Look, I love summer as much as the next person. But I’m also super busy all year round with work, life and my kids. It’s just that, well, in summer the lines between life, work and kids blurs a whole lot more. Since we’re adding in a PCS this summer, life’s about to get insanely logistically crazy.

Little Ways to Save Your Sanity This Summer

What I’m trying to say is that I’m searching for any little (or big) ways to save my sanity this summer. Since I’m just a bit into research, I’ve deep dived into this and I’m sharing everything I’ve learned with you!

Invest in Child Care

If you don’t have kids, please skip this section or file it away for a time when you do need it.

Got kids? This is for you!

As a busy mom of two under 5 who also works from home, I know the struggle of trying to do it all while also making memories. The reality is that it’s almost impossible to do both perfectly all the time. I also don’t want to stop the fun times for my kids because I’ve got deadlines and projects.

Instead, I’m investing in child care! Here are some options you can try that won’t break the bank:

• Child Care Swaps: find a group of parents that you like and trust, then swap play date duties! Keep the kids at your house for a few hours while the other parents get things done. Then, another parent can take over the next time. It’s free, other than sharing some snacks!
• Parents’ Helper: help a young teen or tween gain babysitting skills this summer! Your kids will love having a fun, older kids to play with. You’ll love getting some work done around the house for less than a normal babysitting rate.
• Busy Bins: setting up an independent play center is ideal for older toddlers and preschoolers! It’s not a babysitter, but having activities that require minimal adult assistance is crucial when you need to take a minute for yourself.

Say Yes to Deliveries

If I can get everything I need without having to drag my children along to a store, then I want in on that service. Right now, we’re living in the golden age of delivery services for literally everything.

This summer, I’ll be getting these types of items delivered:

• Groceries: from in-house options like Peapod to pick-your-store choices like Instacart, it’s almost too easy to not shop in-person anymore. If delivery isn’t your jam, I’m also loving the virtual cart feature many grocery stores are adding. Shop the store from anywhere, pay and schedule pickup when it suits your schedule!
• Meal Kits: if you’re tired of collecting random full size ingredients for a one-off recipe, meal kits are for you! Perfectly portioned ingredients, with just enough for the recipe you’re making. There are options for literally every single diet and taste: vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, Keto, Paleo and even kids!
• Subscription Boxes: getting a regular stock of useful items is way cool. I’m the first to admit that I’m stuck in my ways, so having a subscription box that injects new options into my routines is perfect. From books to fitness gear, snacks to dog toys, there’s a box to fit your interest.
• Household Essentials: skip the mad dash to the store the next time you run out of toilet paper by never running out again! Set up auto-delivery of your household essentials with Amazon Prime or a similar service. We currently use it for diapers, wipes and household cleaners.

Keep Things Tidy

Whether you’re looking to tidy up your yard or your house, outsourcing these tasks can 100% save your sanity over the summer. I know we’ll certainly be investing during this crazy PCS.

• Cleaning Services: from a one-time deep clean to regular service, investing in housecleaning is crucial to keeping things running. Get your new house shipshape after you unpack, deep clean the beach sand out of the nooks and crannies or make sure the bathrooms are always clean. Trust me, it’s worth it!
• Professional Organizer: it’s always a struggle to fit everything we own into each new house. Every floor plan is very different, which makes it hard to build just one system. Instead of fighting it, I’m embracing professional organization services like Modified by Melissa – offered by a military spouse!
• Lawn Care Services: no one likes weeds in the flowers or an unkept lawn. You can invest in a professional, all-inclusive regular service or hire the teen down the street. Either way, weeds you aren’t pulling is worth every penny.

Easy Summer Fun

Ultimately, summer is a time for fun. And there are tons of easy ways, especially for military families, to really enjoy every second of summer vacation!

• Blue Star Museums: coast-to-coast, museums are opening their doors to military families – for free! From children’s museums to botanical gardens, you can find a great place to visit for the day.
• On-Base Pool: when the summer gets hot, it’s time to hop into the pool on-base. Many pools offer toddler splash pad or tiny tot pools as well as places to swim laps or dive.
• Digital Library: grab the latest releases for kids and adults, for free, when you use your branch’s digital library service! Sign up is super simple. Just ask at your local base library.
• Theme Parks Nationwide: many theme parks, like Disney and Sea World, offer discounts or complimentary tickets to military families!

I know that this summer is going to so much simple and way less crazy!

