Looking for a place to raise your kids...check this out!

It's a morning of sharing again!

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-best-affordable-places-to-raise-kids.html

I never knew this until now...

A friend shared this with me today. It makes sense.
http://www.socialtimes.com/2010/12/79-of-all-u-s-moms-with-kids-under-18-are-active-on-social-media/

In a world where it's hard to get out, things don't appear as safe, or whatever the case may be, being a mom can be isolating. I love being a mom, it's the most badass thing I've ever done. I have a cool kid too. He's a bit intense like me, and I swear he seems driven by a motor at times. If he turns out to be ADHD like me, I'm super okay with that. The little boy, as I like to call him, lets me know exactly what he needs and when he needs it. Here's the isolating part. Moms don't really talk about anything. We put on this facade like everything is okay. Guess what, it's not. I'm new at this, and I don't know what he's crying about at times. The little boy can be tough too. He loves to be played with, and have my attention. Who doesn't? There is already a difference between boys and girls. My brother and sis-in-law have twins and the girl is far more independent at 3 months than the boy. Maybe it's a guy thing. I don't know because I'm new at this!!!!!

What's a new mom to do??? I blog and facebook. That's how I get my social interaction. I will join mom groups on post and I will get back into my daily grind once I'm more settled, but for now, I need social media. I would be sad to loose this outlet and not only would it make me sad, but I feel that I have info share. It's hard to be a parent and it's hard to be a parent in a new location. So I guess I would have to thank some people out there...blogspot...thanks, facebook...you make me smile...thank you!

To my mom friends out there....I love you!

More information for all of us!!!!

These cribs have been banned.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2010/12/15/bans-sale-drop-cribs/

As you can see, this is from Fox Business. I typically do not like Fox News at all. I'm a liberal...a big, old, bleeding heart liberal. I'm for responsible government that can be big at times, I'm for ethical companies and people, I'm against the death penalty because it is cruel and unusual punishment, and I am so pro education that I would make you want to run into a wall to get away from me when I start talking about education.

But let's get back to the topic...these side cribs have been banned. Please make sure you take care of you babies and don't let them get hurt by using these kinds of cribs!!!!!

Hey Everyone...go out and get some education! WooHoo!!!!

Cumberland County, where Ft. Bragg and Pope AAF are located is offering this:

http://www.cumberlandwdb.com

This is about using the $6000 for spousal education and putting it to use in our county. I bet other bases/posts are doing something similar. If they aren't then see if they will!!!!

FRG??? You're so new to me!

To give you all some background, the branches of the military have programs that are designed to provide support, answers, etc to the single service member and the family member. These programs have different names for each branch. The Air Force has the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Key Spouse Program. The Army has the Army Community Service and the Family Readiness Group. The Navy and Marines have their own as well. The Navy, in my opinion really seems to have it going on. They have always dealt with deployments based on the simple fact that they are the sea-faring branch. You have shore duty and sea duty, and when you have sea duty...you're gone a lot. The Marines and Army are tied. These two branches, in my opinion, have it hard. They are now constantly deployed and they are suffering great losses. The Air Force, is now starting to deploy on a regular basis. We need to in my opinion. If you are in the military, it's your job to protect and defend this country. However, our key spouse program is lacking. It was only implemented Air Force wide about two years ago. I believe March 2009. There doesn't seem to be a standardized training, and when training is offered, it's on the most inconvenient days. I've experienced this at Offutt, and apparently, it's like that here at Pope AFB. Well, that's missing the point...a program to support families, that won't borrow ideas or anything from the other branches that seem to be getting it right, and the training is offered at times that no one can seem to make it??? What's wrong with this? Once, the key spouse program at Offutt asked people for ideas about a financial planning seminar, so I suggested that we check out the FRG since I just took theirs before our move. Yeah...I was ignored. I love the AF, and I love all the branches, but the last I checked the global war on terror was applicable to all branches. Not only do all of our branches get deployed, but they all leave family behind. This isn't about bashing the AF and saying that another branch is better, it's about utilizing all the resources out there. My biggest complaint with the military is that it seems to me, that each branch has to do their own thing. If the Army FRGs work, then why not use them for all branches? The Marines use the same structure as an FRG, they just call it something else. What we need to remember is that we're all in this together.

