Ten Things I've Learned as a Military Wife

There's a lot to be learned from being a Military Wife. There are many events that offer a challenge to the military family but one that leads the list is making a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move.

I made a top ten list of things I have learned during this PCS move. I've love to hear anything you'd like to add to the list, or see your topten if you want to link one to your blog.

You can read my list here.

Tween Halloween Party in Base Housing

Being a Tween at Halloween may be another in between age group situation. Parents can solve this by hosting a Progressive Halloween Party especially for Tweens. A Progressive party moves from one house to another with different Halloween events and food provided a tween party host. This type party works great in base housing units where friends live close enough to walk from one house to another.

If you are new to the area, this may be the chance to get to know your kids friends, and their parents.

Continue for Tips on a Tween Progressive Halloween Party

Military Terms, A to Z... A is for...

As a Military spouse, there is a whole new language to learn. This series of articles will provide an alphabetical approach to explaining a few terms Military Spouses will find helpful in their day to day adventure with Military life. These terms are certainly not all inclusive. They reflect ones which would pertain to the spouse or family more than just to the military member. Starting with A... A is for Appropriations Act, AAFES, Allotments, and Allowances.

Continue to read term definitions.

Feel free to add your letter A term by adding a comment.

Tips for PCSing with Teens

It's PCS time in our household again and as any Military family knows the S in PCS really stands for STRESS!

I wrote an article recently for Associated Content on Tips for helping teens adjust to moves. It's definitely not easy. It's not easy as an adult but for an adolescent who has worked hard to make and maintain friendships it is exceptionally stressful. I have six kidlets who are out on their own doing their own things, be it college or marriage or work. I have one middle schooler at home and a granddaughter who lives with me. We've been in air mattress stage going on two months now and the fun of the camping adventure with limited household items available has about worn down to nothing. Personally I hope the paperwork saga will end soon and we can get on the way to living in one household again. But for my teen? He'd stay on the air mattress forever if it meant not having to leave!

You can read my Tips on Moving with a Teen article HERE.

When Your Spouse Joins the Military

Being a military spouse can be difficult but also is rewarding. When you and your spouse have decided that he/she will join one of the military services, it is important that you stay engaged in what is going on and informed on the events to come. As a military spouse, you will learn a lot about military life and you will need to learn the ins and outs of the military. A well adapted military spouse knows that there will be alone times (deployments, training, long work hours), knows that she/he can handle things on their own when needed but also knows that many before her have supported their spouses military life and help/support systems are in place based on many years of lessons learned by others. Continue

Welcome to Military Life 101

Military Life...Boy it's hard to define. Kinda like nailing jello to the tree. One thing is for sure, if you are sharing this military world with me I would wager your life is not dull and boring and you dont have to worry about routine being a way of life. I've been associated with the Military for 28 years now. I enlisted in the USAF in Jul 1980 as delayed entry and went to Basic Training in Jan 1981. I retired in Oct 2001. Since joining, I have worn the hat of Enlisted military member, Single Mom in the military, Military married to Military, Divorced Mom in the Military, Military married to Military (Round 2!), Retired Military married to Military, and am soon to be Retired Military married to a Military guy with a Military son. Eventually my active duty spouse will retire but by then I should have two military sons. I dont see my world ever being without the military influence. I've got a few plans for things I want to blog about. We'll see how well I can work them into my mom/work/finish PCSing schedule!