What You Can Do to Avoid Drama in Your Milspouse Life Drama. It's everywhere, isn't? You want to stay away but you can't. You want to get out there and make friends, but you don't want the drama that comes with that. The truth is, drama is everywhere, but you don't have to let the
Military life comes with its ups and downs for all family members. Claire Wood describes her experiences as a MilSpouse and offers tips on how to cope, on SpouseLink.
When You Are Feeling Alone in Your Military Spouse Life There could be times during your life as a military spouse when you will feel alone. Maybe your spouse just left for a deployment, maybe you just moved to a new city, too many miles from your comfort zone, or maybe your friend circle has
On this episode I talk to Lana Simmons about finding your identity as a military spouse and advice she would give her younger self!
A new year is always a wonderful way to get serious about making life a little better. Military spouses are all about that life, to be honest. From figuring out how to PCS eight timezones alone to buying a house without ever stepping foot inside it, spouses are all about being more efficient, knowing how
Enough With the Dependa Crap I'm over it. I am so tired of the dependa crap. I am tired of people throwing that word around, using it to demean others, using it as a weapon, and hiding behind it as if it makes them better than anyone else. Enough with the talking down to other military
LISTEN ON YOUR FAV PLATFORM: APPLE | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE 6 Pro PCS Tips Tips & Tricks to Make Your Move a Little Less Stressful Hey friend, Last week in our Milspo PCS prep series, we talked about how to declutter your home in preparation for your military move. This week we’re diving into
It's no secret that I think military spouses are amazing. From their resiliency to their creativity to the depth of love they have for their service member even in the face of really difficult circumstances, spouses are inspirational. But let's be real: They're also human. And they're allowed to be human. Often, military spouses are
Not living on base? Find out how you can still stay connected to the greater military community.
Military Life is Hard and It's Okay To Say So When I started my blog in 2009, I did so for a few reasons. I was a bit bored but more than that, I wanted to share what I was going through. I knew I couldn't be the only military spouse that felt the way
Why You Should Go to at Least One FRG Meeting What first comes to mind when you hear the word, "FRG meeting?" Does it make you cringe? Does hearing that give you warm memories of former duty stations? Do you wonder even how to find your FRG? The FRG gets a bad rap, it really
Finding Meaningful Friendships In Military Spouse Life We all need people. People we can depend on, people we can connect with, and people we can have meaningful relationships with. We might make a new friend, and find out they are moving in three months. We might have the perfect group of friends, knowing we will
I moved out of my parent's home and away from my hometown when I was 18. I couldn't wait to explore and live somewhere else. I couldn't wait for that independence. I was so ready and left when I had the chance to go. When I did that, I didn't know how far that independence
Thanks to Liz from Sseko Designs for this guest post! Hi! I’m Liz. I’m the co-founder of Sseko Designs. When I was 22, I moved to Uganda to be a journalist and write about issues facing women living in extreme poverty. While there, I met an incredible group of young women who had tested into
We believe stories are important - they connect us with other women who share similar experiences and help us feel as if we're not alone when life throws us a curveball. And as a military spouse - owned company, we believe in the power of sharing stories of fellow military spouses. The military spouse community is a unique sisterhood - they show strength with every relocation, deployment, and lost job; they’re resilient - making a new home and forming new friendships at each duty station; and they are fiercely devoted to the family and military hero they love. Despite the uncertainty and sacrifice that military life brings, military spouses face each new challenge with grace and bravery. At Charliemadison Originals, we're celebrating our sisterhood of military spouses through our Meet a Milspouse series - sharing one story at a time and giving you a glimpse inside their world. GIVE US A BEHIND-THE-SCENES PEEK AT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY – HOW DID YOU BECOME A MILITARY SPOUSE (MILSPOUSE)? WHAT DO YOU DO IN ADDITION TO BEING A MILSPOUSE? AND A FUN FACT ABOUT YOUR MILITARY FAMILY? I met my husband when I was also in the Army as a combat medic. I was teaching a combat lifesaver class and he was a student of mine. He began to bring apples to class and give them to me. It didn’t take long before we began dating and were as inseparable as you can be when you are in the military lifestyle. Now we have been together for over 14 years and have three young boys. Fun fact about our family is that we recently spent two years in Korea and that was an incredible experience. I am so grateful we were able to show our children a place so incredibly different than America. It was in Korea that I decided to launch my own holistic nutrition consulting business. It was going to be nearly impossible to find work and I was really wanting to help people get healthier sooner than later. That’s when Health on the Homefront was born. I began giving tours of the local outdoor Korean markets. Those markets are amazing and I miss them so much. Many military families were intimidated by the different produce as well as the communication barriers and I wanted to help them break through that and enjoy the amazing fresh foods. WHICH MILITARY BRANCH DOES YOUR SPOUSE SERVE IN AND FOR HOW MANY YEARS HAS HE SERVED? Active duty Army and he has served for 17 years - we are seeing the end in sight now. WHERE HAS THE MILITARY MOVED YOUR FAMILY OVER THE YEARS? WHICH WAS YOUR FAVORITE DUTY STATION AND WHY? We met at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and then moved to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. I loved Washington and miss so much of it to this day. The farmer’s markets were plentiful, the people were so friendly and it was gorgeous. All of that wetness makes for a beautiful state. But after having two babies 16 months apart the misty weather proved to be a bit more challenging. Next was Fort Rucker, Alabama and from there we went to Camp Humphreys, Korea and now Fort Riley, Kansas. