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Julie is a 30-something Blogger, Army Wife and Mom to three boys. She lives in Clarksville, TN and just welcomed her husband home from his 4th deployment. She loves blogging, photography and reading a good book!

4 Cool Desserts Your Family Will Melt Over

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Summer is here and if it hasn’t started getting hot where you are, it will soon. When I think of the summer heat I think of a lot of water play and frozen treats. Anything cool that will help keep the summer fun going.

Cool Desserts Your Family Will Melt Over

What could be better than a homemade popsicle?

There are a lot of different types of treats you and your family can make and enjoy.

You can create something just for a day at home or bring a dessert to a barbecue or pool party. We, at MilitaryShoppers, have a database of recipes submitted by you, our readers.

Here are 4 cool desserts your family will melt over.

Fast and Easy Juicy Popsicles

What could be better than a homemade popsicle? The easiest way to do this is to take an empty ice cube tray, pour in your favorite juice, add the popsicle sticks and freeze. You could have even more fun with it, add fruits or even candies depending on how healthy you wanted to make your popsicles.

Frozen Fantastic Banana Bites

  • 4 bananas
  • 10 ounces baking chocolate
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter

This recipe is like making your own ice cream without all the calories. Start by slicing bananas into 1/2-inch rounds. Place in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Next, apply about a 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter on each banana slice. Top one with another banana slice, making a small banana-peanut butter sandwich. Place in the freezer for about 1 hour. This firms up the bananas and allows for easy dipping.

Right before you remove the bananas from the freezer, melt your baking chocolate in the microwave. Microwave for 45 seconds on medium power and stir. Repeat this until your chocolate is fully melted and smooth in texture.

Remove bananas from the freezer and quickly dip each one in the melted chocolate. You need to move fast before the bananas start to defrost and become mushy. I used 2 forks to help dip the bananas. Place dipped bananas back onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Return to the freezer and chill for another 2 hours or until chocolate is firm.

Cool Desserts Your Family Will Melt Over

What cool dessert does your family devour on hot days?

No Bake Cookies

  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 5 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1 1/2 sticks margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups oatmeal & 1/2 cup peanut butter; set aside in a separate bowl

This one would be great to bring to a picnic or neighborhood barbecue. A yummy dessert without having to bake anything.

Bring to boil the first 6 ingredients on high, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute from center. Add oatmeal and peanut butter, mix well. Spoon out on wax paper, let cool and harden.

Super Cool Summer Slushie

  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1/3 cup Kool-Aid Island Twists Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade Flavor Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drink Mix
  • 1 tray prepared Kool-Aid Soft Drink Cool Cubes

This would be a great treat to make during a day at home. The kids will love it. Pour water into blender container. Add drink mix and Kool-Aid Soft Drink Cool Cubes; cover. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

What cool dessert does your family devour on hot days? Share the recipe with MilitaryShoppers and you could win a $50 commissary shopping spree. One winner every month.

National Professional Licenses Would Help Working Military Spouses

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You graduated from college and got your teaching license in one state and then the military moved you to another. You want to work but you can’t. Your professional license isn’t valid in your new home state. What a frustrating situation to be in. You are trying to support your spouse and your country and you can’t even work because of a state license, a professional license that you worked hard to earn.

National Professional Licenses Would Help Working Military Spouses

How much money have you spent transferring your professional license?

Sound familiar? There are several careers that military spouses have worked hard to have but they have to give up their job because of state licensing. The process to get a new license can be complicated as well as cost you time and money.

Some states allow out-of-state licenses, others do not. The regulations can be really random and there is no national standard. This isn’t only an issue for military spouses. Civilians move to a new state for their spouses’ jobs too and run into this same type of problem.

So what is the answer? Have you faced this state licensing problem as a military spouse?

It would be great if there was a nationwide license transfer standard. Where it wouldn’t matter where you got your license and where you live in the United States because you could simply transfer your professional license without a lot of issues. Doing this would allow you to find a job in your field without having to worry that you don’t have the right license. This change would make life a lot easier for military spouses who want to further their careers.

The good news is that there is a group trying to make this happen.

The Third Way is a D.C.-based Think Tank working toward an “Interstate Teaching Application.”

Each state would evaluate the person as well as their credentials. Those working as nurses, lawyers and other professions would be able to benefit from something like this too.

I know if I worked hard to get a license and start my career in one state, I would really like to continue to practice my field in another state no matter where the military might send us.

