Hello Military Spouse Hoppers!!

Here at MyMilitaryLife.com we are a grouping of many spouses and many branches.  We work together to unify and create a strong military bond no matter what the branch of service or what your service members rank maybe.   If you are boots on ground, submarine, or surface, we are all in this together.

I’m Marla, also known as Trevsnavywife, I am a mother of 3, who thanks to the Navy are exactly 3 yrs apart, and perpetual nursing student.  I write for MyMilitaryLife.com as well as am part of the online radio show when possible.  I have a deep seeded affection for military life, and I love the spouses I strive to help along the way.   I love to learn about every aspect of military life, and love to find things to share with other spouses to make this sometimes hectic journey a little bit clearer.  My husband and I have been married for 13 years, and have been in the Navy for 11 years.  We have done three deployments, five PCS’s, and I can admit we might still have a few boxes still packed from our first PCS 11 years ago.  I love to cook, especially ethnic foods of all kinds and I love to eat, much to the dismay of some of my favorite outfits!

I want to extend a huge virtual hug to the hundreds, millions of military spouses around the world.  Weather your service member is home, currently deployed, counted among the fallen, or is a wounded warrior we honor you, we cherish you among our ranks.  I am proud to serve among some of the most amazing military spouses in the world!

Thank you for all you do in this Crazy, AMAZING, Military Life!!!

Marla

~TrevsNavyWife~

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Photo Credit: http://live-laugh-workout.tumblr.com

Routine brings simplicity to life, and structure that supports you for success. Sometimes it has a negative connotation, but when you have routines in place that honor your goals and dreams, amazing things can happen.

Today, on this first day of May, I’d like to challenge My Military Life readers to set up a new routine or reinvigorate an old one.

When life is running smoothly, routines keep you form wasting time on mundane tasks done inefficiently, and they allow you the time and energy to do the things you really love. But when life gets a little (or a lot!) hectic, routines can be your saving grace.

Even when the routines get lost in the chaos, you are still better off for having them. If the house is a mess and you can’t find anything, if your finances are jumbled and you don’t have a working budget, or if your calendar is incomplete and unreliable – when the unexpected things in life strike, you are already on shaky ground, and things will probably just get worse. But if you create routines and stick to them the best you can, even if you lose them when life gets crazy, you’ll have a solid foundation to see you through, and to rebuild from when things settle down.

I have a few routines that save me from a lot of headaches. Weekly meal planning, yearly/monthly budgeting, morning/night activities, and calendar scheduling are the main ones. In recent months, our household experienced some upheaval, and some of my routines slipped. But they couldn’t slip very far, because much of it has become habit. Sure, we spent more because the budget wasn’t outlined. We ate out a little bit more because the fridge wasn’t stocked for specific recipes. And maybe I missed an appointment or two. But we also knew exactly how much money we had, we were able to shop and make meals on a whim because we’ve memorized the recipes, and we kept up with almost all of our calendar commitments because of the reminders we’ve built in along the way. Even when we weren’t sticking to a routine, our routines were sticking to us! They provided a safety net to see us through, and looking back, I am very grateful for them.

The first of the month is a great day for setting new goals, and reviewing old ones. So I’m throwing down the routine gauntlet. Is there one area in life where you could really benefit from more structure? Set up a routine for it. Plan it out; write it out. What do you want to accomplish every day, or over the course of the month? What behavior would you like to make into habit? Check in daily, or weekly, and remind yourself what you are hoping to accomplish. Work on it every day for the month of May, and see what happens!

Some of you might be thinking that military life makes routines difficult. You are totally right. But, it doesn’t make them impossible. If you can marry routine with flexibility, you can find a happy medium that works for you. Remember that a routine is there for most days, not necessarily all. And nothing is black and white. If life gets in the way for a day, just do your best and start again fresh on the next one. Tweak the routine as you go until you find the version that works best. You might learn a lot about yourself and how you function best in the process.

Check back at My Military Life throughout the month for more posts on setting up routines to set up for success. If you’ve got a routine that you love and want to share, please do so in the comments. And in June, when I post again, I want to hear all about your new routine!

If you’d like more information or inspiration on creating routines, check out these Five Tips for Establishing Routines, or print up a cute routine checklist here.

