MILITARYSPOUSE SIMP L IF Y ING YOUR CR A Z Y, WONDE R F UL MIL I TA R Y L IF E
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JANUARY 2018
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JAN UARY 2018 / VOLUME 14 / ISSU E 1
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MILITARYSPOUSE
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S I M P L IF Y I N G Y O U R C R A Z Y, W O N D E R F U L M I L I TA R Y L I F E
Military Spouse® Team President of Military Spouse® Programs Suzie Schwartz
Our Lives
Features
Managing Editor Janine Boldrin
Verizon Wants (to Hire) You! Verizon is one of the largest communication technology companies in the world. Learn how they’re working to connect military spouses with careers they love............... 12
2018 Military Spouse Friendly Employers® Discover a company that understands you............... 22
Lead Art Director Joe Maiocco
Homesteading Can Work For You This is how my military family grows and raises what we eat!.................... 16
Cover photography by: Christa Paustenbaugh Photography
From the Editor Where is home? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Contributors What makes your house a home for your military family? . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Suzie’s Letter: You’re Invited Why I create beautiful tables for my guests . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0
Are Your Kids Safe Playing Upstairs? Two military families share their heartbreaking stories to help others............... 24
Military Spouse of the Year® Event Coordinator Lain Harvey
4 Simple Ways to Decrease the Clutter Bonus? Your next move will be easier ...................26
Contributing Writers
What We Love
Good Advice
Cold Weather Survival for Your Pet Protect your four-legged friend when the weather turns bitter!.................................. 18
Resume. Apply. Repeat. Are you stuck in an employment search rut? Here's what I did to break free and find a job I love. ........... 28
Keep it Cozy! 30 ways to make your kids feel more at home..................... 20
Ready to Go Remote? Here’s what you should know before committing to working from home..............32 The Three A’s of Debt Elimination Start chipping away at a growing problem ....................34
STAY CONNECTED!
Digital Marketing Specialist Kariah Manwaring
Customer Service Manager Courtney Miller
Cassaundra Martinez Michelle Bradfield Jennifer Taylor Angie Drake Erica McMannes Liza Rodewald Natalie Hayek Anna Blanch Rabe Beth Penn JJ Montanaro
Leadership CEO & Chairman Chris Hale President Rich McCormack Chief Operating Officer Mike Stevens VP Business Development Scott Shaw
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FROM THE EDITOR
Photo by Command® Hooks
QUICK TIPS
5 Inexpensive Ideas for Creating Cozy Military Housing
Where is home? Is it the place where you grew up or the house where you live now? For many military spouses, it’s hard to feel at home when you move around a lot. For others, home may be the same place for many, many years. Whether you have never moved as a military family or move every couple of years (or more o�ten!), home should be a place you love to come back to at the end of the day. It’s the cozy corner where your kid can curl up and dream. Or the spot in front of the fireplace where your dog likes to sleep a�ter a cold run through the park. We hope that no matter where the military sends you, your home is the perfect place for your family. Creating a space you love, where you feel safe and enjoy hanging out, is important no matter the amount of time you’ll live in a home. Let us help you create the home and life that is perfect for your military family. We promise to keep it simple. This military spouse life can be a little crazy. Let us be the neighbor you steal ideas from (pg. ��) and the friend whose story inspires you (pg. ��). The seasoned spouse with the awesome ideas (pg. ��) and the buddy who shares good tips with you in the dog park (pg. ��). We want to simplify your crazy, wonderful military life. And, yes, have a little bit of fun while doing it. Don’t forget to share your ideas with us. We are in this journey together.
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Easy-to-install massaging jets make a world of difference. The awesomeness of a great morning shower is a good way to begin the day. Just unscrew the old ones and pop on the new ones. Do the reverse when you move out and take them with you to the next house.
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INSTALL HASSLEFREE CURTAINS
Hate the drilling that comes with curtain rods? Or maybe housing says “no” when it comes to installing curtains? Take a trick from designers who stage houses and use brush metal looking Command® hooks that can hold up a curtain rod. Curtains can add color to a room without the hassle of painting.
INVEST IN LIGHTING
Hate those hard-to-clean kitchen lights to the globe fixtures they love to install in housing? If you have a lot of fluorescent light filling the house, you may feel like you’re in retail store instead of your home. Create softer light with standing lamps or even replace your military housing issued light fixtures with something snazzier. Chandelier? Well, why not? Just save the fixture that came with the house so you can reinstall it when you leave.
Photo by Nancy Green
5 BORROW IDEAS
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Photo by Thinkstock
Janine Boldrin Managing Editor janine.boldrin@militaryspouse.com
REPLACE SHOWERHEADS
Photo by Jess Kight
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PERSONALIZE YOUR SPACE
Anything can look cool with the right frame! Mix and match the items to create a story on your walls. A diploma with your graduation picture with the kids’ drawings of your family. Or framed military memorabilia from the places you’ve been stationed with your wedding photograph. Your memories will create a living album for all to enjoy.
OK, we know it’s not nice to steal, but ideas are free for the taking when you visit your neighbor’s house. Check out what they’ve done and say, “Hey, do you mind if I copy your great idea?” From desks in the nooks that seem to have no purpose to closets you never use transformed into mini-offices, your friends and neighbors may have come up with an awesome idea that will make your military housing a home! +
BONUS TIP! ADD TEXTURE
Furry pillows. Soft blankets. A throw rug over wall-to-wall carpet. Soft stuff makes any space extra cozy, so stack, layer and create an awesome home!
JAN UARY 2017 CO NTRIB U TO R S
Q Photo by Bob Goodwin
What makes your house a home for your military family? CASSAUNDRA MARTINEZ
For us, the phrase teamwork makes the dream work rings true. In order for my husband to serve our country, our six children to succeed, and me to volunteer and have the career I desire, we have to work together, support and encourage one another. It’s what makes our house a home no matter where we live - recognizing the need to do life together. Cassaundra Martinez is an Industrial Organizational Psychologist, Army veteran, Army spouse, and mom of six. She enjoys the wild places, whether that’s hiking at a local park or playing with her kids in the family living room. Cassaundra is also the 2017 Armed Forces Insurance Army Spouse of the Year®.
MICHELLE BRADFIELD
The thing that makes my house a home is the loved ones I share it with. It’s my baby cooing in her rocker while I cook dinner and my husband tinkering in the garage on a project. Meanwhile, my dog naps on his bed cuddled with a favorite toy. Us doing things we enjoy fills our home with life. And that’s how it’s supposed to be. Michele is an Army spouse, freelance marketing specialist, and a new mama. She’s a lover of the great outdoors and is happiest when hiking a mountain trail, downhill skiing, running outdoors, or engaged in freshwater sports.
JENNIFER TAYLOR
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MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
My house is a home because we support each other and others who are experiencing similar things. We put our military community first and are willing to help anyone within our community with any task, crisis, or questions they may have. They may be current active, retired or reserve, it doesn’t matter. Once military always military and everyone deserves all of the same support. Jennifer Taylor is a registered nurse, Navy spouse, Navy veteran, mother to five boys and one daughter. She manages to stay busy while going to school full time for her Master of Science and homesteading from spring until well into the winter.
ANGIE DRAKE
I feel like I need a passport to walk through your house! said our son’s friend. I took it as a compliment. With the exception of some practical pieces from IKEA, our home is full of every place we have lived and traveled. We collected furniture on big junk day in Katzweiler, Germany, at antique markets in Tongeren, Belgium, and estate sales across the United States. We’ve decorated our walls with folk art paintings from Ecuador, our floors with carpets from Afghanistan, and our furniture with handmade quilts from friends in Germany. It’s a package deal. Any item on its own might be fun to look at, but brought together, these treasures make our military house a home. Angie is the founder of Not Your Average American where she shares unique stories and photography about her travels in South America. For every destination marked off her bucket list, three more spring into place. Angie will soon be an empty nester and a “retired” military spouse. She is currently located in Washington, D.C.