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A MILITARY SPOUSE? TELL US SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED OR HAS MADE YOU STRONGER BECAUSE YOU ARE A MILSPOUSE? The pride I feel for our country and being an American has definitely strengthened by being a military spouse. I feel like we see the world a bit differently from our perspective, with our spouses always taking off for training and deployments. Their entire mission is to train and protect all of us and that is powerful. Something none of us take for granted. My favorite thing about being a military spouse is how all of us have an instant connection through life circumstances. We have so many similar threads that weave between our lives and we instantly get what the other has endured. WHO INSPIRES YOU AND WHY? There are so many people that inspire me and it changes on the daily because I am always looking for inspiration. Rachel Hollis is a huge inspiration for me right now and I just saw on social media that she spoke at a USO event for military spouses and anyone that takes time to come speak to us (because service members get special visits more often) is greatly appreciated. She is so down to Earth and I love her honesty about the struggles she faces every day and all she had to face to get where she is now. Transparency is very inspirational to me. Real and transparent. WHICH CHARLIEMADISON EVERYDAY REMINDER DO YOU WEAR ON YOUR WRIST AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT PARTICULAR BRACELET? I am immediately drawn to certain colors and combinations and I love the diffuser bracelets the best! I love how I can wear them individually or stack them all and they look just as good together or stand alone. WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAY CONNECTED TO WHAT MATTERS MOST, DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY, FREQUENT MOVES, AND DEPLOYMENTS THAT GO ALONG WITH BEING A MILITARY FAMILY? Well I will say it doesn’t always come easily and those days that aren’t easy or I get a bit disconnected I try to lean into it, feel it, acknowledge it and then know that tomorrow is another day. It’s okay to get angry or frustrated. I think military spouses feel like they can’t vent or get frustrated with circumstances or they will be seen as the complainer. But then when it doesn’t get out and instead it is shoved down deep inside it will find it’s way out eventually. When that happens it will have exponentially grown in a negative manner - short tempered, shut down, or lead to emotional eating. WE HAPPEN TO BE QUOTE LOVERS AROUND HERE – CAN YOU SHARE A FAVORITE QUOTE THAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED? “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” ~ Maya Angelou WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE? Pam Chavez helps military spouses take back control of their lives through mindset, connection, health and well-being. She shows them how to discover their personal goals despite their physical location, come to terms with longing for the stability and support of regular life, and create systems that support their sanity while living in a bubble of an unpredictable lifestyle. WEBSITE www.healthonthehomefront.com FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/healthonthehomefront.com INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/health_on_the_homefront E-MAIL [email protected]
This post is not sponsored. I'm just excited to bring you an opportunity through an ethical fashion company that is actively seeking military spouses as Sseko Fellows. I gave up my teaching career to marry my husband. When he got down on one knee in front of Penn State's Old Main, my job--my career-- was
There has been a lot of talk about Isis and blogging and PERSEC and OPSEC and what we military spouse bloggers need to do about it. Some of us have decided to keep on blogging like normal. We are not too worried about it and although we are safe with our personal information, we don’t
When You Are Living a Military Life I have lived in a military community ever since I got off the airplane in Germany back in 2006. I have been through seasons of deployment after deployment. I have watched my friends go through this too. I have gone through a few PCS moves myself, I can't
I get commissions for purchases made through some of the links in this post. My dating years were a long time ago. Think, the 90s. Before dating apps and smartphones. I always knew I wanted to be married someday and I met my husband when I was 22 after a couple of boyfriends that were
When You Can't Find Your Milspouse Tribe With a deployment looming, I was starting to freak out. I didn't know anyone here. I was feeling a sense of dread as it was. He was going over to Afghanistan this time. And I didn't have any military friends to go through this with. I didn't have
Support for the Military Spouse through deployments, PCSing & other challenges...
Support for the Military Spouse through deployments, PCSing & other challenges...
