Hi Mama! As you have probably realized, motherhood in the military can be pretty complicated, to say the least. You are able to be flexible with your spouses’ schedule which is NICE but it can also be awfully lonely at times, especially if you have yet to find community and your servicemember is away on orders. We are both right there with you as we are in the thick of the raising littles season ourselves! We want to share a virtual hug with you and some encouragement to keep you going!
We can’t start without acknowledging how strong of a guiding light your own intuition as a mama is. You are exactly what your children need and you know them better than anyone! What is “normal” for your littles and their routine will be totally different from the next family, lean into that truth!
Find community
This could look like another mom that would love to do dinners with you and your littles to help those evening hours go by easier. Or a friend with or without kids that’s down to come over to hang out after bedtime to give you some adult conversation when your spouse is gone. Seeking out these relationships while your spouse is home is huge for being prepped for them to be gone!
Discover your routine
As we mentioned earlier, this will look different for everyone! When Kirst had her kids home with her 24/7 during their domestic deployment, that looked like loading everyone up to be at the gym by 9 am! At Jen’s house, they are slow movers in the morning, plus temps are the coldest in Alaska that early, so any activities outside of the house are usually starting around 11! But getting into a rhythm (with appropriate flexibility!) can be especially helpful for military families to provide a sense of normalcy for you and your kids as your servicemember comes and goes!
Teamwork makes the dream work
Whether that’s teamwork with your spouse when they are home (they take bathtime/bedtime, unload dishes in the am before work, etc.), pairing up with another friend for family dinners when you are both solo parenting or hiring a sitter days/times of the day that are hard to do solo, finding ways to bring your spouse and others into the mix not only takes some of the burdens off of you but allows you the space to pour into other relationships outside of your kids!
Get outside
It can be SO EASY to stay inside all day as a SAHM. Especially during the winter or rainy months. But taking a moment to break up the monotony of indoor chores and play with some fresh air is proven to boost everyone’s mood, plus it’s a great way to get out some extra wiggles and is really just good for you! Grab a Muddy Buddy, find rain boots that everyone likes (these are Jen’s favorite brand for kids, but if you’re looking for something at a lower price point because you don’t have long rainy seasons Kirst recommends THESE), and have fun!
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