Military life is one of those things that will take all the life plans you jotted on a piece of paper, crumple them up and throw them in the shredder. Gasp. Military spouses and significant others, you might feel a little discouraged hearing this. I certainly did at first too. Growing up in the Midwest, I never envisioned leaving my [...]
Archives for May 2016
When You Are The Only Military Spouse Without Kids
When I first became a military spouse without kids, we moved on base. It was perfect! My spouse was gone for a one year deployment, and our previous apartment had become infested with rats so huge they dragged a large dog rope behind the sofa. Yeah... It was also very strange to move into a total military community. I thought it [...]
Murphy’s Law of Deployment for Civilians vs. Military Spouses
It was only a few days into the deployment. I looked down at my iPhone and it was completely blank. Couldn't turn the phone on or off. Couldn't press a single button. Couldn't reset it. Murphy's law of deployment was in full force and I still had months of deployment to conquer. The worst part? When you live overseas--at least in [...]
Why “The Finest Hours” is for Military Spouses
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Finest Hours. All opinions are 100% mine. The email read, “There are no words to describe how much I need you right now.” In an instant, I knew everything was about to change for me as a military spouse. As I sat safely at the comfort of my kitchen table in coastal North Carolina, I [...]
3 Ways to Teach Your Child to Listen in Unsafe Situations
One of the most common requests I get from readers is how to make kids listen quickly in an unsafe situations. This could be your child running into a busy street and not knowing how to stop them. This could be your child pushing another child and catching it after someone is already hurt. Or maybe it involves seeing your child climb [...]
You Know You’re At The Commissary When…
The commissary. The grocery store on military bases. This is where I primarily shop on a weekly basis and I’ve encountered all sorts of things as a military spouse. Here are some of them. Related: 9 Hidden Ways to Save Money Shopping on Base at the Commissary and Exchange (Photo by by LCpl Glen Santy, DVIDS) You know you’re at [...]
The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Military Spouses
It's is the perfect time for military families to plan a long weekend to their favorite local vacation spot. We love to stay at on base beach lodging if it exists, which is not to be confusing with on base camping. Because camping is a four letter word in our home. Why sleep outside when you can sleep inside? At any rate, no matter [...]
When You’re Stretched Too Thin as a Military Spouse
It hit me all at once. There I was--a military spouse on her way home from a teaching job and the daycare pick up--with the sobbing baby screaming in the back seat. I had dinner to cook, a bath to give, and the bedtime routine to do before I could throw in the laundry and grade papers. The tears started rolling down my face and my [...]
The Tantrum Taming Tip Most Parents Don’t Know
My strong willed toddler was enthralled with a simple penguin stairs toy. It probably only cost a few bucks, but to him it was magic. I watched him play as his eyes lit up like a bright star on a clear summer night. The toy reminded me so much of my own childhood. Again and again, he watched the penguins go up the stairs and down [...]
How to Conquer a PCS Move with Pets (And Not Regret It)
Over the past 6 years of marriage my husband and I have done countless military PCS moves with pets. Mostly with our oldest kitty Missy, and this latest time with our newest adoptions Marshmallow and Mittens--8 month old kittens. Over the years we have learned the hard way how to successfully conquer a PCS move and how not [...]