Hi Friend!

This month we're discussing the unique challenges that military marriages face, along with some helpful resources for managing the government shutdown.

I'm also sharing about why I think it's so important for us to listen to the stories of older military spouses and benefit from their wisdom and experience. (That's one reason why I wrote Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories!)

There's also a link to a free download with tips for navigating in-law relationships during deployment, so be sure to scroll down and click the link to download it.

Shutdown Resource Links

I know that the current government shutdown is resulting in financial stress for military families as well as upheaveal for families in the midst of PCS moves. I wanted to share links to some trusted resources for anyone who's in a difficult financial situation, along with some organizations that are keeping on top of the latest news regarding the shutdown, its impact, and help for military families.

Blue Star Families

Military Family Advisory Network

Military OneSource

Army Emergency Relief

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Air Force Aid Society

USAA

Strengthening Your Military Marriage - Article Excerpt

I was certain our marriage would not survive the repeated stresses of military life and the toll it was taking on us. But I will tell you the one thing I did that night, though I didn’t feel like it, though I felt misunderstood, though I was tired and weary and in some ways, completely over it.

I stayed.

If you find yourself in a similar place, I will share with you what I changed. All these decades later, I guess you could say it worked.

Read the Article

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Milspouse Matters

You Are Not Alone

Why We Need to Listen to the Stories of Older Military Spouses

Maybe it’s because I’m now categorized as a bit, well, older, or maybe it’s because I’ve been blessed with some amazing mentors along the way, but I’m wondering…when did we decide we needed to reinvent the wheel and toss aside advice from older military spouses?

Bear with me here.

I get it. Times have changed. I’ve written plenty about inclusivity in spouses' clubs, the toll of distance on a military marriage, career and childcare demands placed on milspouses, and more. I adore younger military spouses. They inspire me!

But.

It’s so easy to dismiss advice from older spouses because they haven’t lived just exactly what we’re living. But there are some things that haven’t changed. You know how it is when you first go off on your own/get married/have your first child/hear your teen yell they hate you/have your own child move out on their own? Suddenly, your own parents seem so wise. You finally get it. You understand why they had all the rules and little quirks. They knew a thing or two.

It’s the same in the military spouse world. While we protest that older spouses just don’t understand what we’re going through and turn to our peers for help with problems they’ve never navigated before either, the older spouses are standing by, waiting for us to buy a clue. They know a thing or two.

Read the full article here.

Read stories from military spouses across the generations in Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories.

Purchase Milspouse Matters

The Do's and Don'ts of In-Laws and Deployment

Military marriage has its own unique challenges, and navigating in-law relationships during deployment is one of them. That's why I've created this free download with ideas for managing expectations, communicating clearly, setting boundaries, and taking care of yourself. It's garnered from a talk I gave for the PILLAR Deployment Retreats. I hope the tips included make what can be a tricky situation go a little more smoothly!

Free In-Law Download

You May Enjoy Listening to…

Whether you're a brand new military spouse, or one who's been through more moves and deployments than you can count, I hope that you've found a little bit of encouragement and some helpful tips in this month's newsletter.

See you next time!

Blessings,