Related: 5 College Degrees Leading to Portable Careers

Life can be hard for military spouses when your career has to be put on hold. Not all spouses want to be a stay-at-home mom. There are so many spouses out there that want to continue working and can’t because of situations like this. It would be better for everyone if something could change to make it possible to easily transfer a professional license.

These changes would also encourage those who are in school or thinking about going to college to pursue one of these careers. They can continue their future careers more easily when the PCS comes. I know if I was debating a certain program, I would want to know that I could continue that career into the future, wherever we might go and whatever state the military might send us.

What do you think? Should professional licenses for nurses, teachers and lawyers be accepted nationwide?

Is Free Range Parenting the Norm for Military Families?

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Free range parenting. I am sure you have heard the term before. If you haven’t, free range defines a method of parenting that is a lot more relaxed. This type of parenting allows for children to have a lot more freedom and not as much hovering by the parents.

Is Free Range Parenting the Norm for Military Families?

Giving your children space doesn’t mean you have to let them roam the neighborhood all day, everyday.

You might have heard of the woman who let her 9-year-old ride on the subway alone in New York City. This would be a more extreme example of free range parenting.

If you visit any housing area on a military post, you will see a lot of kids being parented this way. This trend was one of the first things I noticed when we moved to our first duty station. At the time I had an 18 month old and I thought it was a bit strange to see so many kids out and about without any parents watching them.

I realized later this is the norm for military families and this type of parenting may not be such a bad thing after all.

On one hand it is good for children to have some space from their parents. Although I am always with my kids at the park, I rarely like to stand right by them when they play. I would rather they play on their own and have me there to watch from a distance. I have never been comfortable with sending them to the park alone.

Age also has something to do with how you should handle letting your child play. Allowing a 4 year old to go out and play alone is different then letting a 10-year-old child do so. There is also the issue that if your kid is out on post and there are parents out with their kids, they will feel responsible for your kid as well.

This happened a lot at the parks on post in Germany. I would be there with my 2 year old and a few other children I didn’t know. I felt like if something happened, I was the automatic “in charge” adult and I really didn’t like that I was. I was there with my little boy and he was my main focus. However, I couldn’t ignore what the other kids were doing.

Is Free Range Parenting the Norm for Military Families?

What do you think? Is free range parenting the norm for military families living on-post?

I think there is an idea that kids will be safer on a military post and so it should be perfectly fine to let them roam and be a free range parent all of the time. But is this true?

Are our children really safer because we are surrounded by military?

I think this issue is a complicated one in which all parents really need to think about.

I have heard a lot of people complaining about all the children who roam around their neighborhoods. Some of these kids are not doing anything wrong; they are just playing outside with their friends. Other kids do get into trouble and this can be an issue. Allowing so many children to roam can make on-post living a little frustrating whether you have your own children or not.

Ask yourself these questions whether you live on post or off. Figure out what your children can handle and what they can’t. Figure out what you are comfortable with and don’t just do what everyone else is doing.

  • Is your own child old enough to handle being without an adult?
  • Will your child stick to the rules and not cause others to get in trouble?
  • Are you sure that where they are playing is a safe place?
  • Do they know how to check in with you during the day?

Giving your children space doesn’t mean you have to let them roam the neighborhood all day, everyday. You can set up limits based on their personalities and ages. Use common sense and make sure you know where your children are going to be.

Do you think free range parenting is an issue in the military? Do you call yourself a free range parent?

 

Daddy Deploys, Grandma Moves in

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Your husband just got deployment orders and you are wondering how you are going to get through the next year alone.

Then you remember something your mother-in-law told you. She would move in if you ever need extra help with your kids. You think long and hard about it and decide that having her move in while your spouse is deployed is a smart thing to do.

Sound familiar?

Daddy Deploys, Grandma Moves in During a Deployment

Having someone move in with you might be the best way for you to get through the deployment.

Sometimes this is what a military spouse has to do in order to get through the deployment. She has to ask her mom or her mother-in-law to move in for an extended period of time.

In order for this to work one would have to be able to live with that person. If you just don’t get along in general, having them move in is probably not a good idea.

When my husband was deployed the first time I knew that I would probably have to give birth to my second little boy by myself. I decided to see if my own mom could live with us for 2 months. She wasn’t there the whole deployment but she sure did help during the 2 months she was with us. Since I also had a two-year-old she was able to be there for him in ways that I couldn’t. This was especially helpful after I had my baby so I could focus more on the baby knowing that my 2-year-old was in good hands.

