encouragement - Mission: Milspouse

I’m Not a Perfect Parent (and Neither are You)

by Sarah Peachey | Apr 28, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6

Recently, my 6-year-old had a homework assignment about creating a chain reaction. We drafted our plan using sketches of how we would set up dominoes to fall over various surfaces before launching a car through a loop-de-loop. We spent hours setting up dominoes, knocking them down by accident, and starting over. Finally, everything was in position and still standing despite two younger siblings “helping.”

My 6-year-old got into position and gently tipped the first domino. We watched them fall, hearing a satisfying clink as each domino made contact with the one in front of it.

Finally, the last domino began to fall. It tapped the car, and…

Nothing.

Hours of trying to make it work and it didn’t.

My daughter was upset, and honestly, we might have been overly ambitious.

That experiment got me thinking about our current struggles as parents.

Silver Linings

by Retired Blogger | Apr 25, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6

Well suffice it to say, spring isn’t going quite the way we planned…

As I’m typing, the world is literally shut down, with fear and panic being the overruling emotions. You pretty much can’t go anywhere or talk to anyone, and so far there’s no real end in sight. And what’s with all the toilet paper hoarders? Honestly, with all that’s going on, it’s super easy to focus on the negative. But you know what? In my house, there’s been a whole lot of positives too.

Don’t start rolling your eyes yet!

I’m not about to sit here and lie to you, talking about how my family is just loving the time all crammed together, and how I’m managing to write the next great American novel and simultaneously cook all the gourmet meals I’ve always wanted to try, while my well-behaved children and attentive husband look like Pottery Barn models in the background of my pictures, with the hashtag #lovingthisquaratinelife!

Nope. Not in this house.

Stepping Out

by Retired Blogger | Apr 15, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6, Military Life

Last post, I mentioned how my husband and I went to a class in Kansas.

At first, I did not want to go, and I was looking for excuses not to go. However, in the end, everything worked out great.

My sister-in-law came to watch the kids, and during the class, we reconnected with my husband’s two previous commanders from 12 years ago. They were a part of our Bragg family and were there when our son had his first heart surgery at 4 months old. In addition, in my small group was a wife who lives in Hawaii, which is our next duty station. It helped me so much to know that when we move over to Hawaii, I have a connection and I have a friend. Furthermore, I met new friends, learned new things about myself as well as others, and shared experiences. I have gained a lot from stepping out and taking one step at a time.

Start Today, and Do Not Give Up

by George Banker | Apr 10, 2020 | Blog, Expert, Health & Fitness

The first step is always difficult. You have to understand that there is a goal to be achieved. The fear of the unknown can make you hesitate and question your ability to succeed.

Psychology Today defines fear as, “an emotional response induced by a perceived threat that causes a change in brain and organ function, as well as in behavior. Fear can lead us to hide, to run away, or to freeze in our shoes. Fear may arise from a confrontation or from avoiding a threat, or it may come in the form of a discovery.”

Fitness, for some, is automatic, almost natural, and little thought is required. To others, fitness requires a well thought out plan. The plan can include having a partner on the journey to offer moral support.

AWTR Show #729: A Milspouse’s Education

by M:M Command Team | Apr 9, 2020 | Experience, Podcast

Being a milspouse while getting an education can be challenging, especially when your spouse is away. Join Anika as she talks about her educational journey.

Finding Purpose in the Pause

by Retired Blogger | Apr 2, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6, Military Life

A couple of years ago, I took a trip home to Virginia to spend some time with my parents. We were stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina at the time, so the short four-hour drive to extended family was a welcomed retreat.

While I was visiting, they took me to one of the Civil War battlefields to walk along the paved paths and soak in some beauty and fresh air. On this scenic route, I was accompanied by my furry walking partner, Bailey. Now, Bailey is a sweet, black Labrador Retriever, but she has awful leash manners. She will pull and tug the first 15 minutes of any walk—guaranteed. She is on a mission to find things to sniff and locate other dogs. As she nearly pulled my shoulder out of socket during this particular stroll, I started to get increasingly frustrated with her lack of chill. Didn’t she realize there was no hurry? There was so much to see and look at and soak in right where we were. Why was she in such a rush? Her hurry was making me miss some really beautiful things.

In that moment, I realized that I can often be the same way—always looking ahead to the next thing, running on the hamster wheel of life, missing what’s right in front of me.

Read Your Way Through Quarantine

by Sarah Peachey | Mar 28, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6

Like many people around the world, you may have found yourself in a quarantine in your own home until the worst is over.

And, like many people around the world, you may be realizing just how boring and monotonous it can get being stuck in your home with your spouse (who may or may not work from home) and/or your children.

Seriously, #solidarity.

For me, reading has been the best way to pass the time, both reading to my kids and reading books for myself. The problem for many is finding these books. So here are a few ways you can access digital books that are new to you or re-read old favorites without leaving your house.

Supporting Our Troops: How to Respond When Someone Doesn’t

by Retired Blogger | Mar 27, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6, Military Life

Before I met my husband, James, I had no connection to military life beyond my grandfathers who both served in WWII. In my world, the military was a foreign, invasive force that attracted only those who sought out and enjoyed violence.

It wasn’t just the US military. I felt this way about all those who I believed chose war—otherwise, why choose to be in the service?

In those initial months dating James, I had so many questions. I could not put together the idea of this tremendously kind, gentle, compassionate man who I was getting to know to be the same person who I would have assumed to choose violence and anger before anything else. Needless to say, this was the early part of my journey of transformation in my beliefs about military service—where I can now stand by my husband with pride as he serves our country, and I feel honored to be a military spouse.

Spring Cleaning

by Retired Blogger | Mar 25, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Household 6, Military Life

Gonna be honest, I’m hoping that by using the word “spring” in my blog title the universe will decide that we can be done with winter. But, since it’s currently supposed to snow a few more times in the next week, I’m not holding out any hope.

Onto the topic at hand!

Maybe you’re wondering if by “Spring Cleaning” I mean things like vacuuming and dusting, or dishes and yardwork, easy stuff like that.. No way I’m letting you guys off that easy! While scrubbing floors and toilets like Cinderella sounds amazing (no, it doesn’t), I actually mean the type of deep life cleaning that can be painful, but incredibly necessary. Sometimes you’ve just got to purge all the extra crap in order to make room for the stuff that actually matters!