It Starts Young

I find myself explaining a lot of military humor to people who aren't normally associated with military endeavors. 

It's gallows humor, definitely.  And then there's the teasing aspect - I can make fun of the Air Force, but God help someone not affiliated with the military trying to.  Just doesn't roll well, you know?  It's okay for us to call people PowerPoint Rangers, but if some TV pundit tried it I'd be at the front of the spitting line.

And it's not just my husband or myself with these humor issues - my kids pick them up.  I think they pick them up in the womb.

In fact, just a few weeks ago we had a bit of an issue with this.

Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes

As previously discussed, Sesame Workshop's newest video for military children is now available.

Sesame Workshop Launches Phase Two of Military Families Outreach

More Scholarships Available For Military Children

Throughout the year many scholarships are available specifically for military children.  Even though it is getting late in the school year, there are still some options available.  Some options include spouses.  Not all application deadlines have passed.

Did You Hear That?

Earlier yesterday I believe the Heavens opened, the clouds parted, and choirs of angels sang the Hallelujah Chorus.  Or whatever it is that angel choirs sing when a moment of supreme wonderful-ness happens on Earth.

I think -- I THINK -- I have found a babysitter.

I Love This Product: Good Dreams

This morning I came across a wonderful product for children - thanks to this article .  I only wish that I would have known about it sooner.

I have not ordered yet, but it is most certainly on my 'must do' list for today.  Heck, I might even order one for myself - if they have something to fit me!  Anything that can help our little ones during separation from mom or dad - is a great thing!

Things That Crack Me Up

Since we are no longer living on a base and we are living in a community that is not largely military, I've started a new past-time:  watching my kids interact with kids who have never been associated with the military.

Let me tell you, it can be hilarious.

Helping Military Children SOAR

We previously discussed helping military children have educational opportunities they deserve and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

More opportunities are available for grades 3-12.

Summer is coming... what do I do with the kids?!?!

If you are a parent and your spouse is deployed, please read this and follow the links.  I was perusing through the Operation Homefront website and came across a great page that gives tips and insight to the inevitable "What do I do with the kids over the summer while my hubby/wife is deployed?  AHHHHH!!!!"

Have no fear.  Click on this link and read the article about various camps and activities for your children this summer.  This includes Guard and Reserve families as well.  And spread the word to your friends if they have kids and their spouse is deployed.  Maybe, just maybe, it will make the summer a bit easier!

Month of the Military Child

April is designated as the Month of the Military Child.

Many exciting activities and events will be taking place for military children during the month of April. 

Could You Be A Mentor?

Are you willing to give of yourself in order to help a child?  Are you willing to mentor children of our fallen heroes?

Oh. My. God.

This morning I thought, "Wow!  Things seem to be going really smoothly lately!  How nice!"

That is a very stupid thing for airforcewife to do.  Very stupid. 

Camp Registration 24 March - 5 May

Military families can register their children for Operation Purple Summer Camps beginning 24 March.  Registration ends 5 May.

What is Operation Purple?

Stewing in Funk-ville

Okay, maybe not stewing, but having a REALLY hard time finding my way out of Funk-ville!

Do you ever feel like you just can't catch a break?  I'm sure you do.  And in all honesty, my life is not exactly "bad," but I feel like I am riding this never-ending merry-go-round that has hidden "surprises" around every third turn.  I don't even know if that makes any sense.  I am writing as I type, which is not always a safe thing to do when lots of other people will read this.  BUT, SpouseBuzz is about the good and the bad and all the in-betweens.  So here's my in-between... I think.

Military Teens

The Military Child Education Coalition is gathering insights from youths who were ages 12 to 20 when their loved one deployed, for a book to be published for teens.

Coming Soon - For Children of Wounded Heroes

We previously discussed that a new Sesame Street DVD, designed to help injured veterans talk about their disabilities with their children, would be available in 2008. 

Initial articles stated that the DVD would be available in January.  We now have an update on the DVD release date. 

What can happen in 12 hours?

A lot....

