How to Argue Constructively When You’re Far Apart
by Meg Flanagan For the first two or so years of my military marriage, my husband and I were not in the same state. For a significant portion, we weren’t even on the same continent. Thanks, deployment! However, we still needed to handle things on the homefront and in our relationship. But how do you […]
Steal These 4 Ideas to Send to Grandparents
by Meg Flanagan Truth time: it’s very rare that military kids are ever going to be stationed near their grandparents’ hometowns. Like, unless your parents happen to live near a major hub for your branch of service, it’s probably not going to happen. Ever. In the 12 or so years I’ve done military life, the […]
Here’s How to Advocate for Your EFMP Kids Right Now
by Meg Flanagan Okay, so, nothing looks like it did last fall or even in February 2020. Nothing. There have been strides made, especially when it comes to EFMP and special education for military kids, but also the pandemic. Really, we’re all flying by the seat of our pants here and no one really knows […]
Here’s Why We’re Sending Postcards to People We Love
by Meg Flanagan Since mid-March, our mailbox has never been busier. Sometimes, I wonder if my family is single-handedly keeping the USPS running. It seems like every other day we’re sending mail to Massachusetts. Plus, we’re getting mail on the daily as well. What’s the reason behind all that postage? Postcards. We’re sending postcards, letters, […]
My 4 Secrets to My Strong Military Marriage (It’s Not What You Think!)
by Meg Flanagan When you think about a strong marriage, in or out of the military community, what does it look like? Take a moment and sit with that image. Mostly, when we talk about strength in terms of passion, commitment and trust. And while those are all awesome factors leading to a strong marriage, […]
How to DIY Family FaceTime Rituals That Build Memories
by Meg Flanagan Every morning, over oatmeal or yogurt, my family hears the dulcet tones of FaceTime ringing. It’s 8:00 and time for our daily video conference with my parents, one of the new rituals that self-isolation had created in my family. Video calls aren’t anything new for military families. We are used to creating […]
6 Creative Ways to Make the Start of This Strange School Year Special
by Meg Flanagan School is starting soon–maybe–across the US. Even if school buildings open up for in-person teaching, this will be an academic year like no other. It’s going to be strange, for sure. The good news? You can still make the start of this strange school year special with creative ideas and new twists […]
4 Creative Ideas to Stay Connected Despite the Distance
by Meg Flanagan Let’s be real: we’re all finding new ways to connect with the people we love. Thanks, pandemic! But military families have been rocking creative ways to stay connected despite the distance since, well, forever. Whether we were waiting patiently at home during the days before regular, reliable mail service, sending letters that […]
5 Ways to Help MilKids Build Strong Relationships with Family and Friends from “Home”
by Meg Flanagan Right now, my kids are upstairs laughing with their grandmother. No, we’re not together. It’s just their normal morning FaceTime chat. I’m so incredibly lucky that my kids have these strong bonds with family and friends, no matter where everyone currently lives. Partly, it’s just because of who they are as people. […]
5 Creative Ways to Make the Most of an Unusual Summer
by Meg Flanagan I was in tears as I deleted my AirBnB list for New Hampshire this summer. Tears. Every summer since I can remember, my family has spent a week or so in the White Mountains. The only times we skipped this was during high school and when I have not been on the […]
