by Brianna In which Brianna presents a couple of options for military families to stay connected by reading to their littles, even when they're away. A great deployment strategy for a resilient familyHere at Busy Nest News, we love reading. It entertains us, challenges us, broadens our horizons, deepens our empathy for others, and it makes us smarter. So when we heard that other military families use reading to stay connected to each other during deployments, it seemed a natural and wonderful solution. Some fortunate families can video chat daily during deployments. Since every day isn’t necessarily remarkable, frequent chats like that are a great opportunity to read books to littles or discuss books with the spouse or older kids back home. However, most of us aren’t in that position. If Monkey’s daddy was deployed right now, the very best he could manage would be an almost daily email, maybe. Worst communication situation would be a phone call once or twice a month. As a couple, we’ve experienced both scenarios. Monkey will not hang out on the phone long enough for her daddy to read her a story. But she would still miss having him read to her, as reading is already an integral part of our family’s routines. Fortunately, I know of some resources to bridge the gap between technologically deprived service members and the littles who love them.
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By Ariel In which Ariel discusses how personalized dolls - sometimes referred to as deployment dolls, since they are frequently used by military families - can help your little one deal with separation anxiety. Plushies With a Personal TouchDuring a deployment finding comfort in the absence of your loved ones can seem like an impossible task. If you are lucky you may be able to hear their voice or see their face but something is missing - touch. You cannot steal kisses or snatch hugs. You and your children feel this loss keenly, like an ache. One item that helps to fill this void are stuffed animals. Think about it; it makes sense. When I want an example of our most basic nature as human beings I watch my daughter. What does she turn to first when she needs comfort and my husband and I are otherwise occupied? Her luvvie. There is a reason most children have beds overflowing with plushies and bins vomiting up soft cuddlies - when we need comfort - physical comfort is the easiest to achieve with a pleasing texture or the act of putting our arms around something warm. Deployment dolls take the classic stuffed animals and make it personal.
by Brianna In which Brianna details real ways teachers can make an impact in the lives of military kids, whether they have any in their classroom or not. Teachers, this one is for you! Did you know that here in the United States, April is the Month of the Military Child? You’re probably thinking (if I dare to guess) “That’s awesome! I imagine Military Kids have unique challenges, and deserved to be thanked for the sacrifices they make.” And you’re right. Then you might think “But I don’t have any military kids in my class, so there isn’t anything I can do.” And that’s where you’re wrong. According to the Military Child Education Coalition, the number of children whose parents are active duty, reservists or veterans stands at two million strong. Only 2% of their school-aged kids attend military (DODEA) schools. Chances are, you’re more likely to have military-connected kids in your class than you think. Military-connected children include those whose family includes someone who is or was a member of our armed forces, either as active duty or a reservist. Many active duty families will live on or very near a base, and you know if you’re in one of those areas. But some families are on special duties away from a base, or their family has chosen to remain in a civilian community for one of many reasons (usually physically separated from their service member). Also, we can’t forget that there are reservists and veterans in every community, and even though those designations sound pretty low-key, that isn’t necessarily the case. I’ve known reservists who have deployed several times more than a lot of active duty troops. Likewise, a veteran who has separated from the military will often have interactions with the military and be dealing with medical issues as a result of their service. Their family members take on the role of caretakers to varying degrees. If your community is composed primarily of immigrants or children of immigrants, do not assume that they have no affiliation with the military, either. Green Card holders can get their citizenship fast-tracked upon completing basic training, and I met many families who speak little-to-no English in the home while I worked with the military.
by Brianna In which Brianna introduces the readers to one of her family's favorite books for dealing with a common childhood anxiety. This article contains affiliate links. By using them you're helping to keep Busy Nest News running. Thanks for your continued support! No Matter What, Debi GlioriApril is the Month of the Military Child. As the mother of a military child, I’d like to share one of our favorite books that helps us thrive in this lifestyle. The best part is, it’s a great book for any kiddo, whether they have a military parent or not. Lots of kids have worries about big things, but all that is required to sooth them is often gentle, steady reassurance. Debi Gliori’s No Matter What contains the simple, but important message that a good parent loves their child, even on a bad day. No Matter What features two kangaroos, known only as Small and Large. Large discovers Small throwing a fit and knocking over furniture. When Large asks what’s wrong, Small replies that they’re “grim and grumpy” and worry that Large does not love them at all. Over the next several pages, the two progress through dinner time, bath time, and bedtime while Small questions the steadfastness of Large’s love. “If I was a grumpy grizzly bear, would you still love, would you still care?” Each test is met with a calm “Of course...I’d always love you, no matter what.” When Small has calmed down and is accepting that Large’s love will survive any tantrum, they have more questions. Can you fix love? When they’re separated, does the love go with Large, or does it stay with Small?
By Brianna
Wherein Brianna introduces and reviews an app for organizing your whole family. This post contains affiliate links, which help keep Busy Nest News going. Thanks for your continued support! Cozi
It’s been a little while since I’ve brought you some helpful tech, dear readers, but my review of Glow is still quite popular, so I know app reviews can be filed under Things The People Want. Any time I encounter a problem, I immediately start looking for solutions. If one is not readily available, I stew on it for a long time. Example: I'll look at a disorganized bookshelf or another problem area in my home every day, and work on the problem in the back of my mind until one morning in the shower (obviously it's in the shower) the perfect plan falls into place. So when I tell you that Cozi is the closest thing to a perfect calendar app we have right now, I need you to understand on what a profound level I am enjoying this app. With that in mind, it will take quite a bit of effort to only hit the high points in this review without getting into the weeds of Cozi’s deeper features.