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As April comes to close, I was thinking about the strength of  the Military Child.  I have 3 kids that I affectionately call the brats.  In society that title has such a negative connotation…in my home my kids love it.  They are amazing, but really what parent doesn’t say that about their children?  In many ways I think that children of the Military are a unique genetic breed, it’s like they are brave when it seems to be time to cry, and they stand as strong as a 100 men.

We recently welcomed home our Sailor who had been away almost 9 months.  While he was not serving overseas, he was far from home, and that in itself in my opinion makes it harder.  He was just a skype or phone call away.  I understand with most branches the ability to skype is common place, but in the Navy, we don’t usually get to skype while they are out to sea very much, if at all.  Sometimes it’s easier when random phone calls and emails are the best communication you have, it was like we missed him more looking at his face.  But I digress…back to the military brats I wanted to tell you about.

My brats had been anxious for homecoming day, it was the first for my sons BoyBrat1 and BoyBrat2 and the first for my BallerinaBrat to remember.  For a good two or three months posters were made and talked about, “When daddy gets home” filled the walls of our home and posters were rolled up in closets.  There was no way we could take them all pier side.  My BoyBrats were excited to see daddy, but BallerinaBrat dissolved into tears when all the emotion hit her.  She hadn’t shed a tear in months over daddy, but suddenly there they all were, her tears of joy.

Our military kids are the strongest kids on the planet in so many ways.  There aren’t even words on how much I respect and honor my children for the strength they are for each other.  There is something to be said with how much they connect with other military kids and thrive together through their difficulties.  A favorite BallerinaBrat story I have shared was when she told me about telling her good friend whose dad was about to deploy (as we were about to welcome home our own daddy) that when her dad came back they could share him.  That wasn’t the first time in the military kid world that I had heard that scenario.  These kids are a unique breed.

A good friend of mine, Amanda, has been a great example of how to become a great adult, having grown up a military brat.  She’s a huge part of our little family, and greatly loved.  Here is a bit of her story:

“As a naval officer who grew up an enlisted (seal) brat, I can say that life was very hard being without two parents on a consistent basis, however those times proved to me that not only is my dad a warrior doing the right thing, but that my mom was an amazingly strong woman fighting her own war for our family. It taught me that whether I followed in dad’s footsteps and went into the military, or followed mom and became a strong woman and mother, in the civilian world, I would be a strong woman and could fight and survive anything in my way and I have!  Without the support and sacrifices that my parents made, I would have never made it to or through the United States Naval Academy, through my first ship assignment, and now the medical discharge I’m facing!  Regardless of all the ups and downs, military brats are survivors; it’s all we know how to do for certain when times get tough!”

So often as a mother I worry that I have chosen for my children a lifestyle that will bring them heartbreak and turmoil when childhood should be simple.  At the same time I know that we are doing something right, these brats are pretty well adjusted and happy and most of all they thrive!  I can’t take all the credit as a parent; it would be hard to do some of this without community.  In the area I live in we are surrounded by a strong and vast military community.  Where my brats attend school they have amazing programs through Fleet and Family and the Armed Services YMCA that help our kids through while helping them create their own community for support.

I sat my BallerinaBrat and BoyBrat1 for some Q & A:  Keep in mind, BallerinaBrat is 8 and BoyBrat1 is 5.

What do you think of your daddy being in the military?

BallerinaBrat:  I love it because he serves our country.

BoyBrat1:  It’s cool that daddy has lunch on the ship.

Do you think all our moves have been hard or fun?

BallerinaBrat: Moving to Mississippi was hard, but all in all the moves have been fun.

BoyBrat1: It was fun moving; I liked riding in the big moving truck!

What is the hardest thing about being a military brat?  What is fun about it?

BallerinaBrat: The hardest is that when you move, you lose your friends.  It’s fun that we get to make new friends along the way.

BoyBrat1:  It makes us stronger.

Are you happy daddy is back?

BallerinaBrat & BoyBrat1:  YES!!!!

Today, hug your little brats tighter and thank them for being so awesome.  These kids are our future, and this journey and the adventures in it makes them so much stronger.  I know mine help me more than they will ever know survive this crazy, amazing, military life.

Fair Winds & Following Seas!
Marla ~TrevsNavyWife~

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I have to admit as I begin this review that I have a love hate relationship with the books of Nicholas Sparks.  I love them but then throw them at the end when the ending is different than what I thought.

