In honor of Veteran’s Day, this week we’re hearing from our Bleeping Military Mom, Michele about their family’s experiences being a military family.

Written by Michele

Deployments and TDY (temporary duty) happen frequently to soldiers in the military.  And to their families.  While most of those don’t include a month in Key West, many of them do include our soldiers going in to dangerous places.

Having your partner in parenting and life away for an extended period of time can be stressful.  And knowing they are going to a dangerous place can add even more stress.  It would be easy to consider buying multiple cases of wine to get you through, but you still have little eyes and ears watching you and learning about managing their own stress.  Damn being a role model.

Instead, there are constructive, even positive ways to get through the time when your soldier is off fighting for our country.  And still leaves you with a chance for a little wine.

Top 5 Ways To Get Through A Deployment

5 – Go camping. This summer friends and I took our kids on a camp out. You can fish, bike, star-gaze, craft, make s’more’s and so much more. We made so many memories.

4 – Me time. Find other moms with kids of a similar age and set up a weekly babysitting group.  Take turns hosting a week for an hour or two.

3 – Volunteer. Volunteer with kids Girl Scouts or Boy Scout troop. I’m a Girl Scout leader and have met wonderful moms and dads who have helped me out when I needed it.  And you can plan lots of fun and beneficial activities that can really make the time fly by.

2 – Spouses Club.  I’ll bet your installation has a spouses club.  This is a great place to meet spouses in your soldiers unit as well as other units.

1 – Exercise. Many gyms offer on-site babysitting.  Grab a class or spend some time on the treadmill or weight area.  It’s time well spent and you may even get the endorphin kick.  Can’t get to a gym? Hiking or walking with the kids gets you all out in nature with all of those benefits and the added benefit of wearing the kids out as well.

Do you have other ways to add to this list?  Comment below or on the Bleeping Motherhood Facebook page.