Dear Mama… [Mothers Day Gift Guide]

Anyone else had a really tough day when your spouse is gone + the second you hear your Mom’s voice on the other end of that phone you get that little lump in your throat + know the waterworks are on their way?! 🙋 Good. Glad it’s not just us!

Moms truly have a special way of making things better when nothing else seems to be working. They know exactly what you need to hear + instinctually send the most perfect care package when you’re struggling to keep your head above water. This post is all about how moms of WAFs have made this military lifestyle doable, without their love + support we wouldn’t be the incredible women we are. Take a second this weekend + let your momma know how much her support means to you! Whether it’s a quick text or a last minute gift, we’ve got you covered. Read below for some inspiration for thoughtful words or check out our Amazon Prime gift guide + make your Mom smile big this weekend!

My mother has always reminded me that home is where the heart is. Every holiday/season she always sends me home decor or potpourri. No matter where we may be living…these little reminders make our house always feel like a home.

-Joint Base San Antonio WAF Ambassador Caroline

My sweet mama has made an effort to make the distance between us seem smaller with frequent trips to visit + daily FaceTime chats. She swooped in + picked me up during multiple deployments especially during the baby years with my children. I couldn’t have done it without her guidance + example of strength + perseverance during the trials of marriage + motherhood. After years of moving as an Air Force wife to different cities, states + countries, there is no one I’ve ever met who is quite as special as my mama. Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

-Scott WAF Ambassador Brette

My mom is the strongest woman I know. She has set such an amazing example for me + I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without her. Even though we live 16.5 hours apart, she’s always available to cheer me up over a facetime. She’s my prayer warrior + one of my best friends.

-Fort Rucker WAF Ambassador Jessie

She’s my best friend, my cheerleader, my supporter, my role model, my inspiration, the loving voice on the other end of the phone, she’s my amazing mother! As a WAF overseas, you need someone strong you can always count on when you have a breakdown, someone to visit you while your husband is deployed, someone to send you care packages full of your favorite things from the states + my mom has been that person for me! We’re closer than ever + as I become a mom next month, I hope I can take a little bit of her amazing qualities to be half the mom to my son that she has been to me!

-Ramstein WAF Ambassador Cassie

4 out of the 9 years my husband + I have been together has been long distance. In those four years my mom has held me through BCT, birthdays/holidays/anniversaries apart from him + always reminded me it was temporary. She’s the one who was there for me while I cried, screamed + cursed. She loved me all the way through it! I couldn’t imagine this GAF/FAF/WAF life without her!

-Naval Air Station Pax River WAF Ambassador Kirsi

Our first military move would have been so hard without my mama cheering me on, helping me pack, being there for the occasional phone call cry session + constantly reassuring me that I can do it! She instilled in me confidence early on, which has helped me step out of my box + meet new people in our ever changing environments. As a mother myself, I hope I can teach my son the same confidence + grace, so he can take on any changes + situations that life throws his way. Strong mothers are the reason we are strong WAFs + I am grateful every day for my mother’s unconditional love + support during the exciting + sometimes difficult times we have faced during our time in the Air Force.

-Laughlin WAF Ambassador Alex

I’m grateful that my mom makes the distance between us a little bit easier by coming to visit us wherever we’re stationed + sending cards for every holiday + occasion. She tries her best to understand what military life is like + is always there when I need her.

-Nellis WAF Ambassador Tara

My mom was not only enlisted Air Force herself, she was also an Army spouse for 15 years. Her + my father’s military experience was oddly similar to ours, in that they lived in Europe at our age (among other incredible overseas locations), waited to have kids + used all their free time to travel. Her experience + strong-willed nature often guides me through all the ups + downs of this military life. She continues to encourage me to be supportive of my husband yet remain independent, to embrace + quickly accept what the Air Force throws at us + most of all, to ENJOY the opportunities we have been given!

-Lakenheath WAF Ambassador Jenna

My mom is not a WAF and has never been away from my dad longer than a few days since they’ve been married! However, my husband is gone on TDYs nearly every month and her support, encouragement, and spur-of-the-moment visits while I’m alone means more to me than she could ever know. My mom is 100% a roll-with-the-punches, go-with-the-flow kind of person and inspires me to look at things through her perspective and when the Air Force takes the reigns in our marriage.

-Fort Campbell WAF Ambassador Anna

I felt my mommas’ support when every single other person was questioning me moving across the country (literally) for my guy without a “guarantee”. All I felt was my mom’s love and how blessed she seemed to be to have the time she did with me

-Elmendorf WAF Ambassador Megan

My Mom has been my rock since becoming a WAF! She’s been my support when I’ve felt overwhelmed with all the new changes + military lifestyle. She’s made sure to check on me regularly + send me encouraging notes randomly.

-Buckley WAF Ambassador Nabil

I’ve always said I wanted to be like my mom when I grow up. She’s always been strong, selfless, loving, and supportive of my two brothers and me, and I know she’s excited to be gaining another son in a few months. She’s my best friend and constant source of strength and support when Matthew is away on a mission. I know I can always count on a relaxing girls weekend when he’s gone, and we’ll always be counting down the minutes until he returns.

-Charleston WAF Ambassador Maggie

My mom has been my absolute rock. She’s visited overseas during deployments, sent endless care packages + will talk on the phone no matter what timezone we’re in. She lets me vent during the tough times + always has kind, uplifting advice when I need it most.

-Eglin WAF Ambassador Rachel

My mom was an Army spouse for 27 years (12 PCSs + 6 kids) + has not only helped me through my WAF experience but has truly served as my inspiration + role model as I navigate through this life. She always knows ways to help me out when I truly need a hand during tough WAF moments…from small things like: ordering pizza to my house when my husband was deployed because she knew I was exhausted while pregnant with 2 kiddos at home, scrubbing all the spots in my carpets so base housing would give our security deposit back, helping unpack rooms when my husband went TDY right after we PCS’d + I had a newborn + a house full of boxes. To huge things like: spending 5 weeks at my house when I gave birth to my son while my husband was deployed.

-Peterson WAF Ambassador Perri

We echo all these sweet words from our ambassadors! Our mothers provide us the strength, rest + courage that we have needed to truly succeed in being the confident + strong WAFs we are today. Because of everything they have done, they are worth ALL the celebrating!