Be Safe, Love Mom : A Military Mom's Stories of Courage, Comfort, and Surviving Life on the Home Front

"When you enlist in the United States Military, you don't just sign yourself up for years of duty, you also commit your loved ones to a life of service all their own. No one knows this better than Elaine Brye, an army-brat turned military wife turned military mom of four officers, each serving in a different branch of the military: Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Brye's father and mother met while both serving in the U.S. Army and her childhood was that of a typical army-brat, with frequent moves-some to faraway countries-dinner-table conversations full of military lingo, an ever-present anxiety during her father's deployments to Vietnam and elsewhere, and family vacations to national monuments and battlefields. In 1976-the first year women were accepted in the service academies and ROTC-Brye herself enlisted in the Air Force, where she would later meet her husband, an Air Force pilot. Now Elaine Brye is a mom to four military officers, and for more than a decade she's endured countless teary goodbyes, sparse communication from boot camps and training summers, deployments, emotional airport reunions, empty chairs at Thanksgiving dinners, and sleepless hours waiting for phone calls in the night. She's navigated the complicated tangle of emotions-pride, worry, fear, hope, and deep, enduring love-that accompanies life as a military mom. In Be Safe, Love Mom Brye reflects on her family's military service and offers a lifetime's worth of insight, comfort, wisdom, and a bit of humor to fellow military moms who are navigating the unpredictable life that accompanies having a child-or children- in uniform. In intimate and instructive essays-on topics ranging from that first goodbye on Induction Day to the comforting power of the military community, from the healing power of faith to coping with the enormous sacrifice military life requires- Brye braids together her own personal experiences with those of fellow parents she's met along the way, offering gentle guidance and hard-earned wisdom to those new to the sisterhood of military moms. In this one mom doing her best to hold down the home front, readers will find a wise and endearing friend to guide them through the unpredictable life of having a child in uniform, all the while reminding us that within each military mom's personal story lies universal experiences of courage, loss, loneliness, faith, pride, and ultimately, a parent's unconditional love. "-- Provided by publisher This essential guide for all military families provides helpful advice and reassurance on topics ranging from boot camp, to deployment, to PTSD, from a former "Army brat" turned mother of four military kids. When you enlist in the United States military, you don't just sign up for duty; you also commit your loved ones to lives of service all their own. No one knows this better than Elaine Brye, an "Army brat" turned military wife and the mother of four officers-one each in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. For more than a decade she's endured countless teary goodbyes, empty chairs at Thanksgiving dinners, and sleepless hours waiting for phone calls in the night. She's navigated the complicated tangle of emotions that are part and parcel of life as a military mother. Be Safe, Love Mom braids together Elaine's own personal experiences with those of fellow parents she's met along the way. She offers gentle guidance and hard-earned wisdom on topics ranging from that first anxious goodbye to surrendering all control of your child, from finding comfort in the support of the military community and the healing power of faith to coping with the enormous sacrifices life as a military mother requires. With hard-to-come-by information and encouragement that is like advice from a wise and trusted friend, Be Safe, Love Mom is an essential handbook to membership in a strong and special sisterhood. When You Enlist In The United States Military, You Don't Just Sign Up For Duty; You Also Commit Your Loved Ones To Lives Of Service All Their Own. No One Knows This Better Than Elaine Brye, An Army Brat Turned Military Wife And The Mother Of Four Officers—one Each In The Army, Navy, Air Force, And Marine Corps. For More Than A Decade She's Endured Countless Teary Goodbyes, Empty Chairs At Thanksgiving Dinners, And Sleepless Hours Waiting For Phone Calls In The Night. She's Navigated The Complicated Tangle Of Emotions—pride, Worry, Fear, Hope, And Deep, Enduring Love—that Are Part And Parcel Of Life As A Military Mother. In Be Safe, Love Mom Elaine Braids Together Her Own Personal Experiences With Those Of Fellow Parents She's Met Along The Way. She Offers Gentle Guidance And Hard-earned Wisdom On Topics Ranging From That First Anxious Goodbye To Surrendering All Control Of Your Child, From Finding Comfort In The Support Of The Military Community And The Healing Power Of Faith To Coping With The Enormous Sacrifices Life As A Military Mother Requires. Readers Looking For Encouragement And Hard-to-come-by Information As They Travel The Challenging Road Of Having A Child In Uniform Will Find Elaine A Wise And Trusted Friend, And Be Safe, Love Mom An Essential Handbook To Membership In A Strong And Special Sisterhood. "Brye is a mom to four military officers, and for more than a decade she's endured countless teary goodbyes, sparse communication from boot camps and training summers, deployments, emotional airport reunions, empty chairs at Thanksgiving dinners, and sleepless hours waiting for phone calls in the night. She's navigated the complicated tangle of emotions--pride, worry, fear, hope, and deep, enduring love--that accompanies life as a military mom. In [her book], Brye reflects on her family's military service and offers a lifetime's worth of insight, comfort, wisdom, and a bit of humor to fellow military moms who are navigating the unpredictable life that accompanies having a child--or children--in uniform"--