How a Family Meeting Can Ease Holiday Woes

For me and so many others, the stress of the holidays can take away from the enjoyment of the season. It can be especially stressful if you have to split Thanksgiving or Christmas between different groups of family members (for example: parents and in-laws or parents who are divorced) or accommodating older children with their own families and in-laws. As it turns out, a family meeting can help.

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The Extra Christmas Stocking

Something told me to buy that extra Christmas stocking. I’m so glad I did.

It was a couple of days after Christmas, and I had some gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket. My boys were little (4, 6, and 8), and we desperately needed to up our Holiday decorating with matching Christmas stockings, so this was top priority on my shopping list. I walked into Kohl’s (with that glorious Kohl’s cash in my wallet nearing expiration) and headed straight back to the holiday clearance section.

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The November Burn Out

In order to recognize a trend, it has to happen more than once. But how many times does it take to change a trend? I’m just now recognizing a trend that happens shortly after a PCS—the November Burn Out.

Typically, we PCS around summertime. We move into our new home, and our family slowly adjusts to new schedules, new routines, new norms. And I say “yes” to every opportunity to interact with new friends, in search of my next battle buddies.

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6 Things You Won’t Regret Saying During Thanksgiving

Simply put, Thanksgiving is all about being thankful and having a grateful heart, but I’m getting a little bit crazy with the holidays coming.

I’m filling the calendar, scheduling time with friends, thinking about turkeys—the ones on sale? stuffed or unstuffed this year?—remembering to find recipes, making lists of ingredients, and pulling down fall decoration boxes from the garage, only to take a deep breath when I see the Christmas boxes next to them. 

It’s obvious my mind is like a merry-go-round, whirling with things to do.

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Food For Thought

When was the last time you truly connected with yourself? When was the last time you took a few moments to remember what makes you, you? We as humans need to take time (even if it’s just five minutes) to connect with our souls and remember what makes us genuine and unique. It’s a little bit of food for thought for all of us because it’s hard to focus on that part of ourselves at times when we’re wrapped up in so many other things and/or focusing our energy somewhere else.

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7 Fall Organizing Tips for Holiday Prep

For some, this is the year you’re ready to invite friends and family to celebrate the holidays. For others, you’re just looking to stay ahead of the holiday crush from your immediate circle. Either way, there’s definitely calm in the chaos if you add a little holiday prep and organization to the mix this fall. 

Use these tips to help you get ready for the holiday season; no matter if you’re preparing for four, eight, or 12, there’s helpful advice curated just for you. 

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Emotional Labor of Being a Military Spouse

A few years ago, I read an article about emotional labor. The author described her experience of asking for one simple gift for Mother’s Day. She wanted someone to deep clean her home. Her husband waited until the last minute, then decided it was too expensive. In addition, he couldn’t find a cleaning service for the day he wanted, so instead, he “cleaned” the bathrooms leaving her to watch their children destroy the rest of the house.

He thought he gave her the gift she wanted.

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5 Ways to Connect with Your Child During Deployment

When I learned that my husband was going to deploy this year, their relationship left me nervous. It would be our first longer separation and the first my son would remember. I couldn’t help but worry, not only for them, but also for me. How would I connect with my son the way he connects with his dad?

My 3 1/2 year old son is a daddy’s boy, through and through.

He loves playing cars and dinos with Dad, matching clothes with Dad, and helping Dad with all the household tasks and projects.

Have you heard the song, “Watching You” by Rodney Atkins? (If not, you can listen here.) That’s them, in a nutshell.

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