As the theater lights lowered I could already feel my heart pumping anxiously to watch Zac Efron in a role where he is not a singing and dancing as a high schooler but a man, not just a man, A Marine!  As a military spouse I love my military romance, and love watching military romances.  I have to admit, it was one of the major reasons why I was excited to see this film.  Even better I was able to take my recently returned home Sailor to join me.   Here is a picture of us waiting for the movie to begin!!

I was really concerned with how well Zac Efron could channel the combat seasoned marine.  Logan, a marine who had seen the dirtiest of war and was saved by a simple photograph dropped in the sand.  Efron is amazing, he gained over 30 pounds for this role and no boy was present, but a real man.  I was in awe of seeing how much I believed him as Marine.   One thing I found surreally accurate was how well Efron played the aspect of that silently cautious Marine fresh from the sandbox.  Logan had a commanding presence in his scenes, but there is also a softness to him.  Taylor Schilling was awesome!   She made me believe she was Beth, the strong and gentle mom who was holding herself together yet is just moments away from dissolving.  Schilling was outstanding and made you want her to get everything and heal the broken parts of herself.  You really do attach yourself to the characters and feel that lucky charm that brought the two together.

I could go on and on but I don’t want to deliver spoilers, it’s plain and simple, go see it!  This film was chalk full of everything you would ever want.   You will laugh, a lot, you will tear up and you will find yourself applauding with a theatre full of people.  The Lucky One is a film that will touch you to your core, and the movie had just enough explosion mixed with girlieness to make it a great film!

Fair Winds & Following Seas

Marla  ~TrevsNavyWife~

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In the military we move more times that we can count, we unpack boxes and watch as total strangers pack our personal effects into cardboard wrapped in paper.  We watch as canned beans are combined with blankets from the living room and strange items get packed with our electronics.  A military move is rough, when you sit there watching someone else manhandle the baby shoes which you have carefully placed on the shelf time after time.  A huge span of emotions come to the surface as the house you have called home goes back to being a shell of the memories of the years spent within them.  If the walls could talk they would remind you of the day you brought home your baby boy for the very first time that cool spring day.

In the years of my husband’s service we have moved quite a few times, and in those moves I have always requested a moving company come and handle everything.  It comes down to the fact that while I love military life, and I love moving to new places and meeting the amazing spouses in my new destination, I hate moving!  I have a love/hate relationship with the whole concept.  Of course eventually the fates had to challenge me, what would this life be if I didn’t have a hiccup with one of my moves?

Recently we had transferred from  the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD to Pascagoula, MS.  This move was rough for me emotionally; it was a stepping stone to our final destination in San Diego, CA.  I had been desperate to be near my family again, even though in many ways Annapolis was home.  We had built so much of ourselves and our little Navy family there.

We were able to schedule a moving company to come do our pack out in Annapolis, but from Pascagoula to San Diego it didn’t happen.  I had less than 3 weeks from issuance of our paper orders to our move out date.  This left only one move option…a PPM, Personally Procured Move.  Once upon a time they called it a DITY move, oh seriously we still call it a DITY it’s the military that is trying to call it something else.  I had to do the one thing I dreaded most, a DITY MOVE!  I had to pack my own boxes, tape them and mark them with what was in there.  I had to call and get quotes on trucks and figure out how my husband and I would drive a truck and a car across four states with three children.  Suddenly the path seemed daunting and I didn’t know if I could do this without the big bad movers who had done the work before.

I scheduled our rental truck and somehow managed to back it into our driveway which suddenly seemed incredibly short.  I started loading my children in my car and driving around to local stores in search of boxes so I didn’t have to buy any, of course not realizing that they reimburse you for your moving essentials…note to self: remember that!!!

Loading day came, three awesome sailors from my husband’s command came to help him load the truck and the great game of Tetris began.  As he loaded things in the truck I was loading my car and running items to a local childcare that could use the extras that we wouldn’t need and couldn’t take.  I was thankful for the ability to donate the items our baby had out grown, but it was still a little bittersweet.  Finally after 2 days of loading, shifting, and donating our truck and our car was ready for the big drive.

We drove those four states, and in the last leg the truck lost power to the air conditioning, but really the move was pretty problem free.  It was a long trip, for me and for the three kids who shifted from my car to the truck with daddy.  It was not something I could shout to everyone to do, you can make money from doing a DITY, but really the extra we got was not worth the stressors.  I would rather the men come in and do the heavy lifting and then I can enjoy the car trip with my husband and kids as we stop and awe at the world’s largest ball of twine.

