It’s been said “it takes a village to raise a child” and anyone who’s been around the military will attest to this very sentiment. Both men and women alike are serving this country while their significant other is doing their part to keep the home fronts running smoothly.

As a Navy wife, whose husband deploys 6 months out of the year and even when he is home for the other half of the year, is not always ‘at home,’ understands all too well what it is like to feel alone and out of her element. In this I’ve learned to turn to my fellow military families for support, for friendship, for play dates, and for answers when it seems there are none other to be found.

Utilize Fleet & Family Support

This can be one of the best places to start. Adjusting is one of the hardest things for military kids to do, they move, leave their friends and start over. Don’t let them feel they are alone, FFSC can provide information on how to cope with adjusting as well as activities to do to better understand what their parent is doing while away.

FFSC is not just for the children, it can also provide important information for the spouses such as important contact information while your military member is away, employment opportunities in the area, counseling and special needs assistance.

Visit the Moral, Welfare and Recreation

MWR is by far one of the best aspects of military life. Not only do they regularly have parties and activities scheduled for holidays, they can usually help provide some incredible deals on party rental supplies. Want to take your family camping and don’t have the gear? Think MWR rentals, where you can get it all for a great price.

Meet the Ombudsman

Every unit and every command has an Ombudsman to fill in any gap between the military unit and the family. Take the steps to meet the Ombudsman, chat with her and find out how to stay involved, volunteer to help, or just keep abreast of everything that is happening.

Ombudsmen have been in our shoes at one point and understand what we feel. They’ve been trained how to effectively communicate military lingo into civilian speak without making us feel dumb in the process.

Don’t be a stranger to your community. Get out, get involved and become a member of your ‘village.’

**Written by Kelli, Navy Wife & Ex-Sailor, blogs at CafeKel