No matter how many times you experience a deployment, it never gets easier. And once your family grows and children come into the mix, you have even more to prepare for.
Meet Allexis Wise, a submarine spouse currently stationed in Norfolk. It didn’t take long before Allexis realized the lack of children’s literature out there for children of submariners. So she set out to write her own! Details below:
Name: Allexis Wise
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Current Duty Station: Norfolk Naval Station
Q: Tell us about your business.
I wrote a children’s book specifically geared toward active duty Navy submarine children, to help them work through their feelings during a submarine deployment.
Q: What made you choose this type of business?
Navy submarine deployments are difficult, and tend to be a lot different than any other deployment with the little amount of contact that we as the family back home have. As an active duty Navy sub spouse myself, I often see families, especially with children, struggle when their loved ones leave for sea time. It can be hard, sad and confusing! When children read “My Daddy the Submariner,” my hope is they will be able to relate to the story and feelings, while also finding ways to cope with their mommy or daddy leaving!
Q: What motivated you to start your business?
I was always searching for that children’s book for my husbands’ son to help explain the submarine deployment, and could never find it, so I decided to write it!
Q: How do you manage the work/life balance as a submarine spouse?
I personally don’t think there is such a thing as balancing my work/life balance as a submarine spouse. In the active duty military life I think we all learn to just take things day by day. Some days I have my day planned out by the hour, and other days I am making it through by binging netflix in my pjs with a box of ice cream. You have to do what helps you cope with each passing day; it’s the only way I make it!
Q: Any advice for fellow submarine spouses who want to start their own business?
There is no better time than the present! If you are anything like me you have been talking about it for years, and it’s time to just do it!
Q: Favorite thing(s) to do in your current duty station?
COVID has really stopped us from exploring! We just PCSed here in July from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. We can’t wait to get out and explore when the Navy lifts restrictions!
Q: Where can we support and learn more about your business?
You can buy my book on Amazon, click here.
Do you know another sub spouse small business entreprenuer? Email us at thesubmergedlife@gmail.com and we’d love to hear from you!