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Seems Comfort Is Not Immediate and Abuse is Prevalent
Music plays in my life like breezes in an open field, sometimes noticeable, often relaxing and at times bone chilling. I hear songs in the background without recognizing the words. I might know them; I did when I first added an album to a playlist, but now, they fit in. Robert’s desk was front row, front seat. Robert was Robert, not Robbie, Bob or Bobby: Robert. He would cringe when an unfamiliar person would call him Bobby. I saw it as I was the substitute teacher who was coming in February to finish the school year: 6th grade math and home room. Robert could not sit still. He would squirm;…
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Building Resiliency in Military Children
/ Resilient /: Able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.There are SO many words that can describe a Military-Child. Resilient is the word that pops in to my head, first and foremost. Other great descriptions: Loyal – Adaptable – Strong – Supportive – Compassionate – Empowered These are important words for a military-child! Sometimes they come naturally, sometimes they may need to be reinforced. This week Star Henderson and Tara Crooks of Army Wife Network took the time to talk with Ingrid Torres-McCullough of the American Red Cross on the topic of building resiliency in military children. What are symptoms of childhood-stress? How do…
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Win a Gift from Wire-A-Cake for your Military-Child
Doesn’t it feel good to receive a gift?Children find a lot of joy in the act of giving. I have homemade necklaces, paintings, and home decor from my boys as proof-positive! They light up as I marvel at the beauty of my newest gift; beaded necklaces, hand-drawn art for the frig, even painted rocks from the garden. Those gifts are a tangible expression of their love for me. With this in mind we, MilitaryAvenue, have partnered with Wire-A-Cake, a great military-support company, to help celebrate the Month of the Military Child! We want to send a military-child a cake as a thank you for their sacrifices! What do you have to do to win a cake for…
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Traumatic Brain Injury and Month of the Military Child
What is DoD doing about Traumatic Brain Injury’s Impact on Our Service Members and Their Families? In March, I read a book about a neurosurgeon’s life, “The Gray Matter” which delved into the intricacies of the brain and how the author, Dr David Levy, had helped save and improve lives through surgery on the brain. We have all been following Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords recovery from a penetrating brain injury in the news and the long road to recovery she is facing. With thousands of service member also having brain injuries from mild to severe the military community has a need for care and support as well. The subject of brain…
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Month of the Military Child: Operation Paperback
This is Baby *L*. He is my pride and joy. He is the sparkle in his daddy’s eyes. He is one of the younger members of the Military-Family. Today we recieved a box of books from Operation Paperback. Some very fun pirate books for my 2nd grader, cool Batman and Scooby Doo books for my kindergartner, and very tasty board-books for Baby Boy *L*. (and so much more!) This kind of military support, from communities around the United States is what makes me humbled to be called a part of the military-family. If you are looking for a community-based way to support Military Children this Month of the Military Child look into Operation…
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MilitaryAvenue Resource: Growing up in the Military #MilitaryChild
MilitaryAvenue Resource: Growing up in the Military In honor of Month of the Military Child I have compiled some resources and articles that are available to you, the parent, the community member, the military supporter. I will keep this list updated throughout April 2011 so come back often to see the latest news from the Department of Defense community: Growing up in the Military: A few years ago, a debate emerged on an Internet newsgroup for military brats about what kind of flower military children of military parents were most like. The consensus became the dandelion. Anne Manning Christopherson wrote, “How about the dandelion? The plant puts down roots almost…
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Earth Day – Making Army Boots More Friendly for Our Environment – DoD Roundtable
Earth Day – Making Army Boots More Friendly for Our Environment It was a beautiful day in Michigan on Earth Day this year! Sunny, 70 degrees, the Redbuds were out in full bloom, the air was fresh, grass was green, we have vegetables in the garden coming up and I was talking to Mr. Tad Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health. We were discussing the Army’s Earth Day activities and their “Army Go Green Initiatives”. We were meeting with the DoD Bloggers Roundtable while he was visiting Ft Bragg and he explained that he had just left Butler Elementary School after meeting with…
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Week in Review: Week of April 11 – 17 (Military News)
Here are ten of our most popular military-related articles for the week MilitaryAvenue.com: Faces Behind the Hero: Army Wife, Mom and writer, Jane: Meet our Face Behind the Hero, Jane. I love her thoughts below about a ‘Family Mission Statement’. What keeps your family together? What is the glue that binds? Where do you find the adventure that keeps life “interesting”? Thanks, Jane, for getting us all thinking about these things and not only being Army-Strong, but Family-Strong too!….“A Little Bit of Hope, Help…” “A Little Bit of Hope, Help …” is how US Navy CAPT James Wink, the chief engineer for Joint Task Force-Haiti responded to a question on…
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Week in Review: Week of April 4 – 10 (Military News)
Here are ten of our most popular military-related articles for the week MilitaryAvenue.com: Osprey Crash in Afghanistan Kills 3 Troops, Civilian: A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed in southern Afghanistan late last night, killing three U.S. servicemembers, one civilian employee and injuring numerous other servicemembers. The cause of the crash is unknown, officials with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said. fficials said the aircraft was carrying U.S. troops when it crashed seven miles west of Qalat City in Zabul province. The injured were transported to a nearby base for medical treatment….The “Smiles of the Children” in Haiti – An Exclusive MilitaryAvenue Interview with Lt General Ken Keen, Commander, Joint…
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Spring is Here and What are those Trees?
We moved so many times and to so many different climates from tropical; to near Arctic; to desert SW; coastal Carolina and Pacific NW. We appreciated learning new plants and trees and really enjoyed relaxing in our new garden once we got into the house. I think one of our best stress relievers was walking outside during the moving in process and taking a look around and dreaming/planning what we could do with our yard and the landscaping. Fast forward to our retirement home and walking around deciding what trees and plants can go where! So much fun and maybe we could see them in 5 years! Then we pulled…
