Published: July 23, 2021
You will often hear that military life builds resilience. Between frequent moves, long deployments, and unpredictable training schedules creating more time away, this life certainly knows how to throw curveballs. At times, even the most seasoned military families struggle to navigate the waters. Just how much of an impact does the stress have? According to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, 16% of active-duty service members and 23% of active-duty spouses report having a diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder. And we have to believe, based on mental health trends, the percentage is likely much higher as many mental health issues go undiagnosed.
While the veterans among us are struggling, what is the experience like for new military families — those who don’t have experience and that learned resilience to lean on? Emily, a new Navy spouse and mom of three, has found herself wading through and trying to quickly adapt. After Emily’s husband finished his EMT schooling, he found himself working two jobs, while also trying to achieve career advancement by becoming a paramedic firefighter. Times were tough, but when Emily got laid off from her job, they found themselves searching for better opportunities for their family to thrive.
“Our situation at the time felt like we were moving three steps forward and two steps back,” Emily shared. “While looking online at job postings, my husband saw an ad to be a paramedic for the Army, and he made a joke about maybe he should just do that. We laughed, but then had this moment of ‘What if you/I did?!’ It just kind of all fell into place. We figured Joe [my husband] would have an opportunity to get medical training and experience faster than trying to find space and funds for school on our already very slim budget and hectic schedule. It was definitely a wild card we hadn’t ever considered before, but we played it.”
Once her husband finished bootcamp and A school, the Navy’s job training program, Emily prepared for their first move as a military family. They left Texas, where her husband and children had lived their entire lives, and headed for San Diego, where they had no friends, family, or expectations for what their family would be in for. “I was a wreck honestly,” Emily recalled. “I had joined every informational group out there on Facebook for military families just trying to figure out what to expect. It was such a tidal wave of information, and it was a little overwhelming and intimidating. Learning where to grocery shop, where the grocery store even is, where the best restaurants are, how to avoid the interstate⏤all those little things that you take for granted were extremely difficult to figure out.”
While Emily did her best to learn the ins and outs of her new community, she also had another area to tackle: the family’s home. After hearing experiences of fellow military spouses who struggled to navigate the local housing market, especially in an expensive location like San Diego, Emily and her husband decided to move into a house on the installation. But they knew that could be a challenge, too, especially for a larger family. So when the time came, they told housing management that they would take any available home⏤any neighborhood, any layout. They just wanted a place to call their own.
“We’ve been fortunate to have landed in a wonderful house with great neighbors who helped us feel welcome right away,” Emily said. “Especially because our kids are new to military life, it’s important for us to make this house, albeit temporary, feel like home. Everything outside may be different, but inside our home, it should still feel like home, [it] should still feel safe. But military housing comes as a blank slate. As we are getting settled here, it’s still hard making ends meet on an enlisted salary in a very expensive part of the country. Any decorating has really just been pushed to the bottom of the list.” Unfortunately, the financial stress that Emily’s family has been facing is not unique. In fact, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, 28% of active-duty service member respondents report “military pay” as a top issue for their family. What is more, a full 14% of enlisted active-duty families report facing food insecurity.
While they have been making what they have work for them, when Emily learned about the Macy’s Room Makeover campaign, offered in partnership with Blue Star Families and Moving with the Military, she saw an opportunity to create a place for their family to come together⏤to help make her home the safe, welcoming place she dreams of for her family. She entered the contest in hopes that she would get a new dining area. The family’s existing table was purchased 10 years and two kids ago. Needless to say, they have outgrown it. Without a place to come together as a family for meals, or enjoy the company of new friends, Emily worries they are missing out on important time to connect. Much to Emily’s surprise, she and her family will now have that space to connect, thanks to Macy’s, Blue Star Families, and Moving with the Military!
“It still feels a little surreal that we were randomly selected,” Emily shared. “Blue Star Families has been there for our family when we needed it the most⏤with food drives and such. Now, we are getting this amazing gift. To know that a big company like Macy’s is taking time to try to give back to military families is really stunning. It is admirable for Macy’s to be doing these things for us. It means a lot.”
Blue Star Families and Macy’s are thrilled to honor Emily’s family with a dining room makeover. And guess what? Macy’s is not stopping there in support of military families across the country. This summer, this incredible Blue Star Partner of ours “Salutes Those Who Serve.” What does that mean, exactly? Now through July 31st, Macy’s shoppers can round up their in-store purchases or shop online to donate to Blue Star Families and Bunker Labs.
Learn more about all the ways Macy’s is stepping up for military families and how you can get involved, too, by visiting macys.com/macysgives.
Posted In: Macy's, Macy's Gives