A blog from Army&You’s summer 2024 edition by Geri Dougall
Being a military wife and mum hasn’t been easy and having no stable support system or ‘village’ around you can make childcare and having your own career quite difficult.
I find I end up taking any job in the first year of moving just so I can have some form of money coming in, and then by the second year I find a better suited job and, just as I’m settling in to work and trying to make a way for myself, it’s time to move again!
Our latest posting has started much the same and we have been here in Newcastle just over two years and we are due posting in December. But this time is different as I have recently become self-employed and bought a franchise running baby and toddler classes.
I love what I do and with my little girl now in school I can do the school run every day and not be so reliant on childcare.
The intention was to be able to set up classes at any new posting but after running my business for the past seven months and seeing how much time and energy it takes to establish a small business, I quickly realised our constant moving around just wouldn’t work in reality. So we are putting down roots and buying a home. With my little girl settled in school and with my business going from strength to strength, and actually starting to have friends and a social life, it’s hopefully going to be the best decision.
I’m not sure what family life will look like for us going forward and where my husband will be posted next – we are hoping Catterick and he could commute or come back at weekends. It’s not ideal as of course we want to stay together as a family but after almost nine years and three moves, I just can’t face the upheaval of another military posting.
I am incredibly proud of my husband and his career and have always supported and followed him to where his job takes him. But what people don’t see is that as the military spouse our dreams and careers will always be put on hold or be affected by the transient lifestyle. My stalled career progression and lack of stable income has been a bitter pill to swallow at times. But this feels like it’s finally time to put my dreams first and build something for myself whilst creating a stable environment for my daughter.
Find Geri on Insta @theplaygroupnewcastle