ERICA MCMANNES
There is always that weird moment when a new house no longer feels foreign and it feels like you belong. It's hard to define that exact moment but I always feel it's when pictures are up on the walls, boxes are out of the house, and we fall into a good daily routine as a family. After 10 moves in 16 years, we tend to get to those moments faster every time. It's deliberate and we aim for pictures up and boxes out within five days of HHG delivery! Erica McMannes is cofounder and owner of MadSkills, an Army spouse, and mom of two boys. She loves sci fi, chocolate chip cookie dough, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. +
SUZIE’S LET TER
Photos Provided by Suzie Schwartz / Photo of Suzie by Erin Rexroth
BEING INSPIRED
You’re Invited
Years after that first party, I attended a luncheon at the home of our base commander. Everything was beautiful. To this day, I remember the beautiful china and sweet teacups with matching spoons. I don’t even remember what I ate but I came home feeling totally ill-equipped. I realized that many of my friends actually had nice china and could set beautiful tables. Although I had a closet full of beautiful clothes, I had almost nothing for my table. This moment set me on the path that is now my signature entertaining style: beautifully decorated tablescapes. Maybe you have seen them on Facebook or my blog but you may not know the “why” behind these over-the-top tables.
Why I create beautiful tables for my guests. By Suzie Schwartz, President of Military Spouse Programs
CREATING MEMORIES
As my husband progressed through the Air Force, I realized that for many people, there may be only one opportunity to enter and attend an event in our home. This opportunity should be warm and special and most of all memorable. When you leave our home, Norty and I want you to know that we care about you. We honor your service and respect all that you do for our country. You are special and you deserve the best. Indeed, what a privilege it is to share the joy of visitors to our home. We hope you leave with a great memory of our time together. This great life is worth celebrating. A great place to start is by creating a wonderful table to gather around. +
Entertaining and opening my home started the first year I was married. I had nothing. For our first party, we sat at a plastic table and plastic chairs that my husband had purchased before we were married. It was a little table in the middle of a big empty room but I didn’t care. Having others over to our home and sitting around our table together was what was important. It was an unimpressive beginning and I don’t believe anyone, including me, would have dreamed that one day I would be known for outlandish table decorations, china for every holiday, and a theme for each party. Food was my focus in my early days of entertaining. Somehow, I thought I was a chef and I did exactly what hosts are told not to do: I experimented on my guests. I now realize trying new recipes on brave friends wasn’t the best idea.
Want to create a memorable table for your guests? Here are three quick tips to try: 1 ��
MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
Consider using what you have on hand before going out to buy new. Use the season as inspiration!
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Layer, layer, layer!
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Adding height to your table with a centerpiece, stacking colorful dishes, and creating decor that reaches upward will bring your table to life!
OUR LIVES
Photo by Verizon
Verizon Wants (to Hire) You! Verizon* is one of the largest communication technology companies in the world. Learn how they’re working to connect military spouses with careers they love. By Janine Boldrin, managing editor of Military Spouse
With more than ���,��� employees around the world, Verizon is where military spouses and veterans can discover a company that values their experiences. Learn more about how Verizon is where military spouses go to find, not just a job, but a career.
@Verizon we understand military spouse life ��
WE ARE SEARCHING FOR YOU
Military Spouse Talent Network for job candidates is a forum for us to share information about our programs for military spouses.
MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
A Key Player In Our Space As the 2018 No. 1 Military Spouse Friendly Employer®, Verizon offers a unique pre-employment experience for those who choose to identify themselves as a military spouse during the application process. This simple step puts them into the pool of candidates that recruiters use to source military spouse job candidates. If hired, this is also the starting point for connecting military spouses with other Verizon employees who share their military-life experiences.
WE UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS
Our Military Spouse Recruiter understands the specific needs of military spouses and can help match skills with job roles.
* THIS COMPANY IS AN ADVERTISER IN THIS ISSUE
WE'RE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH MILITARY SPOUSE NONPROFITS
Verizon has partnerships with Military Spouse Employer Partnership, Military Spouse Employment Advisory Council, and Hiring our Heroes, among others.
Did you know?
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• Verizon’s CEO, Lowell McAdam, is a veteran (Navy Seabees). • Verizon employs over 10,000 veterans.
• Verizon has a dedicated Military Recruitment Team. • Each year, Verizon attends hundreds of recruiting events for veterans and military spouses.
Once a Military Spouse, Always a Military Spouse. Finding employment after retirement.
• Verizon has sponsored the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® award because they value military families. Two Verizon employees have been honored with the award. • The Verizon careers military landing page is a “one-stop shop” with resources for service members and military spouses, including a skills matcher, resume writing tips and access to our military recruitment team. • Verizon launched a program in 2017 that allows wireless retail teams to add their military branch or acknowledgement as a military spouse to their name badges.
What does a career at Verizon mean? Verizon offers competitive salaries and performance-based incentives, adoption expense assistance, a matching gifts program, and military discounts. They design their benefits to support employees in their career and life outside of Verizon, including a tuition assistance program that provides reimbursement/assistance for approved courses or degree programs taken through an accredited institution that are relevant to the business. Employees are eligible for up to $8,000 in assistance each year for continuing education, no matter what level of education. Read on to find out how one military spouse used this benefit to help keep her career moving forward as the military moved their family from place to place.
Where military-connected Verizon employees gather! From the Military Spouse Talent Network to the Military Connection group, there are communities across Verizon for military spouses during all phases of their employment journey.
WE WANT TO CONNECT YOU AS A COMMUNITY
As part of the onboarding process for new military spouses, Verizon offers ways to connect with other Verizon military-connected employees to share their experiences and network with other military spouses.
DONNA-MARIE JACKSON Solutions Specialist at a Verizon Wireless Retail store in Lady Lake, Fla.
I WAS A MILITARY KID, MILITARY SPOUSE, AND MY OWN KIDS ARE IN THE MILITARY! Both my father and husband were in the Air Force. My father retired a�ter 35 years. My husband served during the Vietnam era and was stationed in Taiwan and Italy. I currently have a son in the Army as a specialist who trains bomb dogs. He was in Afghanistan and recently returned from Korea. Our daughter and son-in-law are currently warrant officers in the Army. Between them, their overseas service has included tours of duty in Afghanistan, Qatar and Okinawa. My father-in-law was in the Merchant Marines and he traveled through the Mediterranean Sea during WWII. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB This April will mark my fouryear anniversary with Verizon. I originally started at Verizon as a customer sales consultant and then an experience specialist. While working in the Orlando, Fla., area, I was promoted to solutions specialist, which is my current role. I enjoy helping our customers. When I was an experience specialist, I was an instructor and helped teach seven classes a day to educate anyone who wanted to learn more about technology. When my husband was deployed, he would have loved to have video technology! We are blessed by
the technology of today and, even though I'm in sales now, my teaching skills kick in when I see a customer who wants that extra knowledge. VERIZON UNDERSTANDS MILITARY FAMILIES LIKE MINE Verizon has always been a great place to work for those in the military and their spouses, especially in accommodating the rigors of military life. When a leave or tour of duty comes for our military employees, Verizon respects those dates and times. My co-workers who were called to active duty never worried about their jobs because they knew they were fully supported by the company and that their positions were secure. This �lexibility is just another reason I would encourage any military spouse to apply at Verizon. SAY “HI” WHEN YOU SEE ME! As a wireless solutions specialist from a military family, I wear a name badge in the store that lets people know that I’m a military spouse. It’s another way for our military employees to connect with our customers. It is always my pleasure to personally give the best service to all our customers, but I enjoy thanking those who serve this great country we live in. >>
OUR JOBS ARE WHERE YOU LIVE
We just added a search by military installation functionality to the Verizon military landing page to help candidates find career openings near military installations: verizon.com/about/careers/military
Donna Marie with Mike Harris, who is former Air Force, and Ron Hurt, who is also a military spouse.
JANUARY 2018 / MILITARYSPOUSE.COM
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15 Years With One Company?!? Yes! I moved up while moving around. Photo by Little Bits ’n Pieces Photography
JENNIFER MULLEN 2016 Armed Forces Insurance Coast Guard Spouse of the Year®, IT Project Manager, remote worker
I AM A MILITARY SPOUSE WHO HAS MOVED (A LOT) WITH MY JOB! As a Coast Guard family, we have been stationed all over the country, mostly through the Northeast, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York/ New Jersey and now South Carolina. I have worked for Verizon for �� years and held various positions, all of which focused on the experience of the customers throughout the organization. I started as a customer service representative, then a customer service supervisor. Since then, I’ve held lots of positions as a program manager and senior analyst. For the last five years, I have been an IT project manager implementing Verizon products and Verizon transformative initiatives. MOVING MY CAREER HAS MEANT STAYING FLEXIBLE Positions can't be everywhere. Before each move, I had to start reaching out to my peers and leaders in the business to understand the company’s current needs and how I can fill the space and find a new position. Being a military spouse isn't a forever thing, neither is one particular job at a company. Change will always come. It has been important to understand that I can pick up skills along the way to finding the perfect job for me.
