Thinking about my life as a Military spouse; new seasons always mean new possibilities.  During certain seasons you may be preparing to pcs or just arriving at a new duty station or even transitioning to a new career.

During these seasons we are always encouraged to “grow where you are planted” however that is much easier said then done. For some of us no matter the amount  of times outliers are restarted, we face challenges that many other families do not. 

Remembering our PCS from Florida to the northeast; it was a huge shock for our kids.

Our younger girls didn’t remember what snow was, and it was their first time actually living on a military installation. The challenge came in when everything that shaped their young core memories was just that a memory.

They and myself did our best to make this new place feel like home for them. Many of the families were so incredibly wonderful and welcoming to them inviting them to playdates and outings in the community.

These families embraced them as if they had always known them and made an effort to ease their discomfort of being somewhere new. Myself was even excited to venture out beyond what I was familiar with to be the example for them to follow.

And although putting yourself in unfamiliar circumstances isn’t always comfortable, it can be more rewarding in the end than we appreciate at the beginning. 

More challenges reared their heads when they reached high-school age and again faced with a PCS to uproot them.

That’s when we made the decision to stay where we were planted.

Permanently. 

Turned out planting our roots allowed them to flourish. They explore the community on their own, being young adults now. They have friends that are almost like family, and enjoy what was once a scary, unfamiliar sometimes not completely welcoming place into home. 

We have always encouraged our kids and have attempted to set the example of making the best out of any situation (or as my husband likes to say “to hunt for the good stuff”).

Meaning if you go into it with a negative mindset, all you’ll see if the negativity. But if you look at it as an opportunity to grow as a person and venture out of your comfort zone, you just might turn a pile of dirt into a beautiful garden. 

There are many resources available to families relocating.

I am a firm believer in that the community is our best resource. Talk with your neighbors, parents at your kids school, place of worship, and even the local library has incredible opportunities for community involvement.

Being a Military family we understand our time in any location may be limited but that does not mean we have to limit the interactions and relationships that we have fostered there. 

*If you need more information about your upcoming duty station, visit Military One Source, Military.com, or check out our M:M PCS resources.