MilSpouse Life
One of my most vivid memories of military life was during a time when I was a military girlfriend. Nearing our thirties, my boyfriend and I had been together for several years already. In the beginning we were long distance, and after almost two years together, I moved from the Midwest to Coastal North Carolina to be with him. It was [...]
The Reality of Raising Teens in a Military Family
When I was in my twenties and preparing to walk down the aisle to marry my Marine over twenty years ago, someone asked me if I thought I could handle being a military wife. I wondered if other brides got asked the same question. I’d never been married, after all. And I certainly didn’t know what military life would be [...]
Where to find helpful MILSO groups online
When I first became a military girlfriend, the Internet was fairly new and Facebook hadn’t been invented yet. (And yes, in case you’re wondering, that makes me feel old.) During my Marine’s first few deployments to Iraq, I was in college, far from any military base. I did not know any other military girlfriends or spouses and felt [...]
Mom LifeWhat a Picture Won’t Tell You About a Postpartum Journey
I was self conscious because people often asked me when I was due and I wasn’t pregnant. I worked out through the pain of my lower back and other really annoying symptoms. Simply because I was told over and over again that my symptoms were... normal. That the pain I was having was normal, that it was all part of motherhood and [...]
17 Most Powerful Essential Oils for Stress and Emotional Wellness
Inside: Struggling with the challenges of everyday life? Check out these powerful essential oils for stress. Plus, learn several essential oils for sleep, anxious feelings from everyday life and nervous tension. The stress of everyday life was getting to me. I'd go into the bathroom for a moment to get my breath, trying to [...]
Being a Military Spouse Was Harder Than I Thought
My first move as a military spouse and not a service member was unexpectedly hard. In the past, I would head to work and make friends and at least even when I didn’t know anyone, I had co-workers to spend time with throughout the day. I had a place to start. But when we arrived at our new base my husband went off to work, and I stayed [...]
Raising KidsDealing With Controlling Kids? The “Secret Sauce” for Gaining Cooperation
Inside: If you're struggling with kids who act controlling, this is the missing piece to help! Plus, a simple 3-part guide for dealing with controlling kids or strong-willed kids. Post contains affiliate links that may, at no extra cost to you, earn a small commission. My daughter looked at her older brother, and immediately upon [...]
Deployment7 Crucial Components to Highly Effective Deployment Communication
One of the biggest challenges to deployment is the way it affects your relationship and your ability to communicate with your spouse. Sometimes deployment communication problems can be anticipated, like when the service member knows they won’t have internet. But other problems can creep up on you unexpectedly, like when your service [...]
7 Parenting Basics That Are More Important Than Ever
Several years ago I remember sitting at my dining room table vigorously typing away at my computer. Determined to start my own business from home, I was ready to - as they say - have it all. I was going to work from home (creating an online job for myself) and stay-at-home with my son and be a dotting spouse who cleaned and KonMaried [...]
The Secret Life of Military Spouses and Their Curtains
Every military spouse I know has one. It’s some sort of marked box or storage bin; usually shoved in the back corner of a closet. Sometimes the lid closes nicely. Sometimes it’s crammed so full that we have to stack other boxes on top to keep it closed. This box is filled with curtains. And it is more than just something that takes up [...]