In the grand scheme of military moves I look at them all as an adventure…and a DITY is quite an adventure.  I am glad to say been there, done that, and I SURVIVED IT!

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

~TrevsNavyWife~

Photo credit: http://jennyspouse.com/

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I first heard about Coupons to Troops while lazily scrolling through my Facebook news feed as I have so many other times before. Cool, so-and-so got her hair cut. Great, this dude is at work. Blah, blah. Same old, same old. However a picture of a ton of coupons caught my eye that was posted by a fellow milspouse friend with the caption, “Thanks, Coupons to Troops!” Now, I’ve never been a real coupon-er at all but boy, do I love me a sale. So naturally I immediately went to my Google toolbar where I typed: Coupons to Troops. The result was phenomenal.

So often, even before being a military spouse, I would hear the phrase “Support the Troops!” Coming from a small town in Pennsylvania, you couldn’t go three cars without seeing some form of yellow ribbon or American flag. The pride that US citizens have for their military is both overwhelming and admirable; as well as bullet proof. And even though the catch phrases and bumper stickers are nice, it is always refreshing and eye opening to see people putting action behind their kind words.

Coupons to Troops does just that – random strangers silently support the troops and their families overseas by ‘adopting’ a family and sending them coupons that they may use on their base. After a year of being a military spouse I just found out less than a month ago that we can use coupons that have expired up to 6 months on base being military in Italy. How fantastic is that! So essentially, not only are people who ‘adopt’ military families and send them their coupons fabulous for supporting the troops, but also because they’re not throwing away coupons that are expired – because we can use them!

Received 11 envelopes full of coupons today!

Personally, my favorite part about Coupons to Troops is not the coupons themselves by any means. Sure, I feel really cool (and old, let’s be honest) with all my cut out coupons and envelopes – and I may be planning a coupon party with girlfriends – but the real magic is in the emails to one another. I’m not sure if everyone who participates is as lucky as I’ve been with generous coupon-givers, but I’ve learned so much about random strangers all over the world – all who support the military in their own way – that sometimes, it takes my breath away.

One woman I’ve been chatting to has a husband who retired from the military. We’ve been discussing how different the world is from when she was a military spouse to today. She also made me see the light at the end of what can sometimes be a very long and strenuous military tunnel. As she wrote about her fantastic husband, I grew more and more proud of my own vet and realized, yet again, how blessed we are to be living this life. It is connections like this that make the world go round. And Coupons to Troops is just one more amazing military support network that you should absolutely check out.

Sign up to ‘adopt’ a military family stationed overseas here

Sign up to receive coupons here

‘Like’ Coupons to Troops on Facebook here

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This following is the first blog post in our Homecoming series. Contact us if you would like to be a guest blogger and submit your Homecoming story.

My first…
By Despina

I’m a 43 year old Submariner’s wife writing my first blog post and yesterday I experienced my first homecoming.  Although my Sailor and I have been together for 5 years and he had been out to sea plenty of times, I had never experienced a submarine homecoming.  I have to thank the CO, had he not appointed me as Ombudsman I would probably still be ignorant of this incredible experience!

Yesterday I was blessed to witness a magnificent sight; the homecoming of the USS Missouri (SSN 780).  I stood in awe at the shore line and watched her sail break the water as she rose majestically to continue her journey to the sub base on the surface of the Thames.  Her topside lined with Sailors, standing with their hands behind their backs.  Her sail filled to capacity with Officers and pilots as they made their way home.  The formality and quiet dignity of their postures impressed and moved me beyond words.

As we raced to the next viewing point, Paul’s Pasta, I could barely contain my excitement, awe and anger; directed firmly at my Sailor for letting me think this was no big deal for so many years!

The Mighty Mo passed so close to us that I could make out faces of the Sailors that lined her sleek wet body.  She was escorted, like a debutante, preceded by a Coast Guard gunnery boat and flanked by an imposing tug that would gently assist her in her final maneuvers to the pier awaiting her.

Our next stop was the overlook near the Nautilus and I thought how appropriate that the newest ship would pass the oldest on her way home.  Racing down to the pier, I could barely contain myself.  We made it just before the Mighty Mo and got to watch the tug and crew working together to secure her to the pier.  I was watching a well-rehearsed ballet in awe.