27 Curtains

I grew up with my grandparents, my grandfather a retired Marine and my grandmother a proud and caring milspouse.  Before I was born, they had crossed the country too many times to count, and moved more than I can imagine.  My childhood was peppered with the usual military stuff:  we shopped at the commissary, got Christmas cards from all over the world, and we owned curtains in every size and shape.  Boxes of them.

I didn't really understand.  I'd never moved; heck, I pretty much lived in the same house until I got married.  Why would anyone need to own boxes of curtains? 

A cast, a button-down shirt, a 4 year old, and a coffee table

Next time you get dressed in your comfy jeans and button-down shirt, imagine the following:

Your left arm is in a cast from your elbow to the middle of your fingers (and you don't have a pinky), and you don't have an opposable thumb because of nerve damage.  Now, on your right hand you can't use your thumb because the Dr. removed most of your nail so it grows back correctly - and it's REALLY sensitive!  Oh, and your thumb on your right hand is also not opposable.

Now, button your pants and your shirt without becoming incredibly frustrated...

PCS Benefits

I like moving, I really do.  I know, that makes me weird.  But aside from the fact that moving seems like a vacation paid for out of the ever-so-gracious pocket of Uncle Sam, moving also allows me something particularly necessary after a few years (or sometimes a few months) in one spot.

The ability to start over where people don't know me, my family, or our... um... "issues" is a God Send.

Case in point - today's incident at Little Gym.  Which I will be happy to leave behind.

Help military children have educational opportunities they deserve

Changing schools can be a huge ordeal for military families and military children.  Education curriculum and education requirements can vary tremendously between states and between school districts.

For those reasons the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is very important.  Find out if this issue is being addressed in your state.

"I Serve FOR My Children"

Blogger and Army wife Sis B just went through an ugly custody battle for her son.  At the trial, her ex-husband's lawyer came at her current husband, Soldier Boy, with this line of questioning:

At the custody trial a few weeks ago, my husband was attacked for his decision to join the military even though he had a daughter. [The ex-husband]'s attorney came at him and asked accusingly, "So your military service is more important to you than your children!?"

And my husband sat up straighter, talked just a smidgeon louder, and said, "I do this FOR my children. I do this so that maybe one day they won't have to. I do this so that they have a better future. So no, my military service is not more important than my children. I serve FOR my children."

His answer was succinct and eloquent (and poorly paraphrased here), and completely lost on everyone else in the room who have never served, who do not understand we are a nation at war, who do not comprehend the meaning of duty or sacrifice. It kills me that he had to stand up to that attack, that he was ridiculed, that they made light of what he has given up.

I find it disgusting that a lawyer would try to use military service to paint someone as an uncaring parent.  I don't know all of the details of the trial, or of Sis B's life and previous marriage, but according to the posts on her blog, it sounds like the judge counted the military lifestyle as a negative strike in making the custody decision.  And that sets my blood boiling.

Deployment does not make you unfit to be a parent.

The Family Bookshelf

I love the Public Library in my city, and we are lucky to have some wonderful librarians there. 

 

This last Tuesday, they found a coppy of the book, The Impossible Patriotism Project, and thought we might enjoy it.

My Husband, AirForceGuy

Yes, yes, I know it's become rather obvious that despite some differences in the ability to tolerate filth and a definite tendency towards procrastination (not mine) that causes some rough moments, I pretty much think the sun rises and sets... well, you know.  In a part of my husband's anatomy.

I've got to admit that when I start feeling irritable towards AirForceGuy for one reason or another it takes just a small glimpse of what other people see when he's with them for me to want to throw my arms around the guy and passionately pin him down somewhere.  Especially if he's been telling one of his stories - like the one in which Tariq Azziz plays a walk on role.  Or maybe the one about eating on the economy in Afghanistan and pretending you didn't see that mouse hiding under the platter.  And those are just the funny stories.  There are harsh ones, too, and ones that make me want to cry.

He's very special, that's for sure.  And at no time do I see that more than when I have a chance to see my husband through the eyes of my children.

