In the early days of my years as a military wife, there were a few select jobs most military spouses had: teacher, nurse (or any kind of medical professional), graphic designer, or Mary Kay/Stella and Dot/Lularoe sales consultant. Of course, there were others (many wives I knew worked as contractors on base, for example). But […]
Military Spouses: 15 Things to do to prepare for deployment
Family ResourcesIt’s not just the service member who has to prepare for deployment. In fact, a spouse staying at home often needs to do just as much, or more preparation. Start early and don’t wait until the last minute (emotions will run high, and you’ll want to have all the practical stuff out of the way). […]
A new meaning for PTSD: Permission to Start Dreaming
LifestyleIn 2009, Leslie Mayne lost her oldest son, Kyle, just after he was discharged from a VA medical center. He had endured a long struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Kyle had served as a sharpshooter and machine gunner in Iraq, and since his deployment and honorable discharge from the Army, he […]
5 things you didn’t know about the Fourth of July
LifestyleU.S.A.! U.S.A.! Independence Day is here, everyone. Wherever you lean politically, no matter where you’re from, we can all take a day to appreciate how great it is to live in the United States, and to celebrate the “traitors” who made it all possible. In between your second helping of potato salad and setting off […]
7 hidden gem family activities for the DC area this summer
MilSpouseIf you’re bored with the typical Washington, D.C. summer family activities (like monuments and outdoor movies), here are some hidden gems for you to do as a family this summer: Fruit Picking Strawberry season has just started, and it’s bringing back memories of all the times as a child I would go picking with my […]
10 toys for your kids that stand the test of time
MilSpouseMy kids are obsessed with receiving new toys, and with my “hard to say no” personality, it has been a struggle to limit the toys in our house. I do draw a hard and fast line against very large toys (Barbie Dreamhouse), most plastic toys (like those toy cash registers that get used twice and […]
Jehanne Dubrow: Acclaimed poet and military spouse
MilSpouseMy introduction to Jehanne Dubrow’s work was her 2010 book, “Stateside,” which I read in my first year of marriage as a Navy wife. I was writing the first poems I had attempted since my freshman year of college, and I marveled at how expertly (and seemingly effortlessly) she wrote (of course, now I realize […]
Run to honor fallen service members this Memorial Day
LifestyleJoin me in running to honor fallen service member this Memorial Day. Wear Blue: Run to Remember is a nonprofit running community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military and inspires healthy living. This Memorial Day, their mission is to create a “living memorial” through Americans all over the country running to honor […]
4 Reasons I’m Sending My Kids to Camp This Summer
MilSpouseI’ll be blatantly honest – I treated signing my kids up for summer camp this year like an Olympic sport. Washington D.C.-area camps always fill up fast, but with many of them at half-capacity this summer, finding open spots was even tougher. Back in January, I found out which camps were opening registration on which […]
Novelist Tif Marcelo: Author of ‘In a Book Club Far Away’
MilSpouseWhen I saw Tif Marcelo’s novel, “In A Book Club Far Away,” on Book of the Month’s book selections this past March, I knew I had to read it. Book of the Month, first of all, is my favorite $14.99 I spend each month. Every month, they choose five new hardcover books (many of which […]
