European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 22, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday april 22 2007 pages sure to take sanity Breaks How do i keep from getting resentful when my husband is try and to Home taking care of All the kids j White Sands missile Range you Are ahead of the game by realizing that resentment is optional i have certainly struggled with this when my children were 6 3 and Newborn and my husband was away on try he would bemoan his loneliness Over the phone with one child wrapped around my knee another shouting come wipe my Bottom from the Bath room and a third spitting upon my shoulder admit i had no sympathy hmm a quiet hotel room sole Possession of the Remote control and All the pillows room service vending machines Bubble Bath swimming pools movie channels what was he whining about granted some toys Are More difficult than others and deployments Are in a different category altogether however resentment Only made me miserable i found that one antidote for the try blues was finding time for myself and highly recommend it one spouse Calls was to this happen is to Trade babysitting time with a Friend Mili tary spouses Are Good at this we know that by help ing each other we help ourselves if your budget Al lows hire a Sitter Terri Barnes go 9ef a cup of read a Book see a movie even if you just get out to run a few errands you will Bene fit from the time alone dont think of it As a luxury it is an investment in your sanity with obvious Perks for your children if you want manage a Sitter carve out some time after the kids go to bed or before they get up if you Are a morning person reducing your stress will reduce your resentment another treatment find things to appreciate about try you can make Macaroni and cheese for dinner every night and everyone will be Happy when the kids go to bed you can watch whatever you want on television and you can sleep in the Middle of the bed and use All the pillows As a newcomer where can 1 go to meet other Christian moms and wives on Post people need a Good support Structure away from family Rebecca Hartford shape Belgium you Are absolutely right when we Are faraway from our extended families we need family extended to us Friendship support and understanding of those who know How it is to live the military life Are invaluable if you Are looking for people on Post who share your Faith Start at your Chapel chapels overseas tend to have larger and More widely varied programs than their stateside counterparts you will find programs for Active duty members working men and women As Well As stayathome moms homeschooling parents teenagers and younger Chil Dren the Chapel is a place for people of All faiths and if they do not have a program for your particular belief chaplains can often direct you to an appropriate group near Many military installations you will also find civilian places of worship that Cater to the american military Community and offer Many programs since you asked specifically about a Christian women group on your instal lation the protestant women of the Chapel or Catholic women of the Chapel would be for you Terri Barnes is a military spouse and Mother of three she and her family live in Germany where her husband is stationed at Ramstein a Send questions or comments to her at Spring break goes to the dogs for a few years now Ron has been going on annual springtime fishing trips he begins planning them in autumn and even hires a guide to show him the hot spots where All the fish hang out waiting to be caught twice now he has taken one of the boys first Jimmy in 2004 and most recently Tommy the two of them flew to Texas on a saturday Leav ing Jimmy Ronnie and glory Here to keep me company Over Spring break within a couple of hours we had packed up the suburban and were headed South to my parents farm in North Carolina once we made it out of the Northern Virginia weekend gridlock of traffic it was smooth sailing All the Way to my Hometown the moment we arrived Ronnie and Jimmy began to roam the farm looking for new Kittens bugs and other wildlife that had appeared since their last visit Over Christmas vacation glory haunt set foot outside the car pm since we left Springfield but Only got out Long enough to take a Quick tinkle then she settled Back in and waited for us to take her Home last summer it took her about a week to finally give up her sport Utility sized Security Blanket and enjoy the Freedom of being a for Doggie i decided it would be easier to let her sleep in the suburban that first night my daddy suggested we leave one of the doors open in Case she needed another potty break despite the open door glory managed to throw up inside and outside of the car by the next morning in beginning to think she Doest like to travel after cleaning the car the Best i could with paper towels i told Jimmy and Ronnie we needed to go to the car before meeting my parents at Church Good because i forgot to pack any Church pants Jimmy said in a bit of Good news the car Wash sits right in front of the Walmart Park ing lot it is the Only store in my Home town that is open on sunday mornings off to Walmart we headed with Jimmy Riding Shotgun and Ronnie trying to sit As far away from Glorys vomit spots As possible ail the windows were Down to bring in fresh air the boys brought Money along in Case they spotted something in Walmart we didst already have one nine dogs game and a pair of pants later i was parked beside the giant vacuums with glory securely tied to a nearby tree after the Many times she has attacked my vacuum cleaner i want going to take any chances the Xayasy Euclean vacuum ate my quarters including the extra one i put in just in Case one of the first four was stuck i kicked the machine loaded up my yapping dog and restless boys and prepared to Wash the outside of the car its a Good thing you untied glory from that tree Jimmy said she was sitting on a pile of fire ants How much longer would my Good Luck continue i silently wondered luckily the car Wash worked and gave me enough change to use an operating vacuum that sucked up All the half eaten chunks of dog food clinging to my suburban we made it to Church on time with 10 minutes to spare and our Streak of bad Luck came to an end by lunchtime glory however had spent her last night sleeping in the car my Mother came up with a Brilliant idea sunday night at bedtime we hooked a Long Chain to our sleepy dogs Collar that allowed her to plop herself right by the front door and wander Over to the suburban for a Quick sniff what a great idea i said now she feels like Shes guarding the House my moms response however was closer to the truth of 1 just figured glory  bark All night if she could see the suburban and know you haunt left without her like we could a Moisef of three boys Pom Zich has moved eight times in 16 years of marriage to her Marine corps husband they have been stationed in various locations including Okinawa California Texas and their current Home in Springfield a email her at or find the Zichos online it  Jenny you really did shop in Germany Ryou a1ust speak the Vla Suase fairly Well i speak the Only lansua6e that matters Bitte Price please and tech Taufen Jenny is drawn by Julie Negron of Kadena air base Okinawa her web site is cell phone Iricks for parents got a baby or toddler and a cell phone Parentha Iscom offers two Handy ideas 1 baby Monitor if you have two phones with free mobiles Mobile Calls they can double As a baby Monitor when travelling or visiting friends houses after you put your baby to sleep Call the other cell phone then leave your phone in the baby room mute the other phone and put the Call on speaker 2 announce transition times timers Are great for urging toddlers from one activity to another and your cell phone alarm function can serve this purpose next time youre at the playground and your child Doest want to go Home Tell her youll set the alarm clock for five minutes and then it will be time to go the Wichita Eagle