SpouseBuzz Live 3...Remains of the Day

I can't believe almost a week has passed since SpouseBuzz LIVE took place in Fayetteville.  It's also hard to believe how many times a man can say, "Let's just do it and then we can talk" in one week's time.

If you don't know what that's in reference to, you either weren't paying attention in Fayetteville or you haven't watched the archived event at SyncLive.

Even with final exams looming, my brain has processed SBL3 and plenty of good things happened.

The Stories Around Us

One of the best things about the "afterglow" of a SpouseBUZZ Live event is that I get to remember and retell my husband over and over the stories we heard while we were there.  I think the poor guy has heard the re-cap about the woman who called someone for help with her boys while her husband was deployed and it turned out to be the General's wife approximately 18 times so far.  And I am planning to tell him again when he gets home today.

I was also surprised that my children, whom I thought would be a conversation ender right off, actually started some one on one conversations.  Particularly my son, Mohawk Boy.

In fact, the day AFTER SpouseBUZZ Live, Mohawk Boy was still introducing me to interesting new people.

JumpStart World 2nd Grade Review

While AFW reviewed the JumpStart kindergarten program and GBear reviewed the 1st Grade program, my household took on the 2nd grade program.

We are all enjoying it. Children and parents alike.

Educating the Military Brat

We move a lot.  It's what we do.

For the military brat, that means lots of new schools, lots of mid-school year upheaval, and lots of getting used to new curriculum and catch up or slow down.

When we can find a tool to help give our children some continuity in their educational experience, it can make our lives a lot easier and more pleasant.

The Mouths of Babes

My friend sent me a cute article from Stars and Stripes called Email is for kids, too.  It's about letting your little ones email their deployed parent.  I loved this line from a four-year-old girl:

Do they have nice beds there? You left your sheets here, and Mom said I can use them. I will try not to pee in them, but if I do Mom can wash them.

This article made me think of a cute thing I heard from my friend's four-year-old son.  He knew his daddy told him he'd be in I-raq, so he mistook it for a possessive and tells people "My daddy is in His-raq."  Too cute.

So I want to hear cute military-related things your kids have said... 

Preparing our kids for separation

My question for this post: How do you prepare your children for separation (deployments, TDY, weekend trainings, etc)?

We have talked a lot about deployments and reintegration here on SB, but I wonder how other milspouses prepare their children when a parent has to "go away" for a period of time.  I think this is important due to my own "lessons learned" with my kids, as well as helping other milspouses prepare their children.  Especially new spouses, or spouses who have kids that are "at the age" where some preparation needs to be done.  We're all different and do things our own ways, but your "way of doing things" may help another milspouse.  So, please share your experiences.

Fire Prevention Week Recap

  I meant to do a post on fire prevention during Fire Prevention Week (October 7-13), but like many things, I neglected to do it.

It struck me that like my post, fire prevention can take a backseat to what we perceive to be more pressing matters.

As a military family, however, fire prevention is something for which we must make time.

No Rotten Fruit From the Peanut Gallery!

I realize that this admission may get a few squidgy oranges and tomatoes tossed my way, but hubby and I aren't big fans of watching professional sports.  It's been uncomfortable adjusting to being "that family" in the military, a lifestyle that definitely includes many a bonding Sunday with chips, salsa, the game on TV, and the entire squadron decked out in various jerseys while screaming epithets at a screen the size of a deuce-and-a-half.  We've adjusted well, I think.  We have fun at the game parties and no one grills us about any stats; and in exchange, we're the first ones people call when stumped by a question on Jeopardy.  Everyone is happy.

That's not to say that we don't enjoy sports - hubby is very athletic.  He can run for miles and miles and nearly always maxes his fitness test.  I played softball in high school and was on the swim team until waking up suddenly one morning to boobs of stripper proportions sometime around my fifteenth birthday.

It's just that we aren't big on watching other people run around seemingly aimlessly on someone else's TV screen. 

And that became a problem when we realized that my son could watch any number of sports on TV for hours at a time, forgetting even to eat or drink in his absorption with where the ball was going and who was getting it there.

