Here comes summer; here comes a PCS! You’ve probably made your to-do list to tackle the tasks, and you can pack and unpack blindfolded. For the most part, a move is not only predictable but expected, and you know all the right things to do to make it as smooth as possible for you and your family.
During our exceptionally long transition of an OCONUS to CONUS PCS a few years ago, we stayed in several hotels while traveling and vacationing, then a temporary apartment while waiting to close on our house. Needless to say, we had to eat out often. Restaurants always provided our children with kids’ menus, along with a couple of crayons to go with each. After completing their meals, my children loved taking the crayons, and sometimes their menus, with them.
You’ve probably heard that our military children are like dandelions, but what about the other military family members?
Here’s how I see it: our military children are dandelions, our military teens are willow trees, and military spouses are sunflowers.
When I flew to Richmond, Virginia, in February, 2017, it was to help my new husband PCS from his AIT at Fort Lee.
It was like a vacation. Ten days at a Candlewood Suites, during which I slept, read books I’d had on my list for years, and binged Once Upon a Time, all while he out-processed.
In the evenings, we made dinner together, explored the surrounding area while playing Pokemon Go, and enjoyed being together after months apart.
Lovely. And at the time, I thought every PCS would be as dreamy.
It’s a double feature here at AWTR! First, we talk to Shermaine Perry-Knights, who reminds us to give ourselves space to validate our feelings during a PCS. Next, we find out how Travelers Haven can help you during your next PCS move.
If Sam heard her mom give one more “Pollyanna” speech about how lucky she was to be a military kid, she was seriously going to vomit. That feeling also rang true for the word resilient. Message received!
Sam, like so many other military kids got it. They understood the drill. They move every two years, they have to make friends quickly, they are flexible and adaptable, yadda, yadda, yadda.
They were just words.
Eating disorders occur more often among active-duty service members and veterans than among the general population. There are many reasons for this: perfectionism, past trauma, making weight requirements, weight and shape stigma, and mental health stigma. But what about military spouses and children? Do they experience eating disorders as well?
Short answer: Yes, they do. From external circumstances to challenging family dynamics, there are several possible contributors to eating disorders in military dependents:
Do you feel defeated choosing battle lines on the virtual learning front with your children over the past year? I have some thoughts on that, but first, how I got there.
Having left Facebook several years ago due to the incivility that was present (how tame those days were), I eventually found my way back to the social media platform. It wasn’t due to FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). It wasn’t because I regretted my decision. Hardly.
No, it was because the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, gymnastics, and a host of youth sports teams only communicated to families through Facebook.
Today we are chatting with two incredible ladies, Lisa and Kathleen, who are both military spouses and Public Advocates for The Barry Robinson Center.
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904