Life As a Military Spouse In 17 Memes Life as a military spouse can be quite the journey. Through deployments, pcsing places you want and don't want to go, and finding lifelong friends you couldn't live without. Here is your life as a military spouse in 17 memes. So true. Sometimes military life sucks, but
Why the Military Life Isn't Like Any Other Life The military life is a unique life. It just is. Saying it is "just like any other life" doesn't make any sense. I wish serving in the military was just like any other job, but it isn't. I wish my husband hadn't missed my son's birth
Military life is a rollercoaster. You will have your good days and your bad ones. You will have highs and you will have lows. You will be waiting for orders for months and months and then you get them and before you know it you are on a plane headed to your next duty station.
In the summer of 2009, I waited in an airport terminal in a fancy dress and heels. I never wear heels but this was a special day. My husband was flying in from Iraq for a two-week R&R during his year-long deployment. My boys and I were in California visiting my family, and that is
Military life has a lot of transition. One way to buffer your finances from all the transition is for military couples to live on one income.
#squadgoals
Please note: This article is not professional legal advice and is meant for entertainment purposes only. Consult a practicing lawyer in your area for information on your particular situation. When you get married, divorce is likely not on your radar. However, for some military couples, divorce eventually does become a reality. While the majority of
Even before I married John and officially became a military spouse, I did something that most military spouses are familiar with: I became jobless. In fact, because of my contract, I ended up resigning from my teaching position months before our wedding-- even though we only moved in together after we put a ring on it.
I am terrified of heights. I don't think terrified even begins to do the all-consuming fear justice. And it's a finicky thing, fear. I'm not scared of a being in a tall building or even flying in a plane. I used to really like rock climbing, and even though I haven't done it in ages,
14 Memes for Your Milspouse Life Whether you are getting ready for your 3rd PCS or just started your 1st deployment, milspouse life is unique and comes with its own challenges. Some days will be easier than others. Some years will be easier than others. Here are some milspouse memes to help you through...:) If
Memes That Explain Exactly What Life As A Military Spouse Is Really Like Military life is an adventure of its own. You really have to have lived this life to understand. Some of the things us military spouses go through are rather unique. It's nice to know we are not alone in our struggles and
16 Fun Memes For Military Spouses Living the Military Spouse Life Whether you are new to military spouse life, or a seasoned military spouse, there are parts to military life that can seem a bit overwhelming, a bit frustrating, or a bit unique. We work our way through deployments, no matter how long they might
I was recently added to a Facebook group for my husband's first duty station in Schweinfurt, Germany. While the post has been closed, the group is mostly about our memories of our time there. My husband arrived there in late 2005 and me, and my son joined him in March of 2006. We lived there
3. Not all military housing is good Not everyone likes their military housing. Some of it is older and more run down. Some of it doesn't make sense for a growing family. In a lot of cases, there isn't a whole lot you can do about this. You can always move off post/base, but sometimes that
It's almost time for your spouse to re-enlist, decisions have to be made, and you feel like it is time to walk away from military life. However, your spouse does not agree and would love to do 20+ years in the military. What should you do? What can you do? Is it even fair to them
There’s "mom guilt," "career guilt," "wife guilt." And for military spouses, I think there is a special flavor of "spouse guilt," reserved just for us.
We all need military spouse friends to get though military life. These are the friends you need for different military challenges.
The Commissary is not your average off-base, civilian grocery store. I'm not saying that to scare you; I'm just letting you know. Especially if you're very new to military life, it can be a little intimidating. (I know I was the first few times we went!) There are certain procedures, rules, and policies put in
Welcome to Daily Mom's article on Building Your Tribe When you're Not a "Traditional" Milspouse, where you can find all the information and tips you need,
Support for the Military Spouse through deployments, PCSing & other challenges...
There are many ways I envisioned my life, but I was not prepared or expecting to be a military spouse. I wasn't made for this life.
On this episode I talk to Lana Simmons about finding your identity as a military spouse and advice she would give her younger self!
Military life is especially tough for someone who likes traditions and family time. I'm not saying that condescendingly; I'm saying it as a truth. If you're someone who likes things as they've always been with the people you've always been with, military life can be really, really tough. It can be hard to be in
6 Resources For Military Spouses Struggling With Anxiety and Depression I suffer from anxiety. Having a spouse in the military can add to the struggle. Over the years I have learned what works and how to deal with my anxiety. Sometimes that means changing little things in my life, other times that has meant going
Finding Meaningful Friendships In Military Spouse Life We all need people. People we can depend on, people we can connect with, and people we can have meaningful relationships with. We might make a new friend, and find out they are moving in three months. We might have the perfect group of friends, knowing we will
No, The Military Isn't The Same As Any Other Job 11 months. That's how long I have gone without seeing my husband because of his job as an Infantry soldier. 15 months. That's the longest he has lived away from us because of his job as an Infantry soldier. 5 months. That was the length
