When my husband deployed I had a close friend who’s husband was also living away from their family because of his assignment. We did a lot together that year just for fun and also for survival. It made the time as a temporary single parent easier to manage with a friend who was going through something similar. In the military spouse community when a military service member deploys, the spouses left at home are encouraged to find a “battle buddy” - someone they can trust, confide in, and rely on … [Read more...]

Transitioning to middle school can be a tough change for many kids. Recently, a 7th grader came home from her first day of school and told her father she did not want to go back to school and wanted to be home schooled. Her description of her first day of middle school was somewhere between Alexander and the No Good Very Bad Day, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. You would think she was auditioning for a movie the way she threw herself on the couch listing ALL the things that went wrong. A week into … [Read more...]

A simple activity in the classroom and a clever teacher could make the difference this year to your military-connected student. What makes a great teacher? A teacher who can inspire and protect all while writing on a smart board.  I’m referring to those teachers who are looking out for the new kids, the shy child and the little ones who feel like they are different - all while teaching mountains of curriculum. As a military family, we have little choice but to trust a new school every few … [Read more...]

Telling your child’s education story within the first few weeks of school is critical. A parent recently contacted me looking for advice on how to introduce her child to his new teacher. The child will be new to the school, has some “unique” needs and his parents would like to speak with his teacher early in the school year, if not before the first day of school. Many parents find themselves in this tricky situation at the beginning of each school year. A child is a parent’s primary … [Read more...]

As a military family, we have moved eight times in 15 years. For me, that means eight sets of new communities, neighborhoods, and friends. Experience has taught me that the neighbors and new people I meet are very welcoming and helpful when we first arrive, but it can be challenging to keep that momentum going long enough to establish a friendship. I have found one of the best ways for me to establish friendships with new people is to throw a party within the first month or two I am in a new … [Read more...]