So, I went to an unofficial FRG leaders meeting. It was a way for these amazing leaders to share ideas, best practices, how to overcome the stigma of the FRG, and how to work together. I was the only Air Force spouse and I was so proud of that! I can't wait to work with the commander's wife to become a key spouse again, and to work with the Army to implement their best practices. It is my hope and goal to combine the two programs and create one that works for the AF and see it become our standard. It is my promise to all AF families that I will not give up on this, that I will work hard for you all because we need the support! As I watch Ft. Bragg and Pope AFB combine their efforts and become a joint operations post/base, I wonder if that's what will happen for the families. I think it will.

Below are the links for the different family support centers; they're so cool!

Navy: http://www.cnic.navy.mil/CNIC_HQ_Site/WhatWeDo/FleetandFamilyReadiness/index.htm

Marine Corp: http://www.usmc-mccs.org/family/

Army: http://www.armyfrg.org/skins/frg/home.aspx?AllowSSL=true

Air Force: http://keyspouse.org/index.htm

It Became One of Those Days

My day started so great. I rediscovered this blog, I played with my child, and I hugged my husband. But as the day progressed I let reality creep into my mind. We have a cute house that we are renting here in Fayetteville the problem is that the previous tenents had two very large dogs that had fleas. We caught this before we moved it and thought it was fixed. We were wrong. My cat has fleas and is becoming very sick from them (she goes to the vet tomorrow), they have bitten my son and me, and both of us are having reactions to the bites. My baby is now congested again, and seems unhappy. I'm hoping it's just getting used to the allergens of the new house, but I could be wrong. Thankfully he goes in next week for his well baby check up. We are doing everything we can and now the property manager is sending out a professional bug man. So on top of having just moved in, we have a horrid pest infestation and I'm so sad. Tonight as Ian was crying, my cat was laying on the floor meowing in pain, I started to cry. I felt like a bad mom. I've done something wrong by wanting this house. Jeremy didn't want this place at first and I convinced him it was a good house and neighborhood for us. All I can think about is if I made a mistake. It's too late now because we signed a lease, but if this problem isn't taken care of in the next few days then my only option is to go to Jeremy's command and the housing office. I hope that we can get this fixed.

I know I'm not a bad mom, but today I really felt badly about myself and my decision. Tomorrow, I will have a different outlook. I can't wait for tomorrow.

Starting Over...Again

I have tried this before. I have failed at this before. Well, I don't know if I would call it failing as much as I haven't kept up with something that I like. That needs to change. Since I started this a couple of years ago a lot has changed. My husband deployed, came home, I got pregnant, I had the most awesome baby EVER, and we moved to an Army post named Ft. Bragg. It's home to the 18th Airborne Corp and the 82nd Airborne. We have Army Rangers, Green Berets aka Special Forces, and Delta here. What's interesting is that you can find out all of this online. Ha ha ha!!! I feel like a stranger in a strange land. To steal from an old Army slogan, I'm an Air Force of One. There are no AF Family Readiness Group Coordinators. They shy away from it because it's Army. The problem with that mentality is that it's isolating. I don't like being isolated from family support. So, here's what you will get when you read this blog: You will read about my adventures of being an AF wife on the most patriotic Army post EVER, a new mom, a happy mom, a FRG Coordinator, a teacher, and a woman. I'm just trying to get by in a world that sends my husband away to war zones and then returns him to me a different man. I'm just trying to get by in a world that I don't fully understand because my almost 4 month old can't tell me how he feels. I'm an Air Force wife and I am very proud to be one!