There is no better time than the start of the new year to think about where you are at in terms of your military life. It may be the perfect time to re-prioritize, get organized, re-assess how you are doing, how your relationships are working, what you need and what you don’t need in your life.   more...

Record the entire season - Tip #131

For many of us, this is a holiday season. There are a number of events and family traditions that take place over the entire month. However, your absent family member won’t have memories of the hurried Christmas shopping, baking, parties, people visiting, dinners, wrapping, hiding gifts, etc.  more...

Pre – Deployment Checklist – Tip #152

When my husband went on his first deployment to Bosnia, many years ago, I was completely and utterly clueless. It was one of the hardest experiences of my life, next to my mother dying. more...

Assumptions – While You Were Away Tip #18
Whether you are on your first or fifth reunion/re-integration from a deployment it is important not to assume you know how your returning member will think, feel or act. Each deployment is unique. more...

Eating Together - Tip #43
Eating together everyday will connect you as a family. It will be an essential way of communicating with each other – sharing successes and failures, frustrations and triumphs and just talking together about yourselves, your dreams, frustrations and goals. more...

Stages of Grief – Tip #137
Many people have come up with theories around the grieving cycle and below is nothing new except that I think it is important to recognize that people grieve about things other than someone dying. more...

End Conversations Positively - Tip #56
It isn’t easy to have a family member absent a lot and when they call it is often easy to get into a conversation all about what isn’t working or annoying you the most (that can be a long list) and then before you know it the phone call is over and it hasn’t ended well. more...

 In Advance - Tip #22
If you have the luxury of knowing when your family member is going to be away do special things in advance. Today we are carving our pumpkins as my husband is going to be away for Halloween. more...

 Sleep Habits - Tip #123
I am quite blessed that the only times I have had sleep issues was when my children were babies and when I am really stressed. The ‘middle of the night baby stage’ passed (thank goodness!) and I work hard to keep stress levels down. more...

Memory Box – Tip #32
A memory box is a great way for your children to be able to reconnect with an absent parent, brother, sister or relative when they return and record moments easily throughout the deployment. more...

Top 5 Reintegration Tips

1) Have a day of rest and pampering so that you are all well rested before seeing each other
2) Make sure rooms and spaces are organized and tidied out so that your returning family member feels as though there is a physical space... more..

Door Sign - Tip #28

While your house is not a hotel and your family member shouldn’t be allowed to have a permanent ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on their door handle there should be times when you or anyone in the family can have a self imposed ‘time out’ and a place to be alone. more...