Related: Moving in with Your Parents during a Deployment

I have also known a few spouses that did have a mom or their mother-in-law move in during the whole deployment. They knew their limits and they had circumstances that allowed this to happen. The grandma was able to come and stay for an extended period of time even though she left behind her everyday life at home.

Daddy Deploys, Grandma Moves in During a Deployment

Has your mother or mother-in-law lived with you during a deployment?

If you are facing a deployment and are considering asking a family member to move in during the time your spouse will be away, make sure you really think about all the details.

Here are a few questions to consider before grandma moves in:

  • Will you be able to live with this person each and every day? Living together for months is different then a 2-week visit.
  • Are they willing to give up their lives back home for you? Will they miss other family members too much? Will they have to quit their job?
  • Can you talk openly about budgets and expectations? How often will you need them to help with the kids? What chores would you like them to do? Will you need them to help buy groceries?

There are so many benefits to having a family member move in. You can live with another adult, have help with the children and can stay in your own home verses moving somewhere during the deployment.

Really think about what would work best for you and go from there. Having someone move in with you might really be the best way for you to get through the deployment.

If your mom or mother-in-law wants to move in, it is also OK to say no to that proposal if you don’t think the arrangement would be a good idea. Talk things out with them to figure out what would work best for you and your family.

Has your mother or mother-in-law lived with you during a deployment? Would you recommend it?

 

Show Us Your Darling Dads and Fearless Fathers

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Father’s Day is right around the corner. Dads are so important in the lives of their children. When he is in the military, his time at home is precious and the relationships he has with his kids are so very important.

A military father has to try extra hard to let his children know he is there for them even when he is far away.

MilitaryShoppers Father's Day Photo Contest

We try to take a lot of pictures of my husband and our boys.

A military father has to go out of his way to be there even when he can’t be. It can be one of the hardest things to do. From phone calls to gift boxes, dads who have to be away from their children have a special job that other fathers do not.

When a military father is home, he works to make important memories with his children. In our family we try to spend special time together like taking a trip to the park, going out to dinner or spending the day in Nashville. Sometimes we just stay home and barbecue. We take advantage of the days he is home so that when my children are grown they will have plenty of memories of their father being around.

In between deployments, my husband has worked on the relationships he has with his boys so that when he is away, they will know that he loves them and misses them just like they miss him. They all have such a strong bond because of the relationships he has worked hard to have with them. Creating strong bonds with his children is such an important thing for a father to do.

We also try to take a lot of pictures of my husband and our boys when we can. These pictures are so special to us when he is away. We can look at them, put them up in my kids’ rooms and he can even take some with him when he deploys. In the past I have even made him a scrapbook of fun times they have had together.

It doesn’t really matter if you take pictures with your phone or a fancy camera, just make sure you are taking photos. They are so nice to look at in the years to come and a great reminder of the fun times your kids had with their dad.

MilitaryShoppers Father's Day Photo Contest

Do you take photos of your husband with your kids?

Do you have a great photo of your kids with their father?

You can enter that photo into our Military Shoppers Father’s Day photo contest!

Submissions need to include:

  • Name of person submitting photo
  • Installation
  • Branch of service

Rules:

  • Pictures must be received by June 30, 2015
  • Winner will be selected at random the first week in July
  • Entrants must be registered with MilitaryShoppers.com and have checked the box in their profile saying “yes, I would like to receive emails of offers, savings and contests for the military community.”
  • Winner will be posted to MilitaryShoppers Facebook page, MilitaryShoppers blog and MilitaryShoppers.com
  • One photo per entrant
  • Multiple entrants will not be accepted
  • Photo must be submitted by entrant who possesses a valid military ID card (Active Duty, Veteran, Retiree, Reserve, Guard or family member of the aforementioned categories)
  • Entrant (not those within the photo) must be 18 years of age or older
  • Winner will be notified by e-mail
  • No purchase necessary to win

Good luck! Looking forward to seeing all of those great pictures of kids and dads. Enter the Father’s Day photo contest today!

No Longer Active: 5 Tips for the Transition from Active Duty to National Guard Family

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It’s been almost a year since my husband ended his time as an active duty soldier. The very next day he joined the National Guard. Going to the Guard wasn’t an easy decision to make but it is what we felt was best at the time.

