Blue Star Stories

  The approaching summer season looks a little different for many military families, compared to their civilian counterparts. While civilian families might be planning their family vacation or what summer camp to attend, military families are often anticipating orders that will tell them where they are moving next and how quickly. Oftentimes, families are given…

Military life is unpredictable. Between frequent moves, long-term separation due to deployments and training, and work schedules that aren’t family-friendly; many military families struggle to find stability, which compromises their mental well-being. In fact, according to the 2019 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, lack of control over military career and the uncertainty that accompanies military life…

Did you know that military families move 3x as often as their civilian counterparts, most moving every 2-3 years on average? Starting over every few years leaves many military families struggling to create connections. In fact, according to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, only a quarter (27%) of active-duty family respondents feel a sense…

Moving frequently is an inevitable, but difficult, part of life as a military family. In fact, 600,000 service members and their families, 400,000 active-duty and 200,000 veterans, relocate with the military every year. While moving is an exciting adventure, it also means leaving support systems, friends, jobs, and the overall comfort of truly belonging to…

It’s that time of year again where we take time to honor Fathers and all they do.  But what is the perfect gift for Dad?   The question has plagued Mom’s and kids for decades. As a fellow Dad, I can admit, we can be pretty complicated to buy gifts for. We often don’t know…

It wasn’t that long ago that LGBTQ+ military families were explicitly banned from serving in the military, and eventually only allowed to serve while closeted. In the 1940s, your sexual orientation and/or gender identity were seen as a mental illness, disqualifying you from service. As recently as 1982, military policy banned gay and lesbian individuals…

Modern family structure commonly includes two working parents. Financial stability often requires both parents to work, but beyond that, employment outside of the home can bring mental fulfillment as well. Military families today are no different. However, they face unique challenges based on their lifestyle that make accomplishing a dual income household especially challenging.  So…

Military life is difficult because it’s unpredictable. From frequent moves and long-term separation due to deployments and training, to long and demanding work schedules that aren’t family-friendly, it can be a challenge to find balance. All of those uncertainties put a lot of pressure on military spouses, and make it difficult for them to find…