Children sit at a small outdoor table on grass, smiling and eating macaroni, peas and nuggets, with drinks beside them in bright sunlight.

Dadless Dinners: How We Simplify Meals When Dad’s Away

Written By Sydney Smith

There aren’t many things I can say I look forward to when my husband leaves. But there are a few itty-bitty pleasures I secretly enjoy — such as sleeping in the middle of the bed, having less laundry to worry about, and of course … simplified meal planning.

If you find yourself in (or approaching) a season of solo parenting, let me be a source of encouragement, and maybe even a little excitement. At the very least, I hope I can convince you to change things up and make life a lot simpler while you manage the home and kids on your own.

In our house, we call them “dadless dinners.” You know, the dinners where you don’t have to check every box — meat, vegetable, starch, etc. The kids absolutely live for these meals, as do I.

The first week that Dad is gone, we usually go a little wild with boxed mac and cheese, chicken nuggets of all shapes and sizes (we don’t judge!), quesadillas, more frequent fast-food meals and snack plates out on the back patio.

But after about a week, I start getting a little tired of “kid food” and cheese and begin craving something with a bit more substance. (My telltale sign is when I start craving salad, which I didn’t even know could be a thing.)

That’s when I start cooking a little more again. Some of our favorite more “upscale” dadless dinners include buttered noodles with fried zucchini and parmesan on top, and “lazy girl” chicken parmesan —just bake frozen chicken patties with a jar of marinara and a bag of shredded mozzarella on top, then serve with angel hair pasta.

We also love breakfast for dinner, sautéed pierogies with Polish sausage and broccoli, corn dog casserole (easy to find online) and simple sheet pan dinners such as sausage, sweet potatoes and veggies served over rice. Another favorite is make-your-own pizza night. I’ll grab flatbreads or ready-made pizza dough to keep things extra easy.

When dad is gone, I also like to switch up our grocery routine and visit a new grocery store — maybe the “splurge store” or the one where you wander the aisles without a list and somehow find all the things you didn’t need. My kids and I love raiding the frozen section to try new frozen dinners, or finding tasty bakery treats and fun snacks along the aisles. I’ve also noticed that when my husband is gone, our grocery money tends to stretch a little further each month, which leaves room for a few extra treats.

And if you’re really feeling simple and minimal one week, just cook one big casserole-style meal and live off it for several days. My best advice for this approach is to choose something everyone in the house likes so you’re not battling complaints all week.

Whether you’re eating kid food, snack food or maybe just a little too much cheese, don’t be afraid to adjust things to fit your kids’ preferences and your own. Eat what feels good and don’t be afraid to get creative. Make easy burger sliders on Hawaiian buns to accommodate little hands. Toss those chicken nuggets onto a chopped salad kit, and suddenly it’s a fancy salad!

Whatever you do, don’t make cooking stressful. Because chances are, if the cooking is stressful, the cleanup will be too.

Blog Brigade unites military spouses by creating a community built on shared experiences and mutual support. Navigating the complexities of military life can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Military OneSource offers valuable resources focused on well-being, readiness, and connection. Explore a range of deployment resources and tools tailored to your needs.

Laptop open beside two coffee cups on a wooden table by a window.

The Career That Didn’t Survive the Move (And Why It Wasn’t a Failure)

Written By Kristi Stolzenberg

Twenty years ago, if someone had told me I’d make a living as a writer and editor — from home — I would’ve given them major side-eye. Blogging wasn’t really a thing yet, let alone a viable job option, and remote work was rare.

So, I opted for a practical route: an English degree, a Texas teaching certificate and a job teaching eighth-grade language arts near Houston. I took the first job I was offered outside my small hometown. I loved my students, but by the end of that first school year, I let my principal know that I wouldn’t be returning. I’d met a handsome flight student stationed in my hometown while I was visiting over Thanksgiving break. I was following him back home and taking a job at my old junior high, teaching seventh-graders.

The Move

He earned his wings in July; school started in August; by mid-September we had a date with the justice of the peace, followed quickly by my first PCS. That first one had quite a learning curve. When we finally arrived in North Carolina, I learned two things: movers and I have a very different definition of packing, and getting a teaching job was going to be a lot easier with a North Carolina teaching certificate.

I passed the exam, applied to all the school districts within reach and accepted a fifth-grade position almost immediately. Smugly wondering what all the fuss over military spouse employment was all about (this was a piece of cake), I enjoyed my summer and prepared to start my new job at the end of July.

The Catch

I know now, obviously, that that fuss was (and still is) warranted. By the end of June, I was growing concerned that I hadn’t heard anything about a start date … or signed anything.

Emails and calls went unanswered, and by the time I heard back in early August, the news wasn’t good: a hiring freeze had eliminated my position. The start of the school year was just days away, and I was unemployed.

I vividly remember sitting at my computer on the first day of school and hearing the school bus stop at the end of our street. This was the first time since I was in kindergarten that I wasn’t going back to school. It felt wrong. I was lost and bored without a job to pour my energy into.

And more than anything, I felt defeated — angry that I’d wasted a summer because I blissfully assumed I had a job lined up, frustrated at myself for assuming, and embarrassed that the ink was barely dry on my degree and two teaching certificates, but I was spending my days online shopping, planting things in the yard that were sadly not long for this world in my care and doing at-home workouts while our dog napped.

A home office desk by a window with a laptop, chair and natural light.

The Pivot

I needed direction. That much was clear. I started blogging about military spouse life — which wasn’t winning any literary recognition, but it was something.

Months later, at the urging of a good friend, I found myself sitting across the table from the local newspaper editor. I pitched an idea of a weekly column about the ins and outs of life as a new Marine Corps spouse. To my utter shock, he agreed to a trial run, which led to a regular column. It paid nothing, but I told myself the experience was priceless — at least I wouldn’t have that dreaded resume gap.