Since we did not move away from the Army post we had been living at, we have not experienced some of the things others do such as not having a supportive military community nearby. We still shop at the commissary, attend military family events and I have a lot of military spouse friends in the area.

The last year has been a bit difficult as we get used to our new role in the U.S. military. Being a part of the National Guard has a few things in common with being active duty but there are also a lot of differences and the transition can be a bit overwhelming.

5 Tips for the Transition from Active Duty to National Guard

When transitioning from active duty to the National Guard, you need to know how your new insurance works and which doctors take the new insurance.

Here are 5 tips for a better transition based on my own experiences with my husband:

1. Save money. You are going to need extra money during this time. You might need the money to move but you also will need it to fill in any pay gaps. If your service member is going to take time off between the Army and his civilian job, you need to prepare for that. You do have to wait a little longer than normal for their last active duty paycheck. Keep that in mind as you are making plans. You don’t want to get yourselves in a difficult situation because of lack of funds.

2. Learn about insurance. One of the hardest parts of the transition was changing our insurance. If you decide to buy your insurance through the Guard, which will be about $200 a month for a family, you will also have to pay more at appointments. If you were on Tricare Prime, this will be a shock. After years of not having to pay anything when I took my kids to the doctor, I got a bill. That was hard to get used to. You need to know how your new insurance works and which doctors take the new insurance. My doctor does not take Tricare Reserve Select so I had to find a new doctor.

3. Have a plan A, plan B and a plan C. Sometimes your plans won’t work out. You need to have backup plans. You might think a certain job is going to be right for your family and then you realize that the job really isn’t. Finding your new normal can be a bit difficult. Your spouse might have trouble adjusting to a different type of job. Give yourself some time to work things out.  It takes a while to get into a new groove.

5 Tips for the Transition from Active Duty to National Guard

Reach out to other National Guard spouses during the transition.

4. Connect with others. Finding other Guard spouses to talk to was very helpful. I had a few questions that I knew they would know the answers to. If you really don’t know anyone else in the Guard you can always look for an online group. Finding these people can be a great way to make some new friends for your new stage of life.

5. Except a change of identity. Sometimes it won’t even feel like you are a military family anymore. This can be hard since that used to be such a big part of your life. He will live a civilian life when he does not have his Guard duties. Then, he will put on his uniform to get ready to go to drill and you will be reminded that he is very much a part of the military. It is a strange feeling after active duty life.

Have you transitioned from active duty to Reserves or Guard life recently? What surprised you about this lifestyle change?

Hot Topic: Air Force Gate Guards Saying “Have a Blessed Day”

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Can certain religious words be offensive? What happens when they are said in a professional manner by a gate guard on a military base? How does the freedom of religion play into all of this?

Hot Topic: Air Force Gate Guards Saying "Have a Blessed Day"

After widespread outcry, the Air Force reversed a decision to ban Robins Air Force Base security personnel from saying “Have a blessed day” to people entering the gates. The gate guards were told not to give the greeting after an unidentified airman complained to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, according to the group’s website. The foundation had complained to the base and the base issued the ban.

Overall the military community is usually in favor of religious liberty. However, in this case, those who are offended by a religious greeting are being told that they need to just let things go.

When it comes to situations like this, I always try to put myself in the shoes of the other person. As a Christian, would I be OK with someone using a saying from another religion? Would I be bothered if every time I entered a gate I heard a Buddhist or Muslim greeting? Is it fair for anyone to be bothered by it?

I am not one to get offended by such things but I do think there needs to be a rule of some kind. Either the gate guards can say what they want, regardless of their religion or there needs to be a standard.

You can’t say that the Christian phrases are OK to say and not allow Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish or Pagan gate guards to have the same right.

I don’t know that I have ever heard a phrase like this in all my years of going through the gates at the military posts we have lived at, although I might just not remember hearing them say anything like that. Usually they tell me, “Have a good day” which is not religious but still nice to hear. That phrase says basically the same thing as, “have a blessed day” without all of the controversy.

There is the argument that if you tell a gate guard not to say something religious you are not allowing him to have his or her own faith. That is not true. They might not be able to say that phrase but no one is telling them they can not practice their own faith when they are off-duty.

I think it is important to remember that not everyone in the military practices the same faith. Because of that not everyone is going to be OK with certain religious phrases being said to them in a professional manner. I don’t think changing the regulations on it is out of line. Now that Robins Air Force base reversed the decision to ban the phrase, I am not sure there will be a chance to change it again. If enough people are bothered by it, it would be a way to create a more balanced religious environment for those in the military.

