Military kid Leon Rivera is known for appreciating the simple things in life. He and his family, dad Berto, mom Amanda, little brother Felix (3), and little sister Elena (1), have lived in Minot since 2022. At first, the family didn’t love Minot, but after four years here, they have come to appreciate so many things about it, and Leon was happy to share his thoughts about the place.

Leon is intelligent, fun, and enjoys living life outside his house on base, no matter the season. When asked whether he prefers summer or winter, Leon took a moment to think. He said he likes them both equally because each offers different activities. However, he did admit that summer might be slightly better since more kids are outside playing. He explained how he and the neighborhood kids like to build forts in the field behind his house and spend time running around and playing together.

As a homeschooler, Leon has a bit more flexibility during the day than some kids. His mom, Amanda, told the Northern Sentry that in the past few years, there has been a large number of homeschoolers in their neighborhood, which has made things even more fun for the kids. Leon, who has been homeschooled his whole life, said he really enjoys it, especially being able to sleep in. “I like that, well, that you don’t have to catch the school bus and wake up at the crack of dawn,” he said.

Leon also loves to stay busy. One of his favorite activities is reading. He enjoys many types of books, but fantasy is his favorite genre, and his top series is The Lord of the Rings. He also likes playing video games with his dad and spending time with his younger siblings. He shared that he and his little brother Felix especially enjoy wrestling together.

When asked what his dad does on base, Leon explained, “He is in HICS, making sure the communications are still working. Sometimes he goes out into the field, but I don’t know what he does out there.” Leon’s dad, Senior Airman Berto Rivera, is actually a maintainer for the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron.

Overall, Leon didn’t have a single negative thing to say about Minot or being a military kid. According to him, life is grand. He loves going to local festivals like Hostfest and the North Dakota State Fair, but he also enjoys just spending time at home. He’s an easy kid to please.

Thanks for being such an easygoing military kid, Leon! You make us all look good, keep up the positive attitude!