“I love to help lift roadblocks and help people do their job as well as solving problems to implement something amazing. The power of technology teamed with some great minds can really create wonderful things.”
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AT VERIZON, I CONNECT WITH OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES AND VETERANS When I was awarded the ���� Armed Forces Insurance Coast Guard Spouse of the Year�, the amount of support and outreach from my Verizon community was amazing. People wanted to know more about our life and how they can help. I was able to connect with more veterans and spouses. When you start talking to someone about the places you have been, you start to hear their experiences as well.
JENNIFER’S 3 BIG TIPS FOR OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES �) Learn to be �lexible! I wasn't able to have every job I wanted over the last 15 years because of the needs of the business and where we moved. Instead of getting frustrated, I focused on what skills I could learn and how I might be able to apply them to the next job.
“As a military spouse, I love meeting and getting to know new people and exploring new locations. The combination can be invigorating (and a little scary).” �) Think ahead. If you develop different skills along the way, you may be able to use those in another position that pops up. There were times where I couldn't take the job I had with me when we transferred. I went to another job as a compromise, so I would have a job and stay with the company, but I learned skills that would help me land a position I wanted even more in the next move. �) Network by giving back! I have worked with thousands of people in my career. The people I am the closest with, and have made the biggest impact on my life, are from times when I have gone outside of my comfort zone and provided something for them with no expectations for something in return. Then, when I was looking for a new position, people helped me with my search and would o�ten start it for me! Here’s a BONUS tip: Use your benefits! I took advantage of Verizon’s tuition assistance programs to ensure I was furthering my education while working. So when a perfect job did come along, I would have everything I needed to achieve it. If you have something that is provided to you, use it! I was able to get certified and earn my bachelor’s and master’s degrees while working for Verizon. I tried to find degrees and certificates that could be used in many fields so I could be a positive job candidate long term. +
OUR LIVES
GROWING A GARDEN IS A GREAT WAY TO START
Homesteading Can Work For You This is how my military family grows and raises what we eat! By Jennifer Taylor, 2017 Armed Forces Insurance Naval Submarine Base New London Spouse of the Year®
As a military spouse, you may think it is impossible to have a garden or raise animals. But it’s possible! I know, because I do it. My husband came from a farming family. He was the person who encouraged me to try homesteading, which means doing more yourself instead of buying what you need. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it, but I grew up in the city and knew nothing about farming. My husband raises pigs, lambs and chickens every year. We also grow our own vegetables for fresh produce and preserve a lot for the winter months. It’s hard work, but well worth it to know what my family is eating.
While stationed on the East Coast, my mother-in-law would walk me through the steps to process my canned goods. Canning is a lost cra�t in most houses. Many people want their produce to be fresh and organic and they want to save money in the end as well. As a military family we know how to budget, but let’s face it, produce can be expensive! That was a big reason we decided to have a garden and start canning. We have put as many as 100 tomato plants in our garden to ensure we will have enough to preserve for the winter. But you don't need a garden if there is not enough space in your yard. Pots will work just as well, or five gallon buckets. I once had a man tell me that he grew his plants in buckets so that he could move them inside if a hurricane was threatening his town. With most base housing facilities there is o�ten access to a community garden. What better way to meet other families with the same interest? Harvesting fruits and vegetables
Jennifer mily have and her fa ning their b e en can tables for own vege T h ey ht years. about eig ing been rais have also for ls a im an their own . rs a e y r u about fo
JENNIFER TELLS US MORE ABOUT RAISING ANIMALS!
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Don’t know where to begin? Chickens are simple animals and a great way to get started. They keep to themselves and love table scraps. They will provide eggs for your family; the same goes for ducks and turkeys. Our chickens have gotten to a point where they free range around the yard and this means the tick
from local pick-your-own farms is a great alternative to growing your own. You can make jams, jellies, tomato sauce, pickles and salsa to preserve! Just this past weekend, I canned about 40 jars of pumpkin and 25 of apple cider. Putting in the hard work in the warmer months means families are able to can their vegetables for the winter months. Don’t have a green thumb? Most farmers markets will have a seconds bin. That is where you are able to purchase the “ugly” fruits and vegetables. The only thing that may be wrong with them is that they are ugly. They are perfect to cook up and put in tomato sauce. Most of the time you can buy these castoffs for half the price! WE ALSO RAISE ANIMALS!
At the moment, we have 20 chickens that roam our backyard. All of the scraps from our fruits and vegetables go down to them. They see it as a great treat. We see it as a way to not be wasteful. The chickens have their chicken feed, but having the treats will give them some extra nutrients in their diet. Plus, it helps them to produce some really good eggs. I can’t tell you the last time I had to buy a dozen eggs! In the springtime, we will also raise lambs, pigs, ducks, and even turkeys.
Raising our own animals allows us to see what is put into their diet. I don’t have to ask about hormones or worry if they have been pumped full of anything. I also know that they have been cared for appropriately. IT’S A GREAT MONEY SAVER AND MORE!
Doing things like this actually helps us to save money in the long run. And there is no need for me to drag five boys to the grocery store weekly to purchase things; they’d probably throw extra items we don’t need into the cart anyway. Having our own food source available helps us teach our children responsibility. The kids help with everything. They are in the garden with me planting and picking, they help to process all of the vegetables, they help feed the animals, and they help collect the eggs and clean the pens. When it comes time to move, the movers will pack up all your jars and ship them too. So that is less food that you will need to purchase when arriving at your next duty station. All you will have to do is look for the boxes labeled “jars” and know that the kids can open any jar they want and you will be happy knowing it is something healthy for them to eat. +
TIPS FOR CANNING AS A MILITARY FAMILY
• Start out simple! You don’t want to overwhelm yourself trying to preserve everything. • Purchase a good preserving book. Having the printed resource in your hands is easier than reading off of a phone or tablet. • Make it a family affair. Get your children and spouse, and other family members and friends involved. After all, more hands make for less work! • Used jars are cheaper than new ones. Look around at yard sales or internet resale sites. Someone is bound to be selling their grandma’s “collections.” • Only preserve what you will use. The whole point is to have plenty of fresh produce your family will love. • Buy the farmer’s seconds! They are just as good as the firsts. They may not be “perfect,” but they are perfect for canning. • Talk to the farmers and their staff. They can give you tips about when the vegetables are in season. After all, they are the experts. • Remember you will get out what you put in. If you don’t care for your chickens, your chickens will not lay many eggs. • Shop around. Some farmers are willing to work out a deal when it comes to the price of animals. Don’t be discouraged if they don’t haggle; it just means you will have to call a different one.
population has gone down a lot. We then moved on to raising lambs. It seemed simple enough and my family loves lamb meat. We purchased spring lambs and fed them all through the summer. Fall came and then it was time for us to butcher them for the winter. The next year we added pigs into the mix. Pigs do smell, so you have to make sure to strategically place them on your property.
• Search online for pick-your-own farms in your area. There are TONS of places with all different kinds of products available. Make it a family adventure!
Photo by Brooke Lark
JANUARY 2018 / MILITARYSPOUSE.COM
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W H AT W E L O V E
Cold Weather Survival for Your Pet By Natalie Hayek, Air Force spouse
Before you scoot your furry battle buddy outside on a cold day or take your four-legged security alarm for a walk through melting snow, take some precautions to make sure your friend is warm and protected. It might just save your dog’s life. Here are some essential tips from animal experts to help you keep your pup safe and healthy this winter.