Now it’s your turn: What do you think of the greeting “Have a blessed day?” Are you offended?

5 Government Housing Faux Pas

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Government housing. You love living on post; you hate living on post.

We lived in government housing during our time in Germany and for the most part we enjoyed it. It made life a little easier and made it really easy to meet other members of the military.

When you live on post, you have to abide by rules that you might not otherwise have to go by. Here at Ft. Campbell, living on post feels more strict than living off. I have friends getting in trouble for things that I don’t even think twice about living in my own house off post.

In theory these rules are to keep everything looking nice and regulated, you know, just like a military housing community should be. Although some of the rules seem over the top, most do a good job of keeping the area looking the way it should.

5 Government Housing Faux Pas

If you live on post, don’t forget to mow your lawn.

If you live in military housing, you want to make sure that you understand any faux pas so you don’t become that neighbor. No one wants to be that neighbor.

  1. Not Picking up Trash. You would think that grown adults would know this but that isn’t always the case. When we were in Germany, we had to share a trash can with our neighbor and the trash bins were kept in a space of six cans. We tried to keep our area cleaned up but others did not. It looked like the start of a landfill. It is simply not cool to not pick up your trash, leave trash in your yard or just not be aware of what needs to be done when it comes to your waste.
  2. Being Loud. This is one of the parts of living off post that I enjoy. My neighborhood is really quiet. With on-post housing you have a lot of people in a smaller space. Some people can get too loud, especially during a three-day weekend. The military loves to hang out when they have time off but don’t be the house on the block that everyone wants to call the MPs on. Be respectful of your neighbors and keep your volume levels on low.
  3. Wandering Kids. There is an age when kids should be allowed to walk around their neighborhood without a parent. Three years old is not that age. When we first moved to government housing I was shocked at how young the kids were that showed up on the playground without a parent. Just because you are on a military post doesn’t mean it is safe for such a young child to be walking around without supervision. Keep an eye on your young children and wait until they are a little older to let them roam.
  4. Not Cutting Your Grass. This is a hard one.  I know how hard mowing the lawn can be when you have to do it yourself when your husband is deployed and you have very small children. However, this chore must be done. In most places you will get in trouble if you don’t do it in a timely manner. If you are lucky enough to live in a place where they do it for you, thank your lucky stars because in most places you have to mow the backyard.
  5. Starting Drama. Lonely wives, spare time and close spaces can easily lead to drama. Sometimes the drama is over something silly like a dog barking too much or kids who don’t get along. Other times it can get out of hand with yelling matches across the street. Please, just stay away from drama. Mind your own business and be friendly. That will go a long way in allowing your neighborhood to be a peaceful place. You can make some wonderful friends by getting to know your neighbors. Don’t blow the chance to make new friends by being a drama queen.

Do you or have you lived in base housing? What faux pas have you committed?

How to PCS Without Your Service Member

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PCSing is stressful whatever the circumstances, but having to do it without your service member by your side can make the stress that comes with moving even worse. However, spouses move by themselves all the time. For whatever reason the service member just can’t be there to help with the move.

When my husband joined the Army he was sent to Germany and my son and I had to wait in the U.S. until all the paperwork was taken care of. I know that sometimes they send everyone over together but that just wasn’t the case for us. We waited 4.5 months to join him.

A very long 4.5 months in which I had to get all the paperwork we needed submitted, schedule the move, clean out the apartment, get the car ready to ship, drive the car to the shipping location and fly alone to Europe with my son.

That move was one of the most stressful moments in our military history. I was also brand new to military life which complicated the whole process. I wasn’t sure what to expect and I didn’t quite understand how the military worked. I made some mistakes but looking back I think information like this would have really helped me.

How to PCS Without Your Service Member

What tips do you have for tackling a solo PCS?

Here’s a short guide to PCSing alone.

  • Make lists. Create a PCS binder to keep everything together. Find out what you need to do and when you need to have it done by. Put everything on a calender. Then, make everything you have to do that day for the PCS a priority. Keeping organized will go a long way in getting you through it.
  • Make sure your Power of Attorney is up to date and won’t expire during the PCS. The worst thing would be to have the POA expire during the process when your husband is on the other side of the country or even the world. You want to be able to do anything you might have to do and you will need a POA to get that paperwork done.
  • Ask for help. Can one of your parents, siblings or best friends come out and help you? I am not sure what I would have done without my parents coming out to help me during the moving process. They watched my toddler while the movers came. My mom helped me drive up to St. Louis to drop off the car. Not everyone will have this option but if you think someone might be able to help you in this way, ask for it.