I eventually syndicated the column with neighboring papers. My efforts earned me $15 per week. It wasn’t enough for a tank of gas, but being able to say I was a paid newspaper columnist lit me up in a way I hadn’t felt since I stopped teaching.

And it opened doors — doors I never would’ve walked by on my teaching career path. One kind column reader suggested I apply for an opening where her daughter worked — which turned out to be the opportunity that brought me to the Blog Brigade (so many) years ago.

Calling a Loss a Win

I never used that North Carolina teaching certificate. My Texas certificate eventually lapsed, and I slowly gave away all my gently used classroom supplies. After that “lost” job, I took a chance on a career and on myself. Luckily, I’ve worked for some wonderful people who also were willing to take a chance on me.

The reward was a flexible, creative and portable career that has pushed my skills, subject knowledge and, ultimately, my potential. I’m not the girl choosing the safe, practical route anymore, and I’m thankful I was lucky enough to try on a few career hats before finding the perfect fit.

The rise in remote work and expanding license reciprocity have both improved the landscape for us, but military spouse employment still has its challenges. The uncertainty you feel at PCS time is real, but so are the opportunities.

What initially felt like a professional failure turned out to be a pivot. Sometimes the job that isn’t working out is just clearing the way for something even better.

Blog Brigade unites military spouses by creating a community built on shared experiences and mutual support. Navigating the complexities of military life can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Military OneSource offers valuable resources focused on well-being, readiness and connection. Explore a range of education and employment resources and tools tailored to your needs.

A smiling toddler sits in a room with moving boxes.

Thriving and Settling After a PCS

Written By Lizann Lightfoot

June marks the heart of peak PCS season. Moving trucks roll through neighborhoods, kids are out of school, and families scramble to unpack while trying to make the new place feel like home before the full heat of summer hits. The boxes, the chaos and that overwhelming “Where do I even start?” feeling are relatable. After seven moves during my husband’s two-decade Marine career, I know how exhausting it can be to relocate your life and try to feel any type of “settled” in the days after a move. I’ve also learned that small, intentional steps can turn the overwhelm into a fresh chapter. You don’t have to do everything at once. Focus on what you can control right now, and you’ll arrive at your new base ready for whatever comes next.

Stacked moving boxes labeled “Trains,” “Sophia box,” and “Boy’s Room” fill a space, showing organized packing during a move.

Clothes on hangers are neatly packed inside an open moving box.

Start with quick family routines to bring back a sense of normal. The first few days in a new home can feel upside down, so pick three simple anchors for your day. Maybe it’s the same breakfast routine, a short evening walk around the block, or 10 minutes of reading together before bed. These tiny habits help everyone (especially the kids) feel steady again. During one move, I made sure we ate dinner at the table every night, even if it was on paper plates. It wasn’t fancy, but it gave us a moment to talk about our day, connect as a family, and feel like we were home. Micro-routines like this travel with you whether you’re camping out with no furniture, sleeping in a hotel or moving into the new place.

Next, find a few local spots you can call your own. Once the basics are unpacked, get out and explore. Drive to the closest base playground, find the nearest ice cream spot, or visit the library to explore summer reading programs and community activities. Pick one or two “our places” early, like a favorite park or coffee shop, and visit them often. This helps shift your mindset from “new and strange” to “this is ours.” With kids out of school, these low-key adventures keep everyone busy without adding extra cost or stress. In my experience, having even one familiar spot makes the whole base feel less foreign within the first couple of weeks.

Connecting with other local military spouses is one of the fastest ways to feel less alone. Start with your service member’s unit to see if there are any official communication sites, apps or groups for unit spouses. Stop by the base Family Center (they have different titles depending on the military branch) or search for spouse social media groups for your new installation. Yes, many of these groups are full of drama. But they can also be a great resource for answering your questions, like “Which school system can the military kids enroll in here?” or “Where is a good local dentist who accepts the military insurance?” Always search the groups for previous answers before posting your own because these common questions have probably been answered numerous times already. Many bases offer newcomer orientations or coffee meetups. Go to one, even if you only stay for 30 minutes. Ask for a sponsor if you haven’t been assigned one yet. They can answer questions and introduce you around.

Military OneSource offers excellent relocation tools to make settling easier. Use the free Plan My Move tool on their website to create a customized checklist and calendar. Call 800-342-9647 or chat online for Spouse Relocation and Transition Consultations. They can help with everything from housing questions to child care options. These resources take some of the guesswork out of the process so you can focus on your family.

Hand holding a white mug with the text “you got this” in front of stacked moving boxes.

After a PCS move, give yourself grace. Some days you’ll unpack many boxes and feel like a rock star. Other days you might only manage to find one thing – and that’s OK. After seven moves, I realized the house doesn’t need to be perfect before you start living in it. Prioritize the kitchen and kids’ bedrooms first if that helps everyone sleep better. Then tackle one room at a time. Celebrate small wins, like finally hanging curtains or finding the grocery store without GPS. These moments build confidence and turn the new place into home.

June’s PCS chaos won’t last forever. By creating quick routines, claiming local spots, connecting with other spouses, and using the tools available through Military OneSource, you’re taking control of what you can. Each small step adds up. Before long, the new base will feel familiar, and you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come.

You’ve done hard things before. You can do this too. Take a deep breath, pick one thing to tackle today, and watch your family settle in, one intentional moment at a time.

Blog Brigade unites military spouses by creating a community built on shared experiences and mutual support. Navigating the complexities of military life can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Military OneSource offers valuable resources focused on well-being, readiness, and connection. Explore a range of PCS resources and tools tailored to your needs.

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