Customer Reviews

Help! I'm a Military Spouse--I Want a Life Too!: How to Craft a Life for YOU as You Move with the Military

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There has never before been a book like this for military spouses. Fifty years ago, as an Army bride, my husband presented me with a copy of a book called The Army Wife. It was full of such intimidating, impossible rules that I nearly hit him with it.
Now comes Help! I'm a Military Spouse just crammed full of help, encouragement and practical tips. Just a glance at a few of the hundreds of headings - "Start your Heart's Desire File" "Get Help for Your Dreams" "Ask for Help, Offer Help, Accept Help in these Challenging Times." All of these tell ou that here is a chance to stretch out and reach for a life that is uniquely your own while still living up to the challenges of a military life. Holly and Kathie, just one question. Where were you fifty years ago, when I needed you?

Authors Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer have crafted a military family resource book that comes at a time when this kind of self-help literature is greatly needed. Their book "Help! I'm a Military Spouse - I want a Life Too" is the best book of its kind on the market today. There is no military spouse or family that could not use their book of advice. This book takes on real concerns and issues that face modern military families. Although this book deals mainly with issues related to female spouses (Only 6% of military spouses are male) I think some of the information contained could apply to both genders.

This book is about taking positive actions as a way to make the most out of the situations a spouse finds in the military environment. I would think that reading this book and taking one of their workshops (that they give throughout the country) would enable the reader to become more self-reliant and to gain more control over some other parts of their lives. (Obviously, military families have little control over huge parts of their lives - so in their own personal spheres of influences it becomes important to follow their heart and find all the possibilities where ever they may be.)

The book is written well by the authors who take us a journey of learning with antidotes and small personal comments from the authors to highlight some of the points being made in the book. This book is well edited and is laid out to make it easy for people looking for information.

This book is an upbeat, proactive approach to life and I fully endorse the message and advice they dispense through out the pages. This is a MWSA 5 Star Rated Book! It is a must buy book for all military families! There is much gold within these pages for spouses to find! This is best book of its genre - period!!!

MWSA's 2006 Silver Medal Award for Reference

Excellent Book for anyone-Military Spouse or someone who just wants or needs an action plan for their life. Personal accounts that make this book real life for everyone. Highly recommend!

I'm not a military spouse, yet I can still relate to this book. I appreciate Hightower and Scherer's mental, spiritual, and physical (wholistic) type of approach to well-being and happiness. This book is an accessible read, and offers practical advice on how to live your best life, and be a positive force amongst our global community. We don't take enough time to self-reflect, and this was the push I needed to start thinking about my passions and dreams, my identity in general. The journal exercises, and life experiences of the authors, are also helpful.

I attended the workshop Holly and Kathie put on here in Japan. It was the best and most useful workshop I have attended. This book is based on that workshop and its inofrmation PLUS more resources, shared experiences, and ohter insights I was thrilled to read! I read the book from cover to cover in 2 days (which is quite a task with 4 kids and a part time job!)! I believe that every command should present this book to their service members' wives when they marry as well as offer it through Family Team Building Offices worldwide!!

This book is based on the workshops that Hightower and Scherer give to military spouses. I attended one of their workshops and it was great, but the book is even better. Like the workshop, it's giving me step-by-step instructions in how to make my life more exactly what I want it to be -- everything from how to reduce stress through little practices like taking a deep breath before answering a ringing phone or lying on the floor for 15 minutes with my legs up the wall (it really helps lighten up a tough day!)... to how to get my finances in order... how to make sure my volunteer efforts help me as well as others... how to identify what my dreams are and set goals to achieve them... I may not have much control over my husband's career and where it takes us, but this book reminds me that I still control the rest of my life. And since it's a book, I can refer back to it again and again. It's also filled with resources, lists of other helpful books, and websites. I'm a military spouse but this book would be useful to anyone married to a partner with a demanding career.

I read this book on the verge of a throw-down with my military husband...we'd just concluded our 4th move in less than 6 years, and I've been scrambling to find a job and get my education finished. After doing some of the exercises, I have really been able to solidify my goals for the future and have already begun working toward many of them. This book does a great service to women like me, a stay at home mom and a dedicated Army wife, who doesn't want to feel like all I have in life is my kids or my husband's career. I particularly love the idea of a support/Dare to Dream group...and I'm working on putting one together as I write this. I'm already feeling more competent concerning my own life in connection with the military, and now that my husband has deployed, the suggestions in the book are only more relevant.

This book is chock-full of real-life stories and examples. I just LOVE reading about how other women are dealing with their challenges; it makes me feel less alone. I was inspired to create my own "Women's Success Team" after reading this book. We have been up and running for a little over 6 weeks now and IT IS PHENOMENAL! I HIGHLY recommend this book- it is LIFE-CHANGING!

Holly and Kathie have put together a book which offers so much to military spouses and others. Although I am not a military spouse, my husband's career has moved our family several times. While I can't pretend to understand all that military spouses go through, I did gain a great deal from reading this book. It is inspiring and motivating. After reading it, I can't wait to get started making my dreams come true and checking off the 101 things I want to do in my life. Thank you ladies for you dedication to helping all of us set and reach our goals!!!

An excellent resource! Here you will find specific ideas about creating a life that fulfills you without using your spouse's career as an excuse for anyting less! These brilliant women understand that sitting and feeling sorry for yourself is no path to happiness. Grab this book for yourself and for any military spouse who could use some tips. What a great gift!
Aura Mae, author of Get Some Hairapy - A hairdresser's prescription for happiness.