Military Brats: The Older Set

There are many resources available for the younger set of military brats.  Especially now that groups have reached out and provided wonderful resources for helping our little ones with deployments.

What is available for the older set?

The Flood

I've had a flood of emotions the last few weeks regarding my husband being wounded in Iraq a little over 2 years ago.  Not sure what's brought it back to the surface, but I spent about an hour the other night fighting tears, and then gave in and let them fall.  I was alone in my bed while DH was in the living room.  I wanted to go talk to him and let him know, but what would I say?  How could I explain something that I couldn't even articulate myself? Once my husband came to bed and wrapped his arm around me, I was fast asleep.

Apparently my 7-year-old son has had a lot on his mind lately, too.  For homework he had to write sentences using his spelling words for the week, one of which was the word "prevent" (it's Fire Safety Week).

His sentence: "I wish I could prevent the war in Iraq."

Priorities...

With the frequent deployment cycles that all branches of services are experiencing, I am so proud of our military families.   

My Husband has been gone for about 1/2 of each of our childrens lives.  He has missed a lot. 

But in typical military fashion he has rose to the challenge. 

Caring for children of our wounded heroes

Sesame Workshop brought military families a wonderful resource when they launched the Talk, Listen, Connect DVD.  The DVD can be obtained at no charge to military families via Military OneSource and many installation family centers also carry the DVD.

Sesame Street also aired a special "When Parents are Deployed" and they re-broadcast it from time to time.

Soon, families of our wounded heroes will be able to obtain a new DVD designed to help veterans talk to their children.

A Letter To Myself

Every so often I do something so stupid, so ridiculous, and so bereft of any sort of thought or pre-planning that I have to write a letter to commemorate the occasion and remind myself not to make the same mistake again.

A Year Does Make a Difference...

I re-read the post I wrote here a year ago and while some things are "the same", I realize they truly have changed. 

I'm betting if you think back to a year ago, the same is true for you.

May I have a side order of fries with that humiliation, please?

During summer camp, my youngest daughter made best-good-friends with the daughter of one of the squadron commanders on our base.

They absolutely love each other, and they look so cute together.  They're both tiny, little understated things with cute little pixie voices.

This weekend, my daughter's friend came over for the evening.

It's Anticipatory Something

We've had several poignant posts recently about Anticipatory Grief.  It's a very real and serious topic.  It's also something I have succombed to myself for periods of time.

As a National Guard Wife, I spend a great deal of my waking hours somewhere else.  I know it's anticipatory in nature as well, but I haven't quite devised a perfect name.

So, for now, let's just call it "Sweating The Reality Every Stinking Second"  (STRESS)

I Don't Like My Children

Now, let me clarify.  I love my children.  I love them very much.  I would step in front of an M1 tank for them if necessary.  I gave up a career to stay home and take care of them and teach them, and I've never regretted it. 

But there are times - and not even infrequently - when I don't like my children.  Like now.

And yes, of course I feel guilty as sin about it. 

Chronicles of Deployment

At Military Crop Talk , we are sharing ideas on keeping memories of our military life.  Sometimes, we capture those moment on film.  Oftentimes, it's quite by accident that we are able to record a poignant moment that you are certain your family will never forget.

Once that photo is developed, if you are your family's memory keeper, you're left to determine what to do with that once-in-a-lifetime moment.  What do you do, however, if that captured moment doesn't easily lend itself to the type of album pages you are used to creating?

Is there the "perfect" way to detail this moment?

Something Extra For You

The posts at SpouseBuzz and the comments shared by our readers inspire me.  Sometimes that inspiration takes on a life of its own and prompts me to try new things.

One of these inspirational outcomes turned into something you might enjoy.

If you are a scrapbooker, whether of the wannabe or the Queen Bee variety, you are invited...

Countdown...

My question for this post is, "How do you count down the time while your spouse/significant other is away?"

My life has been a series of semesters for the past 4 years.  I have been in grad school since August of 2003.  I have found that my "time gauge" for DH's return from wherever is based on semesters (or mid-terms, finals, etc.).

