Oh… Military Life! This is likely what brought you to Mission: Milspouse in the first place. It is what binds the military community together with its wildly unique lifestyle.
Whether you are here to learn how to better live in this military life, how to support a loved one who is living the military lifestyle, or to see if this lifestyle is something you may like to be a part of, you have come to the right place.
Here at Mission: Milispouse the military lifestyle is what inspires us, drives our home lives, our moves, and our service member’s career, and gives us a camaraderie like no other. So welcome friend, take a seat and read more about all things that make us who we are and make the military lifestyle a life like no other!
Happy New Year, folks!
If you’ve been here longer than 14 seconds, you know I’m a sucker for lists, dreams and plans. Naturally, the new year brings a great opportunity to reflect on the past year and dream for the future. It’s a perfect time to set and achieve some new goals!
As you probably hear quite often, military life usually has no shortage of separations. It’s hard enough being separated from your service member because Murphy’s Law often comes to light. It can get more trying when you have other engagements, but especially if you have children.
I’ve come to call the time I parent alone “solo-parenting.” I know some people consider it “single parenting,” but I think that misses the mark. Milspouses are fortunate enough to have financial and emotional support from a spouse, unlike actual single parents.
But we certainly do parent solo for a period of time while our service members attend school, go on temporary duty, or depart for a deployment.
“My leave’s been approved.”
Such a sweet string of words for any milspouse to hear, and the beginning of yet another military countdown.
The days that followed consisted of lists, prioritizing, planning, and goal setting; everything was entered into my calendar. What could go wrong, right? Well, as any seasoned milspouse knows… lots!
There’s something special about this time of year.
There’s combat-boot footprints of mud in our kitchen. Random winter military clothing piled in seemingly every corner of the house. Faded and mismatched green socks are hung by the chimney with care. MRE’s are roasting on an open fire.
Quite picturesque, yes? Okay, maybe not exactly.
For the better part of three years, we lived in the West Texas border town that is home to Fort Bliss.
I was born and raised in the Piney Woods and attended undergraduate school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but El Paso is a side of the Lone Star State I’d never seen before we moved there.
As I write this, I’m looking around my current duty station house with the packers scheduled to arrive in less than four days. It’s Dec. 8, and we’re PCSing for our first OCONUS move before Christmas, which means we’ll be living in a hotel over the Christmas holiday.
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904