“Is Daddy coming home?”

My husband is off on a month-long National Guard drill and “Is Daddy coming home tonight?” became, “When is Daddy coming home?”, and eventually transformed into, “Is Daddy coming home?” Asked at least 20 times each day by my two eldest.

The last time my husband was gone this long, he was deployed to Iraq. He missed our entire first pregnancy, the birth, and most of the first three months of our first child’s life. At the time, people said, “I don’t know how you do it!”

But all of that is nothing compared to explaining to young children why Daddy is not there to cheer for them, to dry their tears, to lift them up…

Army Wives: The Complete Fifth Season is available on DVD starting Sept. 27 and I have a giveaway for you courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s ABC TV on DVD!

An hour ago, he received a call that he is being activated to help with the emergency efforts.

We are, ourselves, directly in Hurricane Irene’s path…

While I take a brief maternity leave, I am feature guest posts like this heartfelt response from Fallon Wharton of Fallonella’s Almost Fairtyale to the discrimination and challenges many military spouses face in the workplace and elsewhere.

The article about Employee Rights and Military Spouses on ArmyWivesLives.com really bothered me, probably because it hits so close to home regarding a military spouse desiring a stable career of their own while support their husbands stable, yet ever unpredictable military career…

I am just livid about the comments on articles like this one: Food or rent? Soldier’s Wife Fears Government Shutdown.

Yes, a lot of these idiots are trolls but I am shocked at the vitriol being spewed by such a large number of commenters.

Here is my response to those who think military families are uneducated “moochers” living off of their tax dollars…

A reader wrote me with a question and I just feel so frustrated for her. Essentially, she inquired about her eligibility for upcoming promotions and was told (via e-mail) that she should clarify whether or not she will be moving to join her husband, who is currently in military training. The Human Resources people got this information about her husband from a co-worker…

Not only have Julie and Martin Weckerlein of Julie and Martin been married for almost a decade–they’ve been blogging about military family life even longer. And they have the distinction of both having been military spouses for one another. And now Julie is the servicemember and Martin is the military spouse, offering us a great chance to hear from a male military spouse!

What topics do you write about on your blog?

Julie: Our site started in the summer of 2001, when I was a public affairs Airman stationed in Germany, engaged to Martin, who was a German tank commander in the Bundeswehr at the time…

Dear Molly,

My boyfriend is currently in an ROTC battalion. I love him and agree with him that we will possibly be married in the future. I guess my main problem is the uncertainty the Army brings to MY dreams, plans, and goals. It seems to amplify the normal problem that almost engaged/engaged/newly married couples go through in synthesizing two lives into one. Do you have any advice, other than talking about it because we do, for us?

I saw this query on a few lists and a friend just forwarded it to me, again. I know many of you are married to bonafide heroes.

My hero does not like me to broadcast his heroic acts but, although I will respect his wishes, I believe talking about true heroism inspires others to act!

Are you married to a real hero? Of course, I think all servicemembers are heroes–but are you married to a hero who has gone above and beyond? Do you want to recognize your hero and shout it from the rooftops or at least the glossy pages of a “major women’s magazine”? Here’s your chance…

Tonight, I looked at my beautiful children–a sight that normally fills me with love and joy–and felt dread. I felt the dread of the solo bedtime routine. Trying to balance the needs and desires of two very young kids while still leaving myself enough time to do work and straighten up can be exhausting.

But I am not a single parent.