  • Talk the PCS over. Make sure you and your service member is on the same page. If one of you is going to be picking out your new home, make sure you are clear on what you are expecting. Make sure you both know what your expectations are. Talk the process over when it starts to feel a little too stressful. Remember that others have done this before and you can too.

Whether you are PCSing to the next state over or going overseas, there is going to be a lot to do. By staying ahead of the game, keeping organized and talking with your spouse about what needs to be done, you will make the process a little easier.

Have you moved without your service member? What tips do you have for tackling a solo PCS?

Books to Read to Your Military Child

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As a mother of military children, I know they have to go through situations that other children don’t. One of the best ways to help them is through books. Reading about other children going through what they go through while having a parent in the military is very helpful. We have always had books like this around our house to look at before and after deployments.

Books to Read to Your Military Child

What is your military child’s favorite military book?

Some books talk about deployment. Others deal with moving, starting a new school and finding friends in a new neighborhood.

You can also find books on other stressful situations that your kids might have to go through such as making new friends, bullying or working through family issues associated with life as a military family.

Books to Read to Your Military Child

Do you read books about moving before starting a PCS?

Here is a list of books to read your military child, broken down by age group:

Preschoolers

Young children need picture books to help get the point across. They are easy to read and help the child learn more about military life through short stories.

  • H is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet by Devin Scillian. This book talks about the different branches of service and military life. It is a great book to have when starting out on the military journey.

  • Daddy’s Deployed by Bridget Platt. The only military book of its kind: Daddy’s Deployed is a completely customized children’s book for those with a parent deploying. The book features the name, gender, and physical attributes of, not only the child, but the parents as well!

  • A Paper Hug by Stephanie Skolmoski. A sweet story about a boy whose Dad has to go away on a deployment. The book talks about the different emotions he goes through. It is a perfect book if you are about to go through a deployment or separation.
  • Lily Hates Goodbyes Jerilyn Marler. Lily has lots of feelings during her father’s deployment. Sometimes she is angry. Sometimes she is sad. Sometimes she cries. Sometimes she yells. Through it all, her mother tells her that these feelings are normal.
  • Coming Home by Greg Ruth. This is a great book for the end of a deployment. The pictures tell the story and in the end you find out that Mom is the one that was deployment, not Dad.
  • The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Help your small children prepare for a move using the cute Berenstain Bears to tell their story. This would be a great read to help prepare small children for an upcoming move.
  • Big Dan’s Moving Van by Leslie Mcguire. This book explains to toddlers and preschoolers how the packers will put all your household goods into boxes. But there is no reason to worry because you will see all your toys again– at your new house. 

School Aged Children

They can read some of these books themselves but it is also nice to be able to read with your military child.

  • Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home by Kristin Ayyar. This book is about getting ready for a parent to come home after being away for a while. It has some great ideas for the kids and includes discussion questions to get them talking about what they are going through.

  • Soldier by Simon Adams. A favorite in our house, this book talks about soldiers, what they do, what equipment they use and is filled with a lot of detailed photos and diagrams. It can be a great resource so children can learn more about what their parent does for a living.

  • The Good-Pie Party by Liz Garton Scanlon. Three little girls are worried about saying good-bye to their best friend. But instead of having a farewell party, they decide to invite their neighbors to bake pies for a “good-pie party.” This is a tender and sweet book about moving.

  • The Moving Book: A Kids’ Survival Guide by Gabriel Davis. Although this book is not just for military children, they will get a lot out of it. It will help them understand a move and allow them to have a little more fun with the moving process. 

  • Why is Dad So Mad? by Seth Kastle. This book is about a Dad who is going through PTSD. It can be a great tool to use if that is something your family is going through and you are not quite sure how to explain it to your child. 

 

Teenagers

This age group needs books on military life too. It can help them understand and deal with some of the issues that come up in this lifestyle.

  • My Story: Blogs by Four Military Teens by Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D., and DeAnne M. Sherman. This book follows four teens as they make their way through a parent’s deployment. The stories are fictional but are based on real-life experiences.

What is your military child’s favorite military book?