Without a doubt, one of the hardest parts about being a submarine spouse is the extended (and usually irregular) underways. Whether they're gone for three weeks here, two months there, or a full-blown seven month deployment, it's all hard. Is it just me or do the chaotic underways sometime feel harder? We have some great [...]
In honor of April as the Month of the Military Child, we wanted to share some resources for military families and children from healthcare professionals. The life of a military-connected child is one of constant change. In addition to the typical stressors of being a kid, a military child faces a unique set of challenges, [...]
There's no day like Homecoming! And one of my favorite activities to do leading up to the special day is making a Homecoming sign. Whether you want to hold the sign up at the pier or in your front yard, Homecoming signs can be such a fun and sweet way to celebrate the special day. [...]
If you're so lucky to experience it, shore duty (or a common freudian slip short duty), is a blessed period of time when your sailor has a job (you guessed it) on shore. Depending on the role, they likely are not experiencing any underways or extended periods away from home. Shore tours can last as [...]
Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) orders aren’t common in the submarine community, but if it happens it will be a different experience than the usual underway or “scheduled” deployment. TAD orders are required travel at a location other than the permanent duty station. An example of this is if you sailor is asked to “ride” another [...]
It’s difficult to know how much your toddler understands about a parent’s impending underway. Toddlers don’t quite get the concept of time or what it means for a parent to be in a submarine without the modern communication methods they may be used to (Facetime, phone calls, etc.). As I was trying to figure out [...]
OK, let us start by saying that you don't need to buy anything. But we asked dozens of spouses what products brought them joy during deployment, some tangible items, some not. So, in no particular order: 1. RED Friday Shirts Encourage your friends and family to wear RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) on Fridays and share [...]
Is Dad deployed or on patrol this year for Father’s Day? Not sure how or if you should celebrate? Here are a few ideas that may help you decide how to spend your Sunday: Change up your normal dinner routine Order takeout, maybe from Dad’s favorite place, and choose a fun place to sit and [...]
If you're new to submarine life, whether you're a parent of a newly-christened sailor or a significant other just learning the lingo, it can be incredibly overwhelming. Simply put, you don't know what you don't know. What type of submarine are they on? How often will they be at sea? What's the difference between an [...]
