Author: The Spouse Side
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When There Just Isn’t Enough Time
Some days feel like a race I never signed up for. The kind where the alarm goes off too early, the coffee goes cold too fast, and the to-do list multiplies like laundry during deployment. I look at the clock and think, How is it already noon? Then I blink again, and it’s bedtime. I…
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Surrendering to the Powers That Be—Also Known as Children
There are days I wake up ready to take on the world: lunches made, routines mapped, laundry somewhat tamed. And then… the kids wake up. Suddenly, I’m not the boss of anything. And that’s when it hits me: parenting, especially in military life, is often more about surrender than control. I’m a military spouse and…
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This Year, July 4th Falls on a Friday — And That Hits Different
This year, Independence Day lands on a Friday – a day many of us know as R.E.D. Friday, a day to Remember Everyone Deployed. And for thousands of military families like mine, that reminder carries a weight that’s both personal and profound. Yes, July 4th is a day of pride, of fireworks, of cookouts, and…
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Mom Brain Fog Is Real — And Honestly, WTF Is Happening?!
“Mom brain” — we’ve all heard the jokes. The “I walked into the kitchen and forgot why I was there” stories. The “Where did I put my coffee? Oh, it’s in the microwave…again” moments. Cute, right? But then it hits you.Like, really hits you.And suddenly you’re not laughing anymore—you’re staring at your laptop like it’s…
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The Power of Connections (a.k.a. “I Know a Guy…”)
Once upon a time, making connections was as simple as saying, “I know a guy.” Need your car fixed? “I know a guy.” Looking for a good daycare, a reliable dog sitter, a plumber who won’t ghost you? You guessed it: “I know a guy.” These days, it’s called networking—sounds fancier, a little more polished,…
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Not Every Open Door Is Meant for You — And That’s Okay
In a world that glorifies the hustle and praises the “yes” at every turn, it’s easy to believe that every opportunity that comes our way is one we’re supposed to take. But let’s be honest – not every opportunity is a good one, and more importantly, not every opportunity is meant for you. As military…
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The Unknown Is Scary – And the News Doesn’t Always Help
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the unknown.That blank space where information should be.That waiting-for-a-text void.That endless scroll through headlines that somehow makes everything feel worse, not better. When my husband first deployed – early on in our military life – I clung to the news like it was oxygen. If it was…
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A Military Spouse’s Journey Back to the Workforce
Let’s talk about identity. Not the kind stamped on a driver’s license or outlined in a resume. I’m talking about the identity that quietly gets chipped away over years of PCS moves, childcare gaps, deployments, and being the backbone of everyone else’s dreams. The identity that once confidently navigated boardrooms, classrooms, clinics, or studios—and now…
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The First, the Fifteenth, and Everything in Between: A Guide to Payday Planning
If you’ve been a military spouse longer than a couple of months, chances are you’ve developed a sixth sense for payday. The 1st and the 15th are more than just calendar dates — they’re the backbone of the entire household strategy. From bill due dates to grocery hauls and those “just in case” costs that…
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Wasp Eviction – A Deployment DIY Tale
There’s something about deployment that gives military spouses an inflated sense of confidence when it comes to home maintenance. Suddenly, we’re electricians, plumbers, ladder engineers, and HVAC experts—all while juggling the everyday chaos of solo parenting, careers, and the occasional emotional spiral. And when you live in a military neighborhood, the confidence is contagious. So…
The Spouse Side 