Family Life & Relationships

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The Difference Between Military and Civilian Life

We’ve had a military life and a civilian life. I have to say, most times they aren’t that far apart. My husband goes to work Monday through Friday, is usually home for dinner, has holidays off, and takes vacation time during the year. But then there are times where our...
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Becoming Family Again After Deployment

When one spouse deploys, the one left at home has to do the job of two people. They have to run the household by themselves, they have to be both Mom and Dad to the children. They are the only one in control of what goes on in the house....
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Extended Family in a Military World

My husband and I are both from California. Both of our families are in California. Most of our extended family is there, too. Since my husband joined the Army, we have lived in Germany and Tennessee. Although Tennessee is much closer than Germany was, it is still too far away....
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What If I Don’t Like My Duty Station?

There are many different types of duty stations out there. Some are in the US, others are overseas. Some of in the middle of no where and others in the middle of a city or town. Some have hotter climates than others. Some get more snow in the winter. Others are near...
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Military Spouse Friendships

Military spouses need good friends! The military life can be very difficult sometimes. It can be a great life but a stressful one as well. Between deployments, long work hours and changing schedules, the spouses need people to depend on. We need to find others who get where we are...
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Family Readiness Group: How the FRG can help you

I never knew what the FRG was until my husband joined the Army last March. In the Marines, I was too new and too young to really put any thought into what they offered – and the Marines (at least a decade ago) weren’t nearly as family oriented as the...
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Surviving a Road Trip: How To Travel with Children

Click on the above image to enlarge. Recently my husband and I went on a road trip back to our home state and took our 2 1/2 year old daughter with us. It was 10 hours on the way there and 13 on the way back. We did it each...
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Building Resilient Relationships with Army Strong Bonds Retreats

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I enjoyed a romantic weekend getaway at a local tourist spot, complete with catered meals, outdoor activities, great relationship-building sessions, and a nice evening out. We made some new friends and came home with great insights about ourselves, each other, and our...
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Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance May Help Some, But Not Many

Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard of the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? You, gentle readers with your hands in your laps, are not alone. The program, outlined in Department of Defense (DOD) Instruction 1341.11, isn’t very well known. The website used to determine...
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Free Homes to Military Families: In a Struggling Economy, Non-Profits Step Up

Our service members sacrifice their livelihood for our country every day despite the risks that include severe injury and even death. They put their lives on the line to ensure our freedom, yet many of these deserving people are struggling financially and cannot even afford the simple luxury of having a...
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