communion. She said having the girls at Bishop McHugh made all the difference.

“The fact that Bishop McHugh was able to make school happen five days a week since September was huge peace of mind for me, knowing my mom wouldn’t have the additional burden of school,” she said.

Principal McGuire said it was “a real honor to welcome this soldier home.”

He also commented on how Skylar and Riley’s classmates have supported them during their mother’s absence.

“Kids really pull for one another in trying times. They boost the morale of one another,” he said.