What are your tips and tricks to save your sanity over the summer?

By Marguerite Cleveland

     Recently my son who was beginning the college application process asked me, “Mom where am I from? I was born in Georgia, you and Dad are residents of Florida where I never lived and my driver’s license is from Washington State. I have to admit I was stumped.

     Military children are carted from state to state and often around the world and have no choice in the matter. I remember going to three different schools in 4^th grade which was a tough year and my two boys will have each attended 6 schools by the time they graduate with my oldest going to six schools in six years. With the challenges military kids face they deserve a break.

     I propose the Military Children’s Residency Act. This law would allow military kids upon turning 18 to choose their state of residence. This would allow them to establish residency for college without having a waiting period. Isn’t that the least we can do for these resilient kids? Why should they have to pay thousands more in tuition because a parent serves in the military?

     We aren’t talking a lot of kids either. There are approximately 2,000,000 military children in school systems across the country. If you divide that out by grade equally that is a little over 150,000 graduating seniors. Around 70% of go on to college which is around 108,000. If you split it equally over the 50 states it is around 2200. Granted that number is probably much lower for some states and higher for others but still pretty low in the scheme of things. States could easily absorb in state tuition rates for these kids.

     I have seen a trend recently where the challenges our kids face are starting to be recognized. I live in Washington State and they just recently passed a law that allows military parents to register for school prior to having moving into their new homes. This past summer we were purchasing a home in a different school district and I wanted to register my son for summer school. The cutoff was before we closed on the house and even with a sales contract I was not allowed to register until we actually resided in the house. Very frustrating but this new law fixes that issue.

What laws do you think state and federal legislatures should pass for military families?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

By Marguerite Cleveland

    Life as a Military Spouse can be extremely stressful and with deployments you are often carrying the load on your own. Often times you find yourself at the bottom of the list of things to do. For me the hardest time was when I had young children who weren’t speaking yet. It was isolating and exhausting. It is important to take care of yourself because you are the glue that holds everything together.

 Here are a few tips I found that helped me out over the years.

• Find some childcare and take some time for yourself each week. That maybe just taking a shower or going to coffee with a friend. If you are on a tight budget, arrange with a friend and each take a morning where you babysit the others children. It’s a win if the kids are close in age as they will play together all morning. During deployments many installations offer a certain number of free hours of child care. Also check out Mom’s Morning Out at local churches or the YMCA. These can be free or low cost. Some are a co-op where you volunteer and get hours in return.
• Take time to savor a special treat when the kids are napping or go to sleep for the night. Maybe a nice glass of wine or a perfect chocolate bonbon.
• Set a goal. My sister talked me into doing a triathlon and I then talked a few of my friends into it. I downloaded a training plan and made a point to allow time for it. It was such a great stress reliever and the bonus of getting into shape.
• If you have small children, plan play dates. An hour or two at a playground with other Moms can be a nice break in routine. It also tires the little ones out so you will have bonus nap time giving you an additional break.
• Quit saving stuff for a special occasion and use it now. Enjoy a luxurious bath with products you got at Christmas. Get out one of the good plates and serve your meal on it. Using your special things will make you feel special.
• Watch a sad movie. I don’t know what it is but I feel so much better after a good cry. I can remember watching the movie “The Notebook” when my husband was deployed and having a complete total breakdown just sobbing my eyes out. I was exhausted but all that built up tension and stress was just gone

• If your budget allows, a massage, facial, or get your hair done. If you live in more of a resort town some of the spas have nice upscale facilities with saunas, hot tubs and pools. Getting a treatment done will allow you use of the facilities.
• Aromatherapy. I personally do not use essential oils but many Military Spouses I know swear by their use. These essential oils, lavender, sandalwood, bergamot, rose, chamomile, are used to relieve stress, calm nerves, relaxation, reducing anxiety and improving mood. You either rub on your skin or smell the oil to achieve the effects.

     It is important to take the time to care of yourself. So many people really count on us and taking a few minutes each day for yourself helps to keep you going. What is your favorite way to relieve stress?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

During the heat of summer (and spring in some places), the pool is a great place to cool off. Splashing around is super fun, but it’s important to be alert to the possible dangers, too.

Stay Safe at the Pool this Summer

Sure, the pool is fun and exciting – a place to relax and kick back for a while.

