May is the month of Mother’s Day and whether or not you are a mother, you certainly had one! I would like to reflect on women’s service to our nation, both through their spouses and children and in their own service. From ancient times women have sent war fighters off to conflict, supported them, fed them, nursed them, comforted them, prayed for them, and welcomed them home. It’s no different today. What amazing work they do! How much our warriors need to know that those at home care for them, and that the care will continue when they return home. And for some, mothers also are the warriors. Yes, in today’s military just under 15% of our active duty servicemembers are female, and 17.6% of our reserve/Guard personnel are female (according to the 2007 Demographics: Profile of the Military Community). Many female military members also are mothers. Understandably, for many, mothering and military service do not mix. ... Read more here

Little kids have a way of grabbing our attention!
Whether it’s the innocent calmness (briefly!) of a newborn, the first attempts at walking, learning to read and write, or entering those challenging years of adolescence, kids demand, and get, our attention. They have big needs and even bigger egos. It’s all about them!
Every new parent comes to this realization sooner or later: the needs of the child supersede the needs of the parent. Parents’ needs don’t go away, but they take second place to the tyrannical demands of children.
I even witnessed this at a clinic in Baghdad last summer. The women waiting to be treated, dressed head to toe in their burqas, made little eye contact and even less conversation, especially with a man.
But when they saw the camera, they instantly wanted their babies to be photographed. Children were a bridge. Like people everywhere, the parents wanted the best for their children. I had never seen one of the local women smile so broadly as when holding her baby for a simple photo!... Read more here