MilSpouse Life
Military life is stressful, which typically doesn't mix well if you're Type A compulsive planner (that's me). I like to make plans and keep plans. The military likes to make plans and change plans. PCS moves, deployments, and homecoming (the typical military life pillars) occur and anxiety immediately sets in. At least some of [...]
Military Life
Military Resources7 Myths About Tricare for Military Families…Debunked
If there is one thing about military marriage that surprised me, it is the massive learning curve that occurs once joining Tricare. After my husband and I got married, we hopped into our SUV and took a week long road trip from the midwest back to coastal Carolina where we lived. I specifically remember driving through the country roads [...]
Deployment9 Unspoken Rules of FaceTiming Your Deployed Service Member
When my husband was deployed, being able to FaceTime him helped a lot. We would try to chat on a daily basis but obviously if he had to go out on a mission, it didn't always happen. But when it did happen, I'd be excited that I could see him. The kids would be thrilled to see their Daddy as well. It was precious time when I could pull out [...]
How to Create a Roadside Emergency Kit for Deployment
Inside this post: Every military spouse should have a roadside emergency kit for deployment. Learn the items you need and where to get them. Right in the middle of deployment, I got the kids ready and headed to the car outside our apartment building. After wrestling each of them into their car seats, I hopped into the driver's [...]
How To Spot a Toxic Military Spouse Friendship
I should have known something was off when she told me she used to be best friends with someone and suddenly she wasn't. But you know, people change. It happens. People lose touch with one another. So I filed her comment away. We became military spouse friends rather quickly. Our kids got along. Our husbands got along, bonding over [...]
9 Reasons Military Spouses Don’t Want to Move OCONUS
I've never minded when my husband got orders, and we had to move. It meant we could start all over again. I mean, yes, having to pack everything is a pain and saying goodbye to friends is never easy. But the flip side meant we could explore a new place. Having said that, I always worry my husband will get orders overseas, and I don't [...]
The Pictures You Didn’t Take With Your Service Member
My husband missed our fourth wedding anniversary this year. In the middle of the day, I remember looking out the patio door window into the distance and thinking he was out there. Somewhere. But not here. Deployed again, our anniversary marked another celebratory milestone where his absence was heart-achingly paplpable. I took a break [...]
50+ Amazing Things Military Spouses Can Do During Deployment
If you talk to enough military spouses in the middle of a deployment, you'll discover a common theme: everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. It's as if kids wait to get sick, washing machines wait to break down, and all minor emergencies are reserved for the days, weeks and months your service member is gone on a training mission [...]
How to Create the Perfect Military Care Package
*Compensation for this post was provided by Starkist Tuna via MSB New Media. All opinions expressed in this piece are my own. Military care packages are one of the best ways to show appreciation to deployed military service members. Over the years, care packages have become incredibly creative, often based on a special theme or [...]
12 Creative Ways Military Families Thrive During the Holidays
Around the world there are hundreds of thousands of military families far from home this holiday season. Some families (like us) are half way around the world from their nearest and dearest, which is about as far as you can get. Sounds slightly daunting, right? But there is an upside to everything… You can live far away from family, [...]