The primary function of Cozi is an incredible calendar, designed with busy families in mind. Each family member has their own username, but the whole family shares one password. You can add accounts for members who do not have email addresses, such as young children and pets(!). All accounts are color coded for extra ease of use. With the basic version of Cozi, you can set one reminder for each event in your calendar. An example of how we use this feature is I have Cozi text my husband a reminder that our anniversary is approaching two weeks in advance. You can set your one reminder to text, email, or send a push notification anywhere from zero minutes to two weeks before the events you schedule.
By Brianna In which Brianna investigates common assumptions about military children, through the lens of the television shows and movies their teachers have consumed. What assumptions have these works instilled, and how true are they? Get ready: April is the Month of the Military ChildSince 1986, April has been designated the Month of the Military Child. This is a very special event for us, as both our husbands are Marines, and our children are unwittingly embarking on lives of service that they did not ask for. In preparation for this, we wanted to write an article about how teachers could incorporate the Month of the Military Child into their lesson plans. But then we spoke with some teachers and were reminded that the military-civilian divide is sadly a gaping chasm. In the event that a person has no contact with the military through a friend or family member (we're told that's about 99% of the country, so if it describes you, don't feel weird!), their impressions of military life are informed by the media. While there are many, many films about the military, few show the realities of military life for spouses, and fewer still for children. So what do we know about military kids? Which works have informed us of these truths? And how true are they, anyway? Let’s take a look! Since impressions and assumptions about how “other” people live are formed in adolescence and early adulthood, we focused on television shows and movies that were popular when today’s teachers were teens or young adults. To come up with this list, we combined what teachers told us they watched at that age that they remember featured military kids, with shows that stuck out to us. In chronological order we examined Saved By the Bell, Recess, Cadet Kelly, NCIS, Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front, iCarly, and Army Wives.
By Brianna In which Brianna shares some articles that have enlightened or amused us recently. What are these "soft skills" everyone is on about, and how crucial are they to our children's success? How are millenials making life difficult for their elders again? How can I make any ensemble look expensive? Will I ever learn the keys to being a tidy person? These are the big questions in the second edition of Links We Learned From. Links We Learned From in FebruaryAs Ariel said in our first round-up of links, we love reading as much as we love sharing what we read. We're always sending each other links to fun or thought-provoking articles. We have such a good time sharing, we've decided to share our favorites with you, our beloved readers, on a regular basis. Read on for the newest batch of knowledge and amusement!
By Brianna Wherein Brianna addresses the perceptions around self-help books, how to pick the right books for you, and how to get the most out of them. This post contains affiliate links; part of the proceeds from purchases through these links comes back to us, which helps keep Busy Nest News going. Thanks! Personal DevelopmentIf you’ve been following us for any amount of time, you’ve probably learned that Ariel and I are a little hooked on self-help books. I used to think self-help books were for people who wanted something about their lives to change without actually doing anything differently. I pictured Bridget Jones, buying stacks of books about getting a man, changing her mind, and then buying stacks of books about being an independent woman. Did she read any of those books, or were they supposed to be motivating to look at?
By Ariel In which Ariel breaks down the process of how her and her partner set both long and short term goals in order to keep their family on track to accomplishing everything they want out of their time together. How to Set Goals with a Partner, Co-parent or Co-parents Why you Should Set Goals with your Partner, Co-parent, or Co-parents Getting a group of people with conflicting goals to do anything is like herding cats. That is one of my favorite colloquialisms, because anyone who has ever been around multiple cats can instantly picture what you are talking about. This is especially true of parenting teams, whether you are married, divorced or somewhere in between. If your goals don’t align you may be going full steam ahead in opposite directions. Ultimately? This undermines everyone’s efforts.
For those of us who are married or in a long-term committed relationship, we like to think “my partner and I are so in sync and so in love that we are the exception to this rule!” I hate to burst your bubble, but you are wrong. Without purposeful, honest and consistent communication, we quickly lose sight of where we are going as a couple and as a family. And – for some of us – as individuals. I say this, because even though I am an obsessive goal setter, my husband is my sounding board, if I didn’t update him periodically on my personal goals, I would lose sight of my greater purpose. By Brianna In which Brianna discusses the benefits and logistics of reading books to your child that they cannot. Includes tips for optimal execution and affiliate links to featured books. I recently reviewed a chapter book for kids; a first for this site, where we usually stick with picture books. I did this, because Ariel and I feel it’s important to start some conversations about a different kind of story time. You probably already know that reading aloud to children helps foster a love of reading and learning, enhances their vocabulary, and is the cheapest bonding activity available to a caregiver (except snuggling). In our home, we read at least a few times a day, and always before bedtime. But what happens when your child can read on their own? Do you put away the picture books, give them a reading lamp, and close the door on bedtime stories?
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AuthorsAriel and Brianna are friends who met while working in a library. Now they collaborate to develop life-enhancing book club experiences. Archives
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