With school no longer in session, long days by the pool, backyard BBQs, and family vacations in sight, many of us often think that summer is free from “seasonal blues.” But sometimes, adjusting to the “new normal” during these months can be difficult. There are additional stressors like balancing children being home or finding extra finances for summer camps and parties that can start to take a toll on our mental wellness. As we head into the last half of summer, Hope For The Warriors encourages you to take some time to focus on your self-care routine.
encouragement
The Importance of Self-Care for the Homeschooling Military Spouse
Self-care has become a fashionable buzzword in our culture. Still, as Dr. Sharita Knobloch points out, self-care deserves a key place in the life of every homeschooling military spouse.
OCONUS Military Spouses Build Community
After you PCS, do you ever arrive at a new location and feel completely lost? In my time as a military spouse, this feeling was further exacerbated during our OCONUS tours. When we moved to Japan, my twins were three, my spouse was immediately gone off on deployment, where he remained for most of the tour. I couldn’t figure out the language, let alone the basics of this new life we had been thrown into a million miles from the comforts of home.
Self-Image is a Journey
I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching this past year (well three years, rather) when it comes to self-image. I’ve been relearning how to love myself the way I am. Scratch that: I do love myself the way I am! But that’s now. Getting to where I am right now, feeling more confident and happy with my self-image, took some time.
Preparing for a Career Change
When I graduated college, I thought I had landed my dream job. For a while, it was everything I wanted it to be. After five years in the field, I realized my career was no longer conducive to family life, work life balance, and overall did not make me happy anymore. I considered enduring the dissatisfaction because the position I accepted aligned with my college degree. I also recognized I didn’t want to face the fear of the unknown by starting over.
Postpartum as a Military Spouse
Scrolling through Facebook, I am flooded with pictures of families smiling, kids playing, and other new moms with captions reading, “heart full.” I must stop scrolling because I can feel the tears coming down my face again. I had a baby 5 weeks ago, and I should be more like the photos I see of smiling faces. But most days, it takes all the strength I have to get out of my room. The dark side of having a baby that I was not prepared for was Postpartum Depression as a military spouse; especially when your service member is away.
Cavalry Spur Ride: But Where are the Horses?
This is a story of spurs, strength and the spirit only spouses can bring to the fight.
The early dawn hours of an August morning in north country New York were cool and humid. Bags were loaded and laces tightened. The packing list was complete, and all that was left was the sunscreen.
Gathered in the pavilion near the lake, 77 spouses of modern-day cavalry troopers stood quietly in the sun waiting for their spur ride instructions. Lynda borrowed a helmet from a female trooper, as her soldier’s was too big for her. An actual spur ride!
We Should Have Jumped More…
When is the last time you Jumped? I mean really jumped?
Jumped for Joy?
Jumped at a some kind of chance?
Jumped into a new duty station?
Jumped to reach a new career height?
Let’s Talk about Voicemail
As a career coach, a great deal of the advice I give to clients pertains to resumes, interviewing, and dressing for success. However, it is also crucial to pay close attention to the small details in a job search. Those can include choosing a professional email provider, writing thank you notes after interviews and cleaning up your social profiles. However, I frequently see clients overlook how they’re using voicemail as a job-seeking professional.
Mission: Milspouse is a
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EIN Number: 88-1604492
Contact:
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904