Being a stay-at-home mom for the first time, I struggled. I blame my type-A personality that I inherited from my mother. For some reason, I thought my first baby would fit into a perfect baby book mold. I thought that he would sleep and eat and do things the way I wanted, when I wanted. Turns out, he had a plan of his own, which [...]
Archives for April 2017
The Pain of Saying Goodbye to Your Military Spouse Tribe
A huge thank you to Kellie Artis is the Director of Content for MILLIE for contributing this post. Who’s guilty of mentally checking out as soon as you get PCS orders? One could hardly blame us. In the military community, our friend-turnover rate is high, and our friend-courting phase is typically very short. Think about it: If you [...]
21 Things You May Experience Having a Baby With a Service Member
When husband and I were pregnant with our first baby together, we received orders to Iwakuni, Japan. The time table in which my husband was set to report to his new duty station was almost immediately after my due date. This meant, more than likely, he would move ahead of me and I would follow 6-8 weeks later or as soon as the [...]
The Ultimate PCS Checklist for Changing Schools With Military Kids
Inside this post: Grab a free printable PCS checklist for changing schools with military kids. Learn step-by-step what military families need to know before moving kids to a new school. I had that sinking feeling as I rolled into the parking lot. Something was missing. I knew it wasn't the kids. After three separate checks of the [...]
How to Respond When Your Child is Afraid to Sleep Alone
Inside this post: Learn the most effective way to respond when your child is afraid to sleep alone. If your child keeps getting out of bed and is afraid of the dark, this tip will help with nighttime anxiety. "Mommy, there are monsters in here!" Out of nowhere, my son was afraid to sleep alone, and if I'm being honest, I was about to [...]
7 Best Military Toys for Kids That Will Encourage Imagination and Creativity
Inside this post:Â These are my ALL-TIME favorite army toys for kids! Especially great for military kids who want to role play. These kids' military toys inspire creativity. We were having lunch on Saturday morning when my son stepped onto the balcony and shrieked, "Daddy's home!" My heart instantly sank from my chest to my stomach. [...]
9 Hidden Ways to Save Money Shopping on Base at the Commissary and Exchange
Until we recently moved on base, I never shopped at the Commissary or Exchange. Living off base meant it was quicker just to go to the local grocery store to get what I needed. But then we got orders overseas... Moving overseas came with a world of new experiences for my family, including learning how to frugally navigate the [...]
Why I Didn’t “Go Home” When My Service Member Deployed
Whenever my husband had to deploy, I was asked by friends if I planned on going home until he returns. I know my parents would welcome me with open arms and I appreciate it. I appreciate them. I remember when Tom went to Korea for a year, people were surprised to learn that I wasn't packing up my kids and going home. So why is [...]
10 Perfect Bath Toys for Older Kids to Keep It FUN
Inside: Not sure how to keep bath time fun and enjoyable as your kids get older? These bath toys for older kids are perfect to keep baths fun. Bath time. These are magical words in our home. Sure, I bathe my kids to clean them up and keep them healthy but bath time is so much more than that. Bath time is a time when everyone is HAPPY. [...]
31+ Genius Tips, Hacks and Ideas For Surviving Your Next Deployment
Surviving deployment is one of those things that never gets easier. You do gain more tools and equip yourself with strategies for coping with deployment separations. But that big deployment mountain? It's always there. Staring you down. Military spouses regularly ask, "What's the secret to surviving deployment?" I think [...]