Contrary to the popular expression, “He has a fur coat! He’s fine!” not all fur coats are created equal. According to Dr. Helen Vega, a veterinarian in El Paso, Texas, while larger, long-haired breeds have a thick undercoat to keep them warm, short-haired breeds do not. “They have less protection,” said Vega, adding that short-haired dogs shouldn’t be exposed to the cold for long. TIP: Add an extra layer of warmth! A sweater or warm coat can make a big difference for a dog that can’t handle the cold. But consider more than warmth when it comes to your dog’s fur during cold weather. To prevent drying out your pet's coat and skin, Dr. Vega recommends limiting baths to once every two weeks or less and giving your pooch fatty acid supplements. Don’t forget to brush your pet’s coat to prevent matted fur. Most of us remember this when the weather is warm, but it’s especially important in the colder months, too. “Matted fur is a problem because it traps moisture and leads to infection,” said Dr. Vega. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) also emphasizes that a dry dog is a healthy dog. Always wipe down your pet after a play date in the snow, and be sure to check for ice crystals between the toes of the paws.
Photo by Thinkstock
Protect your four-legged friend when the weather turns bitter!
COAT CARE
PAW PROTECTION
Ice-melting products can cause dogs’ paws to crack and flake. In snowy conditions, the ASPCA suggests applying a dab of petroleum jelly to your dog’s feet before you go for a walk. When you return, immediately clean your dog’s paws, including between the toes. This will prevent the possibility of your pet licking and ingesting too much salt or harmful chemicals, such as antifreeze. “Salt toxicosis can cause neurological issues and urinary issues,” said Dr. Vega. “Antifreeze is toxic.” In addition to causing gastrointestinal problems, antifreeze can cause liver failure. TIP: Refreshing walks shouldn’t turn disastrous, so remember to wipe down after you walk.
Does winter leave you wondering which sweater is best? The ASPCA gives these three guidelines for choosing the right sweater for your short-haired dog: ��
MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
Photo by Matthew Henry
REMEMBER
NOPE. Not today!
It takes time for your pet to adjust to a new climate! Just like it takes you time to feel better in the cold of Alaska if you moved from
3 areas of your life that may be stressing you out.
Hawaii, your dog will also
By Michele Bradfield, Army spouse
need time to acclimate to the new weather. Help your dog adjust to the cold and snow by shortening your
You’re no stranger to stress and have probably tried every popular remedy from bubble baths to essential oils.
usual walks and providing an extra layer of protection.
But let’s get real. A scented candle isn’t going to stop the anxiety of another deployment or cross-country move. Stress can be sneaky, hiding in places you may not realize. Here are three areas of your life that may be keeping you frazzled and tips for making life a little bit better!
Photos by Natalie Hayek
TRAVEL TIPS
If you’re traveling or PCSing with your dog, consider the weather and how the colder temps can affect your pet. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cold cars can be just as dangerous to animals as hot cars. Think about how it feels when you stay in the car without the heat running. When you stop, avoid leaving your dog in the car. Visit a pet-friendly establishment instead. If you travel by airplane with a dog in the cargo hold, remember to:
Your friends affect your mental and emotional health. They can spread happiness and deplete it too. Choose friends wisely and make sure to spend time with people who don’t stress you out. Friends don’t have to always be smiling to make you happy. Feeling supported, understood and valued by friends can also mean less stress.
• Fly direct when possible. • Fly during the morning through hot temperatures, and during the afternoon through cold temperatures.
TIP: Access “Air Travel Consumer Reports,” at transportation.gov to be informed on what common issues happen with dogs when they travel by air. FINALLY, FOLLOW THIS RULE OF THUMB
If you’re cold, your dog is probably cold, too. Keep your dog dry and warm, and you’ll enjoy your family’s steadfast companion for many winters to come. +
1) Pick a high collar or turtleneck. 2) Get coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. 3) Make sure the sweater fits snugly but allows freedom of movement.
Independent is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that Military Spouse® supports
• Discuss the trip with your veterinarian and the airline. Be sure to ask about how medications may impact your pet’s travel health, what to do for proper crating during cold conditions, and ask the airline how transfers will happen and what additional precautions need to be in place during this time.
HANGING OUT WITH A CRABBY CROWD
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SCROLLING THROUGH THOSE FEEDS
Social media can create envy, particularly when you’re missing your spouse. Posts of romantic beach vacations, new babies and first-time home buyers can make you feel inferior. It’s called social envy, and it sucks. But don’t let it get you down.
Instead, count your blessings. Your highlight reel is great too. It just might look a little different than others. Decrease the number of times you check your feed and replace it with something else you also enjoy like a hot cup of tea or a walk with your pup.
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TAKING CARE OF THAT MESSY BATHROOM
Your time is precious, especially when frequent separations keep you from loved ones. The last thing you want to do is scrub toilets when friends are visiting or your spouse is home. Everyone keeps a different level of clean, but if your cleaning standards are stressful, make a plan and get help to keep things in check. A cleaning schedule paired with a family chore chart may be a good fit for you. Getting paid help every other week can also be a great stressreducer, if it fits in your budget. Stress left uncared for can manifest itself into more serious problems like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Service member spouses are more susceptible to such issues because of obstacles unique to military life. Find ways to manage stress before it escalates out of control. Invest in yourself. Pick one area you can work on this month. +
Learn how to conquer stress and beat burnout at the 3rd Annual Virtual Military Spouses Wellness Summit. This year’s theme is Renew You. On March 5 to 11, thousands of spouses, stationed around the world, will experience a week of wellness made easy. You’re invited to join from the comfort of your home. No travel. No missed work. No childcare. Learn more at in-dependent.org/wellness-summit.
JANUARY 2018 / MILITARYSPOUSE.COM
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W H AT W E L O V E
Illustrations by Suzanne Hiat
TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL AGE
1) Create a reading nook or resting area. This could be in the corner of a room using a tent-like structure or even in a closet with the door removed. Add some fairy lights and use soft fabrics to give her a place to be by herself.
Keep it Cozy! 30 ways to make your kids feel more at home. By Anna Blanch Rabe, Air Force spouse
Everyone loves a cozy space. From fluffy pillows to forts where you can hide, kids want a room to spread out in and relax. But how does a military kid get that warm, fuzzy feeling of “home” when mom and dad are always moving around? For military kids, “cozy” may be a concept that is more important than you realize! “Moves and other transitions are hard for all family members, but they can be especially stressful for children,” says Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee, psychologist and founder of Military Spouse Behavioral Health Clinicians. “Changes in routine, peer group and environment can all have an impact on a child whether it’s their first move or their tenth.” While we may shun the idea of “stuff” being important, belongings do provide a sense of home. For military kids, there may be even more of a connection to cherished material objects. “When you are constantly moving, a child’s perspective is that their belongings and family are what remain constant. I am now careful to not throw away anything that belongs to my boys without speaking with them first. You may never know what they have attached to and why,” says Corie Weathers who is the 2015 Armed Forces Insurance MIlitary Spouse of the Year® and a licensed professional counselor. A cozy environment can be key to your kid feeling at home. And (surprise!) it’s not all about warm blankets and lots of pillows!
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MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
2) Buy “transportable” art or decorations for the bedrooms. You can bring the decor from home to home to give your kids a sense of continuity as you move from place to place. 3) Use a portable humidifying diffuser. By adding the same blend of essential oils to the diffuser as she prepares to nap or sleep, you can trigger smell sense memory for your smaller children (this works for adults too) and help them feel safer and more settled. Try something calming with lavender or cedarwood.
ELEMENTARY AGE
8) Let your child choose her room or at least how her furniture is arranged in her room. This gives her a sense of control in a time that can seem very chaotic. 9) Consider painting a small mural in his room. Include your child in designing what it might look like or even in painting it. 10) If painting isn’t an option, try temporary decals that reflect your child’s interests. 11) Create transportable holiday traditions. If you celebrate Christmas, collect ornaments from all of your travels or duty stations that remind your child that home is where the military
4) Make setting up his room a priority after moving. Don’t let your child’s things linger in boxes for weeks. 5) Create a “military brag wall” for your military kid that shows the places you have lived and travels you have taken. Use both pictures and objects to make it interactive. 6) Create a gallery wall in a bedroom or in a living area, with photos of family pictures of grandparents at a lower height on the wall in child friendly frames! 7) If you move into a new home, avoid switching out all of the bedding or furniture at once in your child’s room. A familiar blanket or bed may make a new house a home while you get settled. At this age, doing a “refresh” or transitioning to a “big kid bed” after the dust has settled may be a better bet.
