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Fathers Day Messages and Care Package Ideas
Three Cheers for Dad!!Whether the Dad you adore is biological or adopted, active duty or a civilian, Stars and Stripes wants to help you pay tribute to him by posting a free message for Father’s Day (June 17). Visit fathersday.stripes.osd.mil to enter yours. If your recipient is overseas and your message is received by May 29, it will be published in the Stars and Stripes newspaper of your choice (European, Pacific or Middle East edition). All messages will also be available online as soon as they are approved. Please be sure to read The Fine Print, which explains our deadlines and other details. Happy Father’s Day to all of our Dads,…
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A Reflection of my Own Stress
I was running a morning errand when I saw the car screaming in reverse down the driveway. I tapped my brakes not knowing if she saw me. She slammed on hers to avoid hitting me. I saw the 2nd grader in the back seat, her daughter. I could see the mom YELLING at her daughter. Hands were in motion, up in the air. Mom was flabbergasted over something. It was 8:05am and I knew that kids were considered tardy if they arrived after 8:10am and we live about 5 minutes from the school. It was easy to draw conclusions but I don’t know what was happening exactly in the car that followed…
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‘Muffins for Mom’ and the Super-Teacher
This morning I had the distinct pleasure of joining my 1st grader in his class room for ‘Muffins for Mom’. A Mother’s Day celebration with his classmates. What an honor! We walked down the hall hand in hand before the school day started. We enjoyed muffins and juice (my juice of choice was coffee), artwork and tic tac toe, smiles and hugs. A mother could not ask for a better way to start the day! Let me tell you about Mrs G, C’s first grade teacher, a beautiful example of a teacher there to help her students shine. Before the first grade year started an acquaintance and I were at the park talking. …
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Father’s Day Care Package Ideas
Sending a letter to Dad Kids say the darndest things! It is the truth. I got some wonderfully done papers for Mother’s Day from my first grader. My favorite line on one was, “What my mom likes best about being a mother is _____.” His response was “Being the boss”. Who knew being bossy was so much fun, right?! 🙂 I would amend his answer to include giving hugs, kisses, sharing smiles and tickles, ‘Rise and Shine’ and ‘Goodnight Moon’ and every hour in between … but I’m sure he just ran out of space 😉 Now it is time to move from Mother’s Day and on to Father’s Day,…
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Mother’s Day Greetings in the Stars and Stripes
When we think about soldiers, sailors, marines, coasties, airmen on Mother’s Day we most often think about the mom sitting back at home hoping their Hero is safe and out of harm’s way. Not often do we think about that Hero thinking of her own children who are back home and missing them to pieces. But it is true. Women comprise 200,888 or 14.3 percent of the DoD Active Duty force. (She Serves, too) I’m sure they could use a message of support this upcoming Mother’s Day! Once again Stars and Stripes is printing messages in their overseas additions for our loved ones! When my husband was in Iraq my…
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Support Military Kids! Wear Purple Friday, April 13th
I am blessed to be the Mom of four extraordinary military-brats.J is a senior in high school this year and ready to take on the world. The college has been chosen, the degree has been picked. He is ready to go. go. go!E, 9 years old embodies adaptability. Books, video games, kickball, legos, friends, quiet-time; if it is available he wants to do it.C, celebrating his 7th birthday next week, loves riding his bike around our neighborhood whenever he gets the chance. He likes to feel the wind on his face. Give him activity and he is a happy boy.L is 20 months and full of SPUNK! He is already trying…
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Operation Purple Camp and your Military Child
Flashlights, extra socks, money for the Canteen, shoes that can get dirty, a bar of soap (that may or may not ever get used), a sleeping bag… all the makings of great memories, new friends, growing older. My nine-year old is registered for a week long summer camp. His first time away for an entire week, away from home, away from family, away from /mom/. (Emphasis made my mom herself) Can I tell you how excited he is? He is pumped!Operation Purple Camp is accepting applications. If you have a military-brat between ages 7 and 17 jump at this chance. They are accepting applications from now through April 19th. This is a great chance…
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The Joy in Voting
Mom got to participate in one of the most basic &important rights as a proud-American and I got asticker AND a cookie. Win-Win!Learn more about the importance of voting as an American Military Family and how to get it done: Your Voting Opportunities Just Got Easier! DoD Blogger Roundtable Making Your Vote Count Family Matters Blog: Online Tool Eases Overseas Voting Process – Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com Join Us byLeanne KocsisonTuesday, March 06, 2012Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:Leanne,Vote
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Organizing The Road Trip
The Road Trip. Part of the Great American Military-Family Experience, right? We do it to PCS across the country. We do it to visit family and friends who we moved away from so many years ago, a visit home. We do it to for some R&R, to get out and see parts of the country so many American families will never see. The Road Trip, it is part of the ‘American Military Family’ definition. So how do you prepare for such a great part of your experience as a military-family? I recently ran across some great posts that I thought I would share with you. Whether you will be travelling…
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Roots and Wings
We have an interesting phenomena going on in my house. We have an 18-month old and an 18 year old (and two other brothers in between). My husband and I often laugh with each other over the fact that we are the “young parents” with *J* (at sporting events, parent-teacher conferences etc etc) and we are going to be the “old wiser-parents” with *L*. There are times when I just want my 18-month old to grow up. I want him to communicate (although this can be hard even for an 18 year old); tell me his favorite things; share his deepest wishes; form an opinion that doesn’t involve whining; meet friends;…