Only one month into our previous deployment, my husband’s ship spent a few days in port. Everyone reveled in the availability of wi-fi for Skype, Facetime, sending photos, and ordering flowers. For a few days, we stayed home and spent hours each day on video calls. The kids and I watched and waved to my […]
Articles by Lizann Lightfoot
15 Creative Ways Military Kids Can Build Strong Relationships With Grandparents
Editor’s note: Originally written in 2016! “Hi, Granny,” my daughter said in a mournful voice. “I’m feeling sick again.” From the other room, I listened while my mother consoled my daughter and gave her some of the same medical advice I had already told her. After a few moments my daughter brightened up. “Thanks Granny!” […]
These are the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Military Spouses
Every military spouse struggles with the challenges of military life. We all face deployments, moves, unexpected changes, and time apart from our spouse. Yet some spouses seem to handle the military life roller coaster with calm strength that carries them through the toughest challenges. What is their secret? How do they juggle kids, a job, […]
These Overlooked Basics Can Make Deployment Easier for Milspouses
Deployment is hard on a military family. It doesn’t matter how many kids you have or how many hours you work each week, every spouse carries the burden of stress and single-handedly taking care of every family issue that occurs during deployment. Thankfully, a military spouse doesn’t have to do it alone. There are many services […]
These 6 Resources Offer Help to Single Parents Who Serve
Any service member who is a parent struggles to balance their responsibilities to the military and to their family. This challenge is especially difficult for single parents who serve. Currently, there are thousands of single parents in the military; in fact, single parents make up 7.8% of the overall military population. The percentage varies for […]
Follow These 10 Facebook Group Etiquette Tips During Deployment
It’s deployment, and your search for friends and support leads you to a Facebook group for the spouses or parents in your service member’s unit. Perfect! These people are sure to understand the challenges you are facing during deployment because they are going through it at the same time, right? Well, not necessarily. Once you […]
These 10 Things Make an Overseas PCS Different From Other Moves
Even if your military family has PCSed several times, when you get orders overseas, things will be different. How different? Let me explain. 1. You need a passport… or two. When a service member gets PCS orders overseas, the military will pay for and process passports for the entire family. This is called a no-fee […]
Here’s How to PCS-Proof Your Priceless Heirlooms and Keepsakes
When PCSing, most military families prefer to hand-carry their most precious items. Even if military movers pack up the rest of the house, families will carefully load heirloom items into their vehicle to drive them to the next duty station. That is generally the safest way to guarantee that your treasures will arrive in one […]