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HIGH SCHOOL
21) Ask your older child to create a plan for decorating his new room. Provide him with a budget and request that he present a plan. sends you. You might even have a special mini holiday display she can use to decorate in her room, or even in temporary lodging if your find yourself moving over the holidays. 12) Laminate a large map of the world and hang it up in the house. Include whiteboard markers he can use to draw on the map where he has lived and where he has friends living. 13) Embracing your family quirks really helps this age group! Create transportable family jokes. Hang educational posters (think: multiplication tables and foreign language charts) on the back of the door of the bathroom they use. It will not only help with learning times tables or learning a lan-
guage, but everyone will smile when seeing it in each home. 14) While a treehouse can be a difficult thing to achieve as a military family, you may be able to create a similar type of special hideaway space for your elementary age children. Some pieces of play equipment have a fort-type structure, but you can also build or buy a small playhouse structure that your children can use for imaginative play outside. Provide the kids with extra household items like an old pan or plastic cups, and maybe even provide some child-size chairs. This type of play can help them work through their emotions in a healthy way!
MIDDLE SCHOOL
15) As their rooms are packed up by the movers, let the kids write or draw on the boxes. They will smile when they see those familiar boxes being unloaded. Your kids can also unpack their own boxes, which gives them a sense of control. They can move at their own pace, put things in the spots they want them, and know their important belongings have been delivered. 16) Talk about how they’d like to decorate their room. If painting is an option, consider painting a feature wall. 17) If your child is struggling with feeling settled, try a weighted blanket as a comforter. These blankets can help calm the nervous system. You could create a cover that matches his interests. 18) If you don’t need it for storage, allow your middle schooler to create a reading or quiet nook in an under-the-stairs space. This can be especially great for an introverted child who is sharing a bedroom. Use some fairy lights and a bean bag to make it cozy. 19) Pets bring a lot of love into the home. A pet may be appropriate at this age, but only if the whole family is committed. 20) If your child loves animals, but you’re unable to have one, call a local animal shelter and see if you can volunteer as a family. Or foster a pet.
22) Find a map of the United States or the world that matches the decor of her room and mount it on a cork board. She can use pins to mark where she’s lived or where she’d like to travel. 23) When you have a family meeting, ask your high schooler to talk about which family traditions mean the most to him. Ask him to take the lead with decorating or planning a family meal for an upcoming holiday. 24) If you can, get your teenager involved in house hunting discussions. Take her with you on the house hunting trip and ask her opinion. Involve her in creating “Must Have” and “Nice to Have” lists. 25) Be sure to make space for your child to enjoy sports and hobbies. Put up the basketball hoop or bring out the soccer goals so he has a place to practice. Not into sports? Look at creating a space for him to practice or work on a favorite hobby at home. A music practice area can be made special with a small bookshelf for music and some framed pictures of his favorite musicians. 26) Don’t forget the importance of smell and sound in making your high schooler feel settled. Playing the same style of music as she gets ready in the morning or after dinner, or burning scented candles at different times of the year can help a new space smell and sound familiar! 27) Visit some local yard sales and thrift stores with your high schooler. Maybe you can find a lamp he can spray paint or replace the shade, an old locker to add stickers from places he’s visited, or an old steamer trunk he can store mementos in. 28) A new comforter or new curtains can be an easy way to bring color into a new room. 29) Provide a small budget for her to print out some photos, and create a memory board she can hang on their wall or prop on the top of a bookcase. Your child might also display some special mementos from her previous duty station. 30) Try to have most of the family present for at least one meal a day and make sure electronic devices are left outside the kitchen (this includes parents). This can be difficult, of course, but this can really help a high schooler feel settled. +
JANUARY 2018 / MILITARYSPOUSE.COM
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F E AT U R E Photos provided by Military Friendly®
2018 Military Spouse Friendly Employers � Discover a company that understands you.
Military spouses have unique needs when it comes to employment. Moving and deployments top the list of issues that o�ten con�lict with being able to build a career. When searching for a job, military spouses may find few companies understand the challenges of life in a military family. Most companies don’t want to invest in an employee's career growth if they think the employee will leave within a couple years. Flex time, remote work opportunities, education benefits o�ten come a�ter a substantial amount of time with a company. But for many military spouses, these benefits are crucial to maintain a career that will move with them. Many spouses find having the time to move up in a company while moving around is o�ten impossible. How do find a company that understands and respects your needs as a military spouse while providing a fulfilling career? Military spouses o�ten have the education, background, and talent to be an important contributor to companies that seek diverse job candidates. More and more companies are finding out that this pool of talent is a huge asset to their organizations.
Military Friendly� is pleased to present �� Military Spouse Friendly Employers.� The list is one in a series published annually by Military Friendly� identifying those employers and schools that do the most for veterans and military families. The companies on the Military Friendly� list represent a diverse field of industries, including insurance, retail, finance, health care and more. Search the list! Perhaps you might find the company that will be your next employer and lead you down the path toward a great career.
TOP 10 OVERALL 1) Verizon 2) Werner Enterprises 3) UnitedHealth Group 4) Humana 5) United Rentals, Inc. 6) Athene Holding Ltd. 7) Dominion Energy, Inc. 8) Hilton 9) U.S. Bank 10) La Quinta Inns & Suites
Methodology Hiring is important, but for military spouses the real challenge is sustaining a career within a given profession during constant geographic relocations. The key question the index attempts to address is the career of the military spouse. The Military Friendly® methodology considers the policies, processes, resources and investments that have the greatest impact on career opportunity and advancement for military spouses. It identifies the employers that demonstrably provide the greatest career potential. The category weightings are as follows:
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Photo by Erin Kent Photography
MILITARY VETERANS INDEX • Verizon • Werner Enterprises • UnitedHealth Group • Humana • United Rentals, Inc. • Athene Holding Ltd. • Dominion Energy, Inc. • Hilton • U.S. Bank • La Quinta Inns & Suites • Navient Solutions LLC • Capital One • JCPenney • Prudential Financial, Inc. • Leidos • HCA, Hospital Corporation of America • Starbucks Coffee Company • Merck & Co., Inc. • Amazon.com • Accenture • Comcast NBCUniversal • Allstate Insurance • Camping World and Good Sam • CVS Health • Southwest Airlines Co. • Walmart • Booz Allen Hamilton • ADP • Marsh & McLennan Companies • Apollo Global Management • AECOM • KeyBank • JPMorgan Chase & Co. • General Motors • Lockheed Martin • Cigna • Citi • Cintas • CBRE Group, Inc. • The Home Depot • MetLife • Aetna • Fresenius Medical Care North America • ADS, Inc. • Devon Energy Corporation • Wells Fargo & Company • Ameren • JLL • Southern Company • Whirlpool Corporation • Progressive Insurance
CRITERIA TO BE ON THE MILITARY VETERANS INDEX - Must be traded on a U.S. stock exchange - Must have a market capitalization greater than $1 billion USD. - Must have revenue greater than $1 billion USD.
For more information about these empoyers, visit MilitaryFriendly.com.
OVER $1 BILLION REVENUE • Aviall Services Inc. • USAA • Combined Insurance, a Chubb Company • TEKsystems • Enterprise Holdings, Inc. • Adecco Group • Vectrus • U.S. Xpress, INC. • Quicken Loans • PwC • CRST • Deloitte • Kelly Services, Inc. • Apex Systems • U.S. Security Associates • MassMutual Financial Group (Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company) • 7-Eleven, Inc. • New York Life • DXC Technology • Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. • Safelite AutoGlass
LESS THAN $1 BILLION REVENUE / GOVERNMENT / NON-PROFIT • Bozzuto • Strategic Staffing Solutions • The Exchange • Veterans United Home Loans • Zeiders Enterprises Inc. • The Western & Southern Life Insurance Company • Miligistix • Motel 6/Studio 6 • Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey • Premise Health • NorthCrest Medical Center • First Command Financial Services • Teleperformance • Aviation Training Consulting, LLC • Kaiser Permanente • Chenega Corporation • Tennessee Valley Authority • ClarkDietrich Building Systems • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Photo by Sean Castellano
About Military Friendly ® Culture & Commitment to Military Spouses ....................... 30% Hiring & Onboarding .................................................................. % Military Employee Policies & Compliance .............................. % Military Employee Support & Retention................................. % Military Spouse Employee Policies & Compliance ................ % Military Spouse Employee Support & Retention................ 20% Career Opportunity & Advancement.................................... 30% 100%
Military Friendly® is the leading timetested, trademarked program that benchmarks and rates colleges and companies nationwide, helping veterans and military families make well-informed decisions about education and career opportunities. Their goal is to benchmark and recognize the institutions that have programs and policies that lead to positive outcomes. + JANUARY 2018 / MILITARYSPOUSE.COM
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F E AT U R E
Cohen Kuester was playing upstairs with his older brother, Guthrie, when he heard a garbage truck on the street outside.