I saw my mustached Sailor scramble up the hatch onto her back, first turning to find me in the crowd and wave at me.  Those were the first tears I shed yesterday.  My Sailor was home safe and sound.  I proudly watched as he strode to the back of the ship, with purpose, as a large cantilevered arm reached out to hand thousands of pounds of cables to him and his division so they could connect shore power to the ship.

I gathered all the ladies of the Mighty Mo together and asked that they yell “Hey Shipmate!” just so I could watch my Sailor turn around one more time, this time with a chagrined look on his face as he gave me a short wave.  He was the only one that turned around.  He is “THE” Shipmate on the boat.

I watched a massive crane slowly amble onto the pier to place a steel girdle around the nose and sail of the ship, ignorant of its purpose.

For the first time, I watched wives eyes gleam with tears and tenderness as they caught glimpses of their Sailors walking down the pier to say hello for a minute before they went back to work.  They had a long way to go before their work day ended.

You may be thinking “Why haven’t you ever seen this?” Funny thing…. HE NEVER TOLD ME such a thing existed and worse than that, I NEVER THOUGHT TO ASK!  I always waited for his call telling me he was home and thought that was the “thing” that Navy wives did.

I know better now and will never miss another opportunity like this again.  If you’ve never seen this, you should.  I haven’t done the majesty of it justice.

For the first time I didn’t see Submarines at their berths at the sub base.

I saw love lining the Pier in New London and it took my breath away.

This was my first homecoming but you can bet; it will not be my last.

Related story:

USS Missouri returns to sub base after shakedown cruise

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Today at the White House the First Lady, Michelle Obama held a telephone conference with milbloggers and traditional reporters to make an exciting announcement regarding Military Spouse employment as part of the Joining Forces initiative.

Mrs. Obama announced, “11 companies are coming together to pledge more than 15,000 jobs for military spouses — 15,000 jobs.  And the vast majority of these jobs are ones that the spouses can do at home from anywhere in the country.”

The jobs will be listed on the Military Spouse Employment Partnership website, which features an easy to use searchable database.

Most of the jobs are customer service, however other positions highlighted included jobs within the telecommunications, health care and service industries.

Joining Mrs. Obama on the call was fellow military spouse, Dawn Schaeffer. Dawn is an Air Force wife who shared her struggle with finding a suitable job after a move from Guam to Missouri. Dawn currently works for Arise Virtual Solutions, one of the 11 companies highlighted in the announcement today. She very candidly shared her story, one that is very familiar to spouses who have had to “start over” after a move.  “I was really excited about this opportunity because it allowed me to set my own schedule; it allowed me to stay at home.  I get to provide customer service to some of the biggest companies in the world.  And I don’t have to worry about making ends meet if we get transferred or have to move to another base. And following the certification process, I began servicing customers of a major telecom company.  And I’m a certified professional, and I absolutely love what I do.”

This exciting announcement brings job opportunities to thousands of military spouses wanting to find portable and flexible job options.

I’m looking forward to hearing the success stories that come out of the announcement as spouses apply for and secure these jobs. It’s important to note, for spouses who start out in one of the customer service, call center positions at possibly an entry-level position, there would opportunities to move up in the organization based on their performance. Salary amounts range from $9 to $16 an hour.

Indeed, the Joining Forces initiative has come a long way in its efforts to challenge companies to create credible and desirable job opportunities for spouses. They are tackling the unemployment rate spouses face today head on.

Thank you Mrs. Obama for letting me be part of the extraordinary experience of helping get the word out about this great stepping stone in providing real jobs that meet the unique needs of the job seeking military spouse.

Thank you for opening up the conference call to military spouse bloggers.

Thank you for highlighting one of our own, Dawn Schaeffer.

Thank you also to Dawn Schaeffer for being so candid and willing to sharing your success story of finding a portable, flexible job! You are an inspiration to every job / career seeking military spouse.

A year ago I was honored to attend a similar conference call with Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, as she first announced the Joining Forces initiative. It was such a privilege and an honor to be part of the call today to get to hear first hand how far the Joining Forces initiative has come. This jobs announcement will make a remarkable difference to military families on the homefront.

From the Armed Forces Press Service:

“Companies are not just telling military families we are inspired by them,” Mrs. Obama said, “They’re backing it up with meaningful, concrete action.”

