This summer, Americans have been flocking anywhere but the homes they’ve spent the past year in, and it’s no different for military families. No matter where you’ve been vacationing this summer – a beach, the mountains, in an RV, or even camping in your own backyard – it can be hard to find the time […]
10 Washington DC date ideas you haven’t thought of yet
Family ResourcesThere’s so much to do in the DC metro area that there’s almost too much to do. But one of the perks of being stationed in or near DC is the number of fun and unique date night options available (that also won’t take you too far from the kids if you’ve paid a babysitter). […]
Why We Celebrate the Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary
FeaturedEvery year, on July 29, we celebrate the Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary, to honor the creation of the Army Chaplain Corps by the Continental Congress in 1775. For nearly two and a half centuries, the Army Chaplain Corps has been an integral part of America’s military forces. Army Chaplains do not carry weapons. They are […]
How to ‘get zen’ as a stressed out Military Spouse
Off DutyI spent ten years as a military spouse trying to get some zen in my life. Then I spent the next three years post-military trying to do the same thing. I have two young kids, a full-time job in public relations, a three-hour daily commute, a freelance writing career, and a halfway-done second novel. I’ve […]
5 remote jobs for military spouses you may not have thought of
CareerIn 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
Off DutyIn 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 […]
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 […]
Why I miss Mister Rogers right now
Off DutyIt hasn’t really been a beautiful day in the neighborhood for quite some time. As our country steps into a new chapter of its existential crisis, with long-simmering issues of racial injustice coming to the forefront, we really need someone to lead us through this time. Someone like Mister Rogers. Mister Rogers dealt with the […]
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 […]