Evan English (right) and his brother Jason (left).
Cohen loved trucks. With the ingenuity of an almost 2-year-old, he picked up a large boombox, placed it under the second-story window, climbed on top, and looked outside. Cohen couldn’t see the garbage truck, so he pushed against window screen to get a better look. Guthrie yelled to his mother when he realized his brother had fallen through the window to the ground below. Cohen’s mom, Missy Kuester, was downstairs sipping her first cup of coffee while making a mental to-do list when she heard Guthrie scream. Topping the list was a note to open the upstairs windows to air out the house. The Kuesters were in the process of selling their home for an upcoming move with the Air Force. Missy didn’t know that her husband had already tried to help by opening the windows. KIDS AT RISK
Are Your Kids Safe Playing Upstairs?
Every year, an estimated �,��� children, ages � and under, are injured from falls out of windows. Approximately eight children in this age group will die from these types of accidents each year. Very few families realize this danger exists in their own homes, and most have never thought about using the safety measures that prevent these types of potentially fatal falls. Despite falling head first, Cohen survived his fall because he landed in bushes planted directly beneath the window. His parents endured a frantic ambulance ride and a terrifying helicopter life �light to get to the emergency room. They worried for hours waiting to find out how badly Cohen was hurt. The fall meant weeks wondering if Cohen’s injuries might lead to neurological damage but each passing month showed that he was going to be OK. Ten years later, Cohen is an active 11-year-old who plays football, sings in the choir, and loves school. But every year around May, Missy and her husband, Chris, think a lot about that long day and ask what they should have done differently. ANOTHER MILITARY FAMILY’S STORY
Two military families share their heartbreaking stories to help others. By Angie Drake, Air Force spouse (retired)
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MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
In ����, Jason and Ami English faced the exact same question. Their son, Evan, was two months shy of turning � years old when he fell from a second-story window in their Army housing in Hawaii. Ami had sent her two sons to play in their upstairs bedroom. To this day, no one understands how Evan managed to reach the window and open it himself.
COMMON SAFETY DEVICES FOR SECOND STORY WINDOWS • Charley bar
Over the past two decades, as each branch of service entered into contracts with private developers at military bases across the United States, this provision was dropped from contracts again and again. Armed with the knowledge of what this lapse meant for families like his, Jason, Evan’s dad, felt called by God to turn the tragedy into advocating for change. He knew that Evan’s story could make a difference. The family researched equipment, read laws, and started to share their story in town hall meetings and on-post community education events.
Cohen Kuester
• Window stop • Window locks • Window guard WINDOW GUARDS SHOULD • Withstand 60 pounds of force • Protect a fully-opened window • Prohibit passage of a 4-inch rigid sphere through any opening • Have a 2-step release mechanism • Open for emergency escape • Should not require special tools to open or remove
PASSING EVAN’S LAW
Ami was walking upstairs to check on her boys when her older son, Jason Jr., cried out that Evan had fallen out of the window. Ami ran outside and found Evan on their concrete driveway. “I prayed, I yelled, we called ���, �� minutes to get to us, I panicked. I tried to remain calm for my son but I knew it was bad because he was unconscious. We were able to see obvious signs of something wrong because of knots on his head.” Jason pleaded, “Fix him, mommy. Fix him.” Despite expert emergency medical care, Evan died from his injuries. A FORGOTTEN PROBLEM
For decades, public health officials across the United States encouraged communities to protect their youngest children from falls through simple preventative measures, like window guards and balcony railings. Back in the 1970s, studies showed that adding guard rails to windows in multi-story dwellings cut dangerous falls of young children by �� percent. Those same guard rails reduced deaths attributed to falls by �� percent. Over the years, these safety measures disappeared from the public’s radar. During the investigation into Evan’s death, the English family learned that the Department of Defense once provided protective devices on second-story windows in military base housing.
About a year ago, Congressman Michael Turner of Ohio’s ��th District heard Evan’s story. He immediately saw how legislation could prevent another accident like Evan’s. His words, “Let’s do it, Jason!” gave the English family hope. In a few short months, Evan’s Law was dra�ted, proposed, and amended to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of ����. The NDAA was recently signed by President Trump but, as of the writing of this article, still awaits funding.
KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE! • Don’t place furniture immediately below windows. • Don’t place toys or other colorful items on windowsills. • Don’t rely on screens. • If you can, plant bushes and lay mulch outside second story windows. • When replacing old windows, chose models that open from the top.
EVAN’S LAW Windows in military base housing that are within 42 inches of the floor as measured indoors and 72 inches or more above the ground as measured outdoors will be required to have a safety device that prevents unintentional falls and is in compliance with the International Building Code (IBC) standards. The secretary of each branch of the military is required to have a plan for retrofitting existing military family housing units to meet these requirements within 180 days after the law is enacted. That plan should include feasibility and cost-effectiveness. While Evan’s Law will help thousands of military families keep their children safe, there are thousands more who live in offbase housing. Military families lock safety gates across stairways, place covers over electrical outlets, and even drill through bookshelves to fasten them to walls, but often don’t consider adding safety features to their second story windows. Even a�ter Co-
hen’s fall, the Kuester family never added a window lock or safety bars to other homes. Instead, they chose to never open an upstairs window until their boys were much older. A WAKE-UP CALL
When Ami English tells families that they should take precautions, many reply that it is just too expensive. Her response is frank, “You know what’s expensive? A coffin.” When Ami talks about Evan, her voice rings with love for her son. She laughs a little when she remembers that he loved popsicles and his older brother. Evan’s death has taught Ami to cherish every moment, to worry less about getting the dishes done, and to spend more time with her children. She will always remember Evan “forever young” like his favorite storybook character, Peter Pan. While Evan’s Law will never bring Evan back, the English family hopes it will keep another military kid safe while they play in their own home. +
“Evan’s Law was born out of tragedy to save the lives of others. Commander English’s commitment to solving this safety issue for military families is the reason we were able to get this legislation to the president’s desk. Our service members deserve to have housing that is safe for their children to live in. I thank the English family for their passion and bringing this issue to my attention.” - Chairman Mike Turner of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces The English Family
JANUARY 2018 / MILITARYSPOUSE.COM
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F E AT U R E
4 Simple Ways to Decrease the Clutter Bonus? Your next move will be easier. By Beth Penn
When orders arrive and you have to move, wouldn’t you love to have less stuff to worry about packing and unpacking? Less stress when moving is achievable when you change up your relationship to stuff. I’m not referring to a oneweekend purge fest. A transformation that takes place over time is more realistic. A good place to start is by focusing on what you bring into your home. Here are four areas of your life where you can start to adjust your approach to stuff:
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KITCHEN BASICS
Even the most celebrated culinary masters don’t have every kitchen tool or gadget. They o�ten make do with what they have on hand. They know that extra tools aren’t necessary. For instance, Dana Shultz of The Minimalist Baker, a website devoted to simple cooking, goes without a KitchenAid stand mixer.
MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
One would think that her job requires her to have one. Instead, she uses a hand mixer! It’s less than half the size of a large stand mixer and takes up less space. For me, I got rid of a toaster and toaster oven many moons ago. This allowed me to free up counter space while simply relying on my oven to pull double duty.
A FEW OTHER ITEMS I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITHOUT:
BAKING SHEETS I use my large Pyrex casserole dish instead. SINGLE USE GADGETS Put that chef’s knife to use! MEAT THERMOMETER Instead, I use some simple hacks I learned online to know if my meat is done.
Beth Penn is a professional organizer and author of “The Little Book of Tidying,” an illustrated gift book that is part inspirational and part how-to while being light and airy (because decluttering can be emotional and sometimes a little heavy).
