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Our Summer Routine
The Summer Routine has started in Ohio. School is out, the kids’ schedules have relaxed, thoughts of fun and sun have been churning in the minds of my boys. However, this mom has other plans besides lazy days of summer all vacation long. Usually, they are all up by 9am but once in awhile I get the joy of poking, prodding and maybe even some singing making a joyful noise. That rallies the troops right up! We get some breakfast, pour some (more) coffee and pull out summer-workbooks. The (now) 3rd and 5th grader have some workbooks we bought through school (like we have done in years past – learn more) and I also…
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Wrapping up Month Of The Military Child: Brat Town Bugle
Today is the last day of Month of the Military Child; but isn’t it something we should celebrate all year long? We highlighted some great resources throughout April on our Facebook page. We shared Tips on Relocation, YMCA’s Operation Kid Comfort Program, and most importantly a reminder that YOU are the ultimate resource for your military child PLUS so much more. (Scroll through Facebook.com/MilitaryAvenue to see them all.) One more resource I want to share is Operation We Are Here‘s Brat Town Bugle ™. The Brat Town Bugle is a wonderful way for your child, children, whole family to showcase what is happening at home. It could be a monthly project to…
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Today’s Teachers: Frontline of Defense for Military Children
Today’s Guest Post is from Levi Newman of Veterans United Network Today’s military children have to adapt to more stressorsthan ever before. Their parents are deployed more frequently and many kidschange schools anywhere from four to twelve times during the course of theirparents’ military service. It’s a stress many outside the military are unfamiliar with,especially teachers. The biggest service we can offer to these children andtheir teachers is to preparethem both for these transitions. And while the children can ask theirparents how to prepare for these changes, who is there for the teacher? You may be thinking, “What does a teacher need to know aboutthe child’s move?” Well, it really depends…
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40 Ways to Find Solace in a Storm
“I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” ― Oscar Wilde Call your dad Sip a hot cup of coffee Take 10 minutes to soak up some sun on a warm, sunny front porch Feet up & a good book Jump on your bike and take a ride Grab the music player, pop in the ear buds, play your favorite upbeat music and ask the vacuum to dance (Bonus you get some clean floors) Give a lingering hug with someone you love Look through old photos, create a collage of someone you love using Picasa or other photo editor…
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5 PCS Tips Before the Movers Arrive
Today’s guest post is from Army Wife, mother and blogger at RecreateAndDecorate.comWith PCS season quickly approaching, many military families will be moving worldwide. Moving is known to be one of the most stressful events we encounter. However, planning ahead can reduce unnecessary stress and help your move run smoothly. Here is a list of tips that you can do in advance that will help eliminate some stress during your next PCS.1. Decide what items you will be packing and moving yourself then separate them from the rest of your household goods. If you are moving overseas, make sure you keep your passports and other essential paperwork out of sight…
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Tutor.com for Military Families
My poor blessed children. When I was a child I wanted to be a teacher. The need to teach is somehow still ingrained in my bones. Now the need to teach and the need to see my children succeed are intertwined. We finished up Spring Break last week and much to their groans and moans we did 30 minutes of reading and 30 minutes of education… EVERY DAY of break. “BUT MOM we are on vacation”“BUT MOM we would rather be playing”“BUT MOM …” Didn’t matter. For us education was either time spent on some workbooks I had stored in the closet, time on educational website I had approved, or doing some creative…
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The Insecure Military Brat (That’s Me)
I started a wonderful book over Spring Breaktitled ‘The Artist’s Daughter’, a memoir by Alexandra Kuykendall. MOPS International gave it to me and I have a hard time putting it down each time I pick it up. If you ask me about my identity (a key question in this memoir) I struggle to answer. I have grown a lot through the years. Especially now, as a mom, wife, a resident of the same city for the last 12 years. But years before that? I was (and still remain) a Military Brat. I was always a little awkward. I had a SUPER hard time making new friends. The shy introvert who just wanted…
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Month of the Military Child
Some articles related to our military children you might find of interest: Military Children Express Sacrifices Through Art, Writing Military Child Month Salutes Children’s Contributions Learning to Save is Key to Financial Responsibility Children Need Routine Environment During Moves, Official Says Helping Children Solve Problems Find more in our Reading Room We are sharing a “Resource of a Day” related to our youngest military-heroes, our military children, on our Facebook page throughout the month of April: http://www.facebook.com/MilitaryAvenue (Just a few examples: MilitaryKidsConnect, Military Youth on the Move, The National Military Family Association toolkit.) Find more resources on our ‘Ways to Support Military Children‘ board and lots of great images of…
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Military Deployment: Waiting for Dad to Come Home
Books! You find a good one and you jump into it, lost in another world. A good book can teach you sympathy, empathy, show you that you are not alone or that the world is much bigger than you. Sometimes it is nice to know it’s not just you… and when a military child is missing his or her Mom or Dad a good book about other children coping with separation can be just what they need! I had the pleasure of reading a new book by author Kristin Ayyar. She is an Air Force wife, mom, author and so much more. The title is Countdown ‘Til Daddy Comes Home and shows how…
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On Your Way to a Smooth Move: DoD Roundtable
It is that time! PCS season is upon us and many military families are negotiating orders and beginning the process of planning for a move. With that in mind, I had a great chance to listen to and speak with Barbara Thompson, Director, Office of Family Policy/Children & Youth, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. We all know that a PCS can be an amazing adventure but also an incredible stressor on families. I have an example for you; in the late 80’s my family moved from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida to Keflavik, Iceland. Can you say, “Change of scenery”? In the end the move to Iceland was…
