As we all move into finding our new normal after the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, there are so many military spouses learning to navigate this crazy, wonderful military life for the first time. We asked a few encouraging military spouse advocates their best advice for new spouses.
What is your best advice or resource for a brand new military spouse just starting this crazy, wonderful military life?
“The best advice I can give to a new military spouse is to breathe and take everything one day at a time. Know that you don’t have to be an expert in any of this. Some of us longtime spouses are still learning. Connect with your FRG if you have one, and try to put yourself out there to make some new military spouse friends. We all have to help each other through the challenging times, whether it is a deployment or any other part of military life. Know that it might take time to find a good place within military life, and that’s OK. This life is always changing and we will always have to learn to adjust.”
Julie Provost, Founder, Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life
“If there’s one thing that military life is, it’s ever-changing. While there are shared experiences and emotions that bind us together as a community, there’s no one cookie-cutter military life journey. There’s no one right way to do military life or to be a military spouse, either. Listen to the experiences and advice of others; do your own research; participate in in-person and online activities and groups. But remember that at the end of the day, you’re the one building your life and living it. Choose what makes sense and what works for you, your family, and your situation. And be OK with the possibility of those choices changing from life season to life season and installation to installation. You’ve got this.”
Jo, Content Creator and Entrepreneur, Jo, My Gosh!
“Keeping an open mind is the single most important thing that allowed our family to power through many of the challenges presented by military life. I resisted military life so much in the beginning. I was sure it wasn’t for me. There are also many duty stations that I thought would be the worst ever. Turns out, I can’t imagine my life without the amazing opportunities military life has afforded us. And all those ‘worst ever’ duty stations turned out to be some of my favorites – places where lifelong friendships were built and I grew the most as a person.”
Lauren Tamm, Founder, The Military Wife and Mom
“Our advice for fresh, new military spouses is to find a community that fits your style and be unabashed in your requests for guidance. All those questions swirling around in your head? All those worries keeping you up at night? Take them out of your brain, onto a piece of paper, and then, one by one, out in the world of online milspouse support groups. You will be shocked at how helpful we are as a community. No question is too silly, no concern is too small, no Tricare confusion is too great (yes, you need a separate plan for dental). If there’s one thing you’ll learn – military spouses take care of each other and you are not in this alone!
Maggie Machado, Founder, How to MilSpouse