Where Did The Month Go?

Okay...so even after a half a decade at being a guard wife, I still think I can conquer the world during Hubs' hiatus from home each and every time.

Shall we take a journey through what I thought this month would entail?

BRATS: A Film Dedicated to the Military Brat

Lately, I've been preoccupied with the idea of preserving our history as military families. It's my hope that letters, podcasts, books and blogs will offer a treasure trove of material for those who come after us, and that these items will give them some insight as to what it was like to be a military family in a post 9/11 world. One day, I'll be looking down from the clouds when someone discovers the letter that I placed under our hardwood floors, and I hope it is meaningful for those who find it.

Summer Break Time

School has been out for three weeks now and I have to admit that I haven't been missing my 6:15 a.m. wake up routine.  Sleeping in is wonderful; whether it's just one hour or a couple of hours longer than usual.  However, while the thought of additional sleep always excites me, weeks before the last day of school I was already feeling the pressure of figuring out how to fill our long summer days.  When school is in session, the three older children are in school everyday of the week and the youngest attends a Mother's Day Out program two days a week.  That leaves me two days every week to spend five hours doing whatever I want, or need, to do.  I am definately missing those two days!

"...and 2 Weeks A Year."

Our "two weeks" is fast approaching and I'm perpetually amazed how the Army time continuum turns two weeks into a month. 

This is probably the first time where M2 is old enough to understand Daddy is going to be leaving...and she's not too happy about it.

Our Little Patriots

I have a quick story to share, which I feel is appropriate this weekend as we remember the men and women who gave their lives in the name of freedom!  Happy Memorial Day to all... may we Never Forget!!! 

This is about my 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.  We have a flag hanging on the front of our house next to the garage.  We come and go and see it every day... it is a "normal" part of our lives.  Until one day my son did something that made me so proud I was near tears...

Easter Recovery Program

My kids are crashing from their sugar highs and I am mentally calculating exactly how to stretch my Reese's peanut butter egg stash for as long as humanly possible.  Just as I become aggravated with Disney sticking my favorite films in their 'vault', I become a little agitated with the Reese's people for hatching my favorite candy only once a year.

Of course if either the Disney favorites or the eggs were available year 'round I wouldn't appreciate either nearly as much.  And, in the case of the eggs, I'd surely weigh 500 pounds...

Do you know how to get to Sesame Street?

Our lives have all changed so much in the last few years due to deployments and these changes are also affecting our children.

There are programs available that can be very helpful for our military children when they are dealing with deployment and also helpful for parents.

The Sesame Street Special "When Parents are Deployed" will be re-broadcast April 9, 2007 on PBS.

April is the Month of the Military Child!

Did you know that more than one million American children have at least one parent serving in active military? These kids are heroes, just like their parents!

The month of the military child.

Free Camps for Military Kids

Registration for Operation Purple runs until May 1.

You can find 2007 camp locations here and applications here.

What is this camp and who is it for?  Read more...

Heard at Bedtime...

One of the best parts of the day since I became a Mom is bedtime.  Not only because it sometimes saved my sanity, but also because some of my best conversations with my kids happen as they become drowsy and chatty.

It's amazing the kind of Wee Wisdom one can be a party to at bedtime...

Belle of the Ball

When you don't have a sitter, either you do not go or the MilBrat has to come along.

We had an all-ranks ball last week and Baby Lilah Margaret was the belle of the ball.  She was very well-behaved in her wrap (pic after the jump) during the ball.  The only time she threw a fit was when I tried to put her in her infant car seat for a nap.  Of course, this was right during the Brigade Commander's speech.

A Hard Lesson Learned

This week, my daughters found the CDs I burned for Hubs while he was deployed.  These CDs contained pieces and parts of video footage and still photos shot throughout his deployment that I painstakingly edited and burned for his viewing pleasure.

I'm not proud of what I saw, but I'm willing to share my Mom guilt with all of you in the hopes that you'll learn from my mistake.

The Military Family Bookshelf