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Photos provided by Beth Penn
“It’s not about the dress you wear but the life you lead in the dress.” ~ Diana Vreeland
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SKIP THE SHOPPING TRIP
Raise your hand if the first thing you do a�ter moving into a new house is to visit your local discount store retailer. A new house needs new towels, pillows, trash cans and the like. But does it? Homeowners o�ten don’t unpack all the moving boxes before bringing in more stuff. When we recently moved into our home, I made a list of things to buy at Target. But as I was wandering the aisles, I thought to myself, do I really need more towels? More pillows? I put the products back and le�t the store without purchasing anything. Here’s a trick: I thought about what would have happened if I had purchased the home decor. I could foresee myself bringing the purchases home with every intention of purging my old towels and pillows, and then figuring out a million reasons why I shouldn’t throw out the old stuff. So instead of buying new, I thought about how we had made do with what we owned up until that moment. This gave me the confidence to not acquire anything new. THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE ABOUT TO PURCHASE A BIG TICKET ITEM, THINK FIRST:
CAN I BORROW THIS? Reach out to friends through social media to see if someone has what you need. WHERE CAN I RENT THIS? You might be surprised how easy and affordable renting equipment is especially if you only need to use it once. IF I DO BUY THIS, CAN I FIND IT USED? My go-to places to check out include Craigslist, my local Facebook mom’s group, and Nextdoor, a social networking app.
CLOTHES THAT COUNT
When I have more clothes to choose from, I o�ten try everything on but end up wearing the same thing. My solution? To invest in fewer but nicer clothes so that, even if I am wearing a similar version of the outfit from the day before, it’s quality and feels great to wear. Does that mean designer jeans? Not necessarily. I encourage you to do a little research and start to notice clothing companies that you want to support. Perhaps their clothes are Made in the USA or created using sustainable methods. I find that if I can be a more responsible and thoughtful consumer, I'm more apt to take care of what I own. Also, if I have created an outline in my mind of how I want to look and combine that with the businesses that I want to support, I won’t be swayed to go buy things last minute at the mall. CLOTHING COMPANIES I ADORE:
EVERLANE They partner with ethical factories and are completely transparent about the how much their clothes cost to make. ALTERNATIVE APPAREL The coziest sweatshirt I own (and can wear to a meeting) is from Alternative Apparel. Their sustainable clothing practices and ethically manufactured threads make this clothing brand one to covet. THREDUP Thredup is a fabulous resource for supporting secondhand clothes and reusing resources. And it’s affordable!
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LESS TOYS, MORE JOY
Well-meaning parents and grandparents love to buy toys for their loved ones. It makes sense. We get joy from giving and kids genuinely like receiving gi�ts. But there’s a way to give without spending money on toys that contribute to clutter: the gi�t of an experience. My favorite experience presents are those that can be used more than once, such as museum memberships and theme park yearly passes. But a concert ticket or enrollment in a class are also novel and just as appreciated. This year, my family intends to donate to charities in the name of each relative. This type of giving not only teaches children to care and respect for the few things that they have, but help them not get caught up in the trap of accumulating stuff as they get older. GIFTS THAT DON’T TAKE UP SPACE (EXCEPT ROOM IN YOUR HEART):
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL Heifer International allows you to gi�t a cow, a pig or a �lock of ducks to those in need. This provides the recipient with both food and reliable income. Agricultural products, such as milk, eggs and honey, can be traded or sold at market. Ask grandma to get the kids a cow! ASK FAMILY TO CREATE A DAY TO SPEND TOGETHER The goal isn’t to spend a ton of money or come up with most unique day out. The idea here is to spend quality time while doing something fun. Create the day together and split the cost as a holiday gi�t to each other. DONATE TIME Pair up with a loved one to donate your time to a great cause. Whether you’re passing out food at a shelter or picking up trash on the side of the road, giving back feels great. A child can gather items for their favorite nonprofit cause (think: animal shelters) instead of getting a ton of stuff to clutter their room. +
JANUARY 2018 / MILITARYSPOUSE.COM
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Illustration by Cynthia Staples
GOOD ADVICE
Resume. Apply. Repeat. Are you stuck in an employment search rut? Here's what I did to break free and find a job I love. By Cassaundra Martinez, 2017 Armed Forces Insurance Army Spouse of the Year®
Eight years ago when I married my soldier, I didn’t think I would be facing any of the same issues as my fellow military spouses. I was tough. As a former soldier, I thought I could figure out military spouse life on my own. Then came our first PCS as a couple and, after 13 months of unemployment and despite a master’s degree and years of experience, I realized I was stuck. I’d applied to 227 jobs, conducted six phone interviews, and scored only three in-person interviews. I tailored my resume for almost every job application. I researched hundreds of webpages on interview techniques, resume building, and company specific information. After months of frustration, I realized I was working in a bubble. Sure, I did my research and tailored my resume and interview language but I was doing it without any good advice that applied to my life as a military spouse. Maybe you’re stuck in the same spot as me. You've edited your resume a million times and you're ready to hit send on the thousandth application. What can you do to land a job and get out of your rut? Let me tell you what I did, but before I do, know that I did land that great job!
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MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
SIT DOWN AND THINK
Take a step back to reflect on the paid and volunteer positions you’ve held. What did you like? What do you wish was different? Consider your personal values like family time, flexibility, achievement, and diversity. Use those values to purposefully seek employment. When you look at each position, apply this criteria to the job and see if it is a fit. It's not worth going after jobs that you don't even want. LISTS ARE HELPFUL
Make a list of all your friends and family who are connected to the career or industry you are most interested in pursuing. Prioritize the list based on how well you know the person. Email or call them. Tell everyone you know you are looking for a job so they can tell you if they know of one in their company or community.
GO ON AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
This is a one-on-one conversation with someone who has a job you might like, who works within an industry you might want to enter, or who is employed by a specific company you're interested in learning more about. It’s also a good opportunity to practice your interviewing skills without the pressure and offers insider perspective before you commit to the position. Use the company website or LinkedIn to find contact information for a manager or senior leader with whom you’d like to speak. Request an informational interview to gain a better understanding of the business and about their role in the organization. A few tips to remember: prepare ahead of time, never ask for a job during the interview, do your homework, take notes, bring your resume, dress appropriately, bring good questions to ask, share something about yourself, be a good listener, get referrals, and always follow up with a thank you email. >>
NETWORK. NETWORK. NETWORK
NAVIGATE THE INTERVIEW
Go to hiring fairs and networking events. Even in today's world of social media, face to face interaction is very important. Many companies at hiring fairs are conducting informal interviews and will hire a good percentage of people from each event. Practice a 60-second professional pitch that summarizes who you are, what you do, why you’d be a perfect candidate, and what you’re looking for in a job. The key is to tailor the pitch to your audience, not you. Use benefit-focused words and refrain from industry jargon. Develop three to five questions to ask, research attending companies, bring plenty of business cards and extra resumes, dress sharp, and most importantly, follow up with recruiters after the event.
Picture the interviewer with a lock. He is looking upon the applicant group for the perfect key. Show him you are the perfect key that will solve the company’s issues. Don't know what their primary challenges are? Ask! Be ready with good answers for your interviewer that show you know the company well. Practice walking through your resume with your spouse or friend. Use keywords found in the job description of the posting and tie those to your resume. Research and practice, along with a positive attitude, go a long way in landing a job you love.
ADDRESS YOUR EMPLOYMENT GAPS BEFORE ANYONE ASKS ABOUT THEM
All military spouses have them, heck a lot of people have them! You need to have a detailed explanation of how you've stayed current on industry and market trends. Fill in the unemployment gaps on your resume with volunteer hours or seminars you attended. List out learning, volunteer positions and accomplishments, but be sure to remove outdated credentials. When you can demonstrate you’ve stayed current and relevant, you demonstrate you are a worthwhile investment.
A Note From Cassaundra
REACH OUT! “Connect with me on Facebook or LinkedIn to receive post notifications on employment opportunities or career support.”