Companies’ key commitments include:

– Alpine Access has pledged to recruit, train and hire more than 3,000 military-connected Americans over the next two years. The company also will launch TalentSprout, an online portal with skill-building and job training curriculum. These career and personal development courses will be offered free-of-charge to qualified members of the armed forces and to their eligible spouses and caregivers.

– Arise Virtual Solutions Inc. plans to add 10,000 new independent business and client services professionals from military families over the next several years. Arise also intends to develop special programs to create awareness among military spouses and veterans.

– DialAmerica aims to increase the number of military-affiliated employees to make up 20 percent of its workforce by 2014.

– Etech Global Services has committed to hiring a minimum of 200 military spouses and veterans in next two years.

– Hilton Hotels employs nearly 800 military-related employees at their hotels and offices around the globe. In partnership with Recruit Military and other community-based organizations, Hilton Worldwide is pledging another 3.5 percent of their Hilton@Home call center positions to military spouses through 2014.

– Prosperity America intends to hire 50 more veterans and military spouses.

– Quality Contact Solutions is creating 150 work-at-home business-to-business marketing and communication jobs for military spouses over the next two years. These jobs will be in the health care and telecommunications industries.

– Agility Marketing is planning to add 100 jobs for military spouses and veterans over the next two years.

– QCSS Inc. will ensure a minimum of 10 percent of the forecasted 200 new hires from now through 2014 will be veterans and their families.

– SP Data intends to add more than 150 jobs for military spouses and veterans over the next two years.

– Veteran Call Center, LLC plans to create an additional 1,000 jobs for military spouses and veterans over the next two years.

I’ll close with Mrs. Obama’s remarks on the military spouse:

“Just to put this in context so that people understand what these spouses go through, these men and women take on so much.  Just think of it — every couple of years they are packing up and they’re moving from state to state; oftentimes, they’re doing the work of two parents when their spouse is deployed for months at a time.  And like so many civilian families, they’re doing this all while balancing the demands of family, community, and trying to keep their own jobs together, all while hoping and praying that their loved one comes home safe.

These spouses are people who have to know how to do it all.  They’re constantly troubleshooting and managing schedules.  They’re dealing with changing circumstances and everything else that comes their way.  But the beauty of all of this is that it means that our military spouses are often some of the most talented, most resilient and most employable people around.“

For more information visit:

The Official Joining Forces website

First Lady Unveils New Military Spouse Hiring Effort

Updated:

Blog posts by other milbloggers on the call:

Over 15,000 jobs created for military spouses -Not Your Average Brooklynette

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April is the Month of the Military Child. We as spouses are often referred to as the Silent Ranks. I would assume this to include our children. Do we ever step back and take a look at them for what they really are? Do you ever have that moment when you realize that your five year old probably knows more about life then you did when you were first married?
I started thinking about what to put in a tribute to our wonderful, flexible, well adjusted Military “brats“. I thought of how to convey what most people think about the average military “brat”: they move a lot, they leave friends, the get to live in cool places! I have never really thought much about it. I always wanted my kids to feel as normal as possible. My children have always been just that, children. Then I stumbled upon something that intrigued me. I need to share this take on the military “brat” and why we should realize what our children are.
Wikipedia defines the military “brat” as: people who spend their childhood or adolescence while a parent (or parents) serve full-time in the armed forces, and can also refer to the unique subculture and lifestyle of American military brats, the term refers to both current and former children of such families. The mention of a subculture got me curious so I had to read more. They go on to define that subculture known as military brats as one of America’s oldest, yet least well known and largely invisible, subcultures. Our children have also been described as a modern nomadic subculture in research studies.
We all know that when we refer to our children as military “brats” it is a term of endearment; our children know this as well. The term also indicates to most a certain image, one of an adaptable, spunky character. I think this opened my eyes to some things. Our children, like us, are a very special breed, they will learn, live, love and thrive were they are planted. They will most likely deal with more by the age of 10 then their civilian counterparts will in their entire adult lives. Our service members may have chosen this career, as did we by loving them, but our children were born into this. They had no knowledge of what they were getting into and they have thrived! How many kids can be that resilient?
So, take this month and honor your “brats”, let them know how special they are. Tell them how much you love them for just being them.
So the next time your child struggles because of what we have chosen for them, let them know that there is a whole nomadic subculture waiting to accept them! ~Tori

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