As a former lifeguard, I am all too aware of just how quickly a fun day at the pool can turn into a nightmare. Before you head out for a day of splashing in the cool water, take a minute to review the basics of pool safety.

Yes, you’re 100% going to hear some or all of these tips throughout the summer at the pool. In my opinion, you can’t hear pool rules and advice to keep you safe often enough.

Keep Littles Close

My husband always rolls his eyes when I insist that my kids stay close at all times when we’re at a pool. But I follow this rule for a reason.

In the middle of splashing around in the pool, it’s incredibly easy to slip and fall or get very literally in over their heads. Stick close to your younger swimmers in the pool.

Babies, toddlers and even younger elementary aged kids need to be watched closely at pools. Yes, even in the kiddie pool or zero entry pools.

Hold babies in your arms or keep a hand on a secure floatation device. Try to stay within arms reach of preschoolers and toddlers, even if it means being constantly in and out of the pool with your child. Older kids who are not confident swimmers should always stay where they can comfortably touch, with their head above water.

Walk, Don’t Run

Sometimes, I might beat the on-duty lifeguards to the punch, shouting “Don’t run!” at kids who are moving a smidge too fast. Sorry, it’s a reflex! But I’ve also seen my fair share of icky pool deck injuries caused by a slip and fall due to running.

Pool decks are super slick and slippery. It’s easy to lose your balance or fall if you’re moving quickly.

Even with the non-slip mats along the edge of the water, the best way to stay safe on deck is to walk carefully. Go slow and stay well away from the edge at all times.

Kids are often the most frequent runners at the pool. They’re excited and want to start having fun, swimming around. Remind them to walk slowly and carefully at all times. If they do run, don’t hesitate to sit them out as a consequence.

Hold your younger children’s hands at all times on the pool deck. It’s incredibly easy for little ones to wander too close to the deep end or forget about walking slowly.

Know Your Limits

One of the scariest lifeguard trainings is a drowning video. On the screen, you see a little boy edge his way out to join his pals in the deep end. This child is not a deep water swimmer. Near his buddies, he releases from the wall, takes a few strokes and silently panics before slipping under the surface. The next movement is a lifeguard diving in to rescue him.

It all took under 30 seconds and his friends never even saw him moving toward them or drowning.

Whether you (or your child) are an experienced or beginner swimmer, it’s important to know your skill set and limits. It’s very tempting to head to the deep end with buddies or take a jump off the high board to be brave.

But swimming in deeper water than you’re used to can also be very risky. Bravery can quickly turn to panic as a swimmer tires, but is unable to reach safety or feels like they must save face in front of their friends.

Kids and adults, especially males, are at risk of pushing their limits at the pool.

Kids need to stay with a parent and/or in their designated areas. Pools typically require that minor children complete a swim assessment before moving into deeper water or jumping slides and diving boards. Color-coded bracelets or other markers are issued to swimmers to indicate where they are permitted to swim. Never swap bracelets with a more experienced swimmer.

For adults, there are not usually swim tests to access the deep end or the slides and diving boards. However, knowing your personal limits at the pool is extremely important.

Keep Parenting at the Pool

The pool is for relaxing, right? Not if you have kids with you! Anytime you are bringing children to the pool, it’s your primary job to keep them safe. Yes, even if they are super experienced swimmers who could one day make the Olympics.

The lifeguard staff is there in the event of a life-threatening emergency. They are not there to fetch your child toys, break up too rough play or constantly remind your child to walk.

There are maybe 12, at most, people on staff to protect several dozen swimmers. If the lifeguards are spending their time correcting minor unsafe behaviors, they might miss a person who is actually in danger.

At the pool, keep on parenting. Watch your child(ren), correct unsafe behavior and issue consequences as needed. Rushing to grab a kickboard could quickly turn into a head wound due to a slip and fall. Breath holding contests can turn into drownings. And a few too many open-mouth dunks underwater could lead to vomiting poolside.

All of these will ruin your relaxing day at the pool. Stay vigilant.

Adult Safely Solo

No kids for you? Perfect! Your day got easier by a good bit.

But it’s still important to stay safe at the pool. Remember to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum since it impairs judgement and could lead to unnecessary risk taking.

Taking breaks from the water to relax, eat, hydrate and reapply sunscreen is also crucial.

With a little extra caution and situational awareness, your relaxing pool day can be super fun!

What are your pool safety tips that often get overlooked? We’d love to share key ways to keep our community safe this summer!