I’m happy to report I followed my own advice and landed a job in a senior position at a top federal agency in Washington, D.C. This led to an amazing entrepreneur fellowship at Dog Tag Inc., which then led to the best position I’ve had since I began my career. I’m now a senior consultant at Deloitte operating in Organizational, Talent and Transformation. My personal values are met and my unique talents and experience are fully being used. And to think, all of this happened in less than a year! My hope is that my advice will help you find a job you love. Don’t go it alone. There are hundreds of companies who specifically support military spouse careers, whether through education or employment, and military spouses like me willing to help. All you need do is ask! +
Most people don't think about salary until they are in a pinch and need to give a number. Use salary.com or a similar website to find what the specific positions you are pursuing are paying in your area. Collect as many salaries for the position as possible and average out the salary to get an estimated competitive range. When asked what salary I’m looking for, I usually say something like “I’m looking for a competitive salary based on local market value. Based on my experience and education, I would be happy to receive between $$ - $$$.” You don’t want to undercut your worth, but you also don’t want to price yourself out of a position either. There’s a balance to both and, if you give a broad range, you’re more likely to find that balance.
Here are four resources Cassaundra recommends: 1) In Gear Career (Find your local chapter!) 2) Military Spouse Corporate Career Network 3) Military Spouse Employment Partnership
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MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
4) American Job Centers
Photo by Kemis Irenee Photography
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WORTH
GOOD ADVICE
Ready to Go Remote? Here’s what you should know before committing to working from home. By Erica McMannes and Liza Rodewald, from Madskills Photo by Slava Keyzman
More and more military spouses are choosing to take the leap into remote work. From accounting to freelance writing to software development, remote work offers an opportunity for military spouses who want a career that will move with them. But before you think it’s all about fuzzy slippers and flexibility, make sure you know the unique challenges that come with the good of working from home.
+ CASUAL FRIDAY CAN ALMOST BE EVERY SINGLE DAY
This one’s a no-brainer. You get to “roll up” to work in your outfit of choice. Talk about super savings on wardrobe. No need to invest in a closet full of suits or frequently shop for apparel that meets your office’s strict dress code. Only an occasional trip to the mall might be necessary to pick out professional wear for a local meet-up or conference.
FIND YOUR PA SSION
Not quite sure where to look to find a position that’ll kickstart your remote career? HireMadSkills.com is a great place for military spouses to start! Create your free profile today, and get to exploring potential jobs to earn a living where you are, wherever you are. Madskills is the place military spouses go to find remote work.
Photo by Jeff Sheldon
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MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
- YOU MUST BE “VIDEO CALL READY” AT THE DROP OF A HAT
Be prepared to get a last-minute invite to a video conference. You need to be able to represent yourself well and that means business on the top even if it is workout casual on the bottom. If your workspace is in your bedroom, figure out how to make your background look professional. This may mean a screen or backdrop that can go up in a minute. It’s hard to look serious with an unmade bed or refrigerator behind you when you’re talking business.
+ SAY SAYONARA TO ROAD RAGE DRIVER-FILLED COMMUTES
That already sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Road rage drivers and long commutes just put a damper on your mood. Finally, you’ll be able to delete the Waze app off your phone. You can listen to the traffic report while you’re casually sipping your cup of coffee and preparing to walk a very limited number of feet to start your day job.
- PERSONAL TO-DOS CAN STOCKPILE IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE ALL DAY LONG
You know that chatty co-worker you had to deal with? Well, distractions come in other forms when working from home. Laundry piling high. An empty fridge and pantry that needs to be stocked. Dogs that need to be walked. And rooms that need to be cleaned. It can keep you from staying on schedule, especially if you’re a neat freak. Willpower is a must.
+ A MORE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE TO SPEND TIME GETTING THE 'OTHER STUFF' DONE
Depending on your job, you can have more flexible time during the day to work out or drop the kids off and pick them up from school. There’s time to attend those class holiday parties that happen at random hours. Or run to your routine doctor’s appointments when it works best for you. Best of all, your schedule won’t be tossed up in the air when duty calls (think: homecoming and field time). You’ll just roll with the punches as they come. But word to the wise: Don’t abuse the flexibility! Making designated hours for your workday and excusing yourself from them should be more of an exception rather than the rule.
5 TIPS For Remote Work Success
1
Create a routine and stick to it. Have a set schedule for your working hours. This will keep you on track when you have the urge to finish that last episode on Netflix, do laundry or take a two-hour lunch break.
2
Have a designated workspace. Pick a place to go specifically for work (somewhere with a physical door is ideal), and designate it as your “office.” If you’re cramped for space, invest in a room divider to create a remote workstation in a corner of your kitchen, bedroom or living room.
3
Set boundaries if you have kids. A “red light, yellow light, green light” system on your door can ensure your workspace is your own. Green = interruptions are welcome, Yellow = minimal noise and questions are OK, Red = off limits (like during a conference call/tight deadline).
4
Utilize online tools and platforms to stay productive. Free tools like Trello and Slack can keep your team connected. Trello is key for staying on top of projects and Slack for quick instant-messaging type chats with your colleagues.
5
Remember to step away. There are freedoms and flexibility that come with remote work, but it’s easy to feel isolated. Take breaks to get outside with the dog, stop into your favorite lunch spot, and stay connected with your peeremployees by talking about more than work.
Photo by Brian Seasial
- SUMMERTIME AND SNOW DAYS CAN POSE A NOISY CHALLENGE If school’s out or the town is blanketed in snow, be prepared. You have to put a plan in place for your little munchkins. Unless you do, they will be all up in your face, begging for attention, trying to ride the dog like a horse, and singing along to the Bubble Guppies theme song blaring on television while you have a video conference. In their minds, there are no boundaries because you’re home. Especially for long school breaks, you’ll need to get help with childcare which may mean someone in your home (harder), camp (easier), or full-time outside of the home care (easiest). The decision you make will be based on a lot of factors, but don’t try to do everything yourself. Parenting is a full-time job and combining it with a workfrom-home job can often be disastrous, especially if you don’t have a solid plan. +
GOOD ADVICE
THIS COMPANY IS AN ADVERTISER IN THIS ISSUE
Photo by Andrew Neel
The Three A’s of Debt Elimination Start chipping away at a growing problem. By JJ Montanaro, Certified Financial Planner™ at USAA
For a lot of folks, January brings a new commitment to eliminating debt. And if the numbers are any indicator, it’s warranted. Last summer, the Federal Reserve reported that Americans owed more than a trillion dollars in revolving debt—what most of us know as credit card debt. That’s double the amount we carried 20 years ago. I don’t have the definitive answer on how to turn the tide on this ever-growing wave of credit card debt, but I can offer an approach that might help. During an employee podcast, I spoke with one of USAA’s financial advice directors, Mikel Van Cleve, who talked about a concept for knocking out debt. He calls it “the 3 As.” While the tactics aren’t new, I thought his approach was
novel. Let’s take a closer look.
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MILITARYSPOUSE.COM / JANUARY 2018
THE THREE A’S of Debt Elimination
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ASSESS
AVOID
ATTACK
The first step to getting out of debt is to face the music and determine how far you are in debt. No hiding or conveniently “forgetting.” Get it all out in the open by creating a comprehensive list of what you owe, required payments and interest rates. These factors will play a key role in developing your game plan to put this menace in your rearview mirror or, more emphatically, to squash it under your tires. During this phase, scour your spending to identify opportunities to cut back or cut out and free up cash to direct towards your debt.
You must avoid using your credit cards if you expect to make progress. Obviously, this is easier said than done. So, try these tips to help yourself out: • If you have several credit cards in your wallet, remove all but one and then put a piece of red tape on that remaining card to remind you it’s for emergencies only. Removing the tape before swiping or reading the numbers on the card could cause just enough of a delay to allow you to forego the transaction. • Set a goal to sock away at least $1,000 in a savings account. That way, if you have an unexpected expense, you can tap your cash stash rather than your credit card. • Freeze your cards in a bowl of water – no joke! Better yet, chop them up with scissors or shred them (all except one!). In other words, don’t use them. Remember, once you’ve paid off a card, you don’t necessarily want to cancel or close it — this could negatively affect your credit score.
Turn good intentions and a plan into results. The way you go about tackling credit card debt is semicontroversial. Some experts say you should pay off credit cards with the highest interest rate first. Others believe you should start with the card that has the lowest balance so that you create momentum by knocking out the lowest balance card quickly. At USAA, our view is to save on interest. But we also recognize not everyone is motivated in the same way. So, choose an approach that works for you and will achieve your goal. There you have it. Now you’ve got an easy-toremember approach to reverse the trend on your revolving debt— one A at a time. +