Perpetual New Kid

This is a topic I have thought about writing about. I jotted it down a few months ago and my mind wanders back to it every now and then. I have never mentioned it to my kids, or maybe to anyone for that matter, but it is, I believe, an all too common phenomenon within the military lifestyle. What inspired me to finally put it into words was the conversation I had with Mermaid when I picked her up from swim practice. She said,"Mom, you know one thing I really don't like about moving often?"
"What's that?", I asked.
She went on to tell me about how she would love to be on a swim team with teammates that she grew up with like all the other kids on her team who have known each other for years and have been competing together since grade school. But she will never get that chance. How every time we move and every time she joins a new sports team or club she is the only kid who doesn't know anyone else. She is always the new kid.
I guess I was hoping that realization would never come to her, but alas, at thirteen years old it would be a miracle if it went unnoticed. I struggle myself with this. I'm at a loss as to what advice to give her. I don't know how to fix it; for myself or for her. How do I justify making her continue a sport she loves and is great at when she dreads going to practice?
I've always talked a big talk about getting the kids involved as soon as we move somewhere. And making sure they are able to take advantage of every opportunity they would have even if we never moved. But this is starting to become a real challenge.
I know exactly how she feels. I'm always the odd one out. I'm always the parent emailing and calling the coaches trying to get my kid on the team or in the group or club mid-season and then pulling them out because they didn't feel they fit in there only to do it again. When we finally do find a place we feel like we can begin to belong it's moving time again and we get to do it all over.
I'm glad that Mermaid is outgoing and makes friends easily. I'm not and I don't. I don't know which personality type this is easier for. I hope it's easier for her.
Her little brother, Shark Boy, has always struggled with change so I can only imagine the hurdles we will have to leap when he starts to take notice of being the new kid. Or maybe he will surprise us all and sail through it like a pro. A parent can only hope.
I'm grateful for the neighborhood friends that help provide Turtle with the stability I am striving to provide for her. She knows the move is coming and occasionally expresses her disapproval. But, for the most part she is too preoccupied with being a seven-year-old to be terribly concerned.
All I know to do is to keep on keeping on. Keep trying to find that sense of belonging even if only for a little while and keep hope that the next place will provide it.