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.

Advice from moms who have "been there, done that" at the United States Military Academy. Information includes how things work, what to expect, how to dress, how to meet the needs of your cadet during the 47 month adventure.

PARENTING NEVER ENDS. From the founders of the #1 site for parents of teens and young adults comes an essential guide for building strong relationships with your teens and preparing them to successfully launch into adulthood The high school and college years: an extended roller coaster of academics, friends, first loves, first break-ups, driver’s ed, jobs, and everything in between. Kids are constantly changing and how we parent them must change, too. But how do we stay close as a family as our lives move apart? Enter the co-founders of Grown and Flown, Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington. In the midst of guiding their own kids through this transition, they launched what has become the largest website and online community for parents of fifteen to twenty-five year olds. Now they’ve compiled new takeaways and fresh insights from all that they’ve learned into this handy, must-have guide. Grown and Flown is a one-stop resource for parenting teenagers, leading up to—and through—high school and those first years of independence. It covers everything from the monumental (how to let your kids go) to the mundane (how to shop for a dorm room). Organized by topic—such as academics, anxiety and mental health, college life—it features a combination of stories, advice from professionals, and practical sidebars. Consider this your parenting lifeline: an easy-to-use manual that offers support and perspective. Grown and Flown is required reading for anyone looking to raise an adult with whom you have an enduring, profound connection.

New York’s social darling just woke up in a nightmare: Oklahoma. Problem is, it’s right where God wants her. Bella Kirkwood had it all—A-list friends, Broadway in her backyard, Daddy’s credit card. Then her father decided to trade in her mother for a newer model. After that, her mom fell in love with a man she met on the Internet and moved the family to Truman, Oklahoma. To a farm no less! But that’s just the beginning of Bella’s problems. Her semi-pro-wrestler stepdad signs up the family for a reality TV show. As if having a camera crew follow her around isn’t bad enough, Bella discovers a conspiracy against the Truman High prom queen candidates. And that’s before the arrival of the Fritz Family Carnival with its creepy clown. Bella is one skinny-mocha frappe away from a total meltdown. How can a girl go on when her charmed life is gone and God appears to be giving her the total smack down?

Have you ever had a little one question the meaning of deployment? Join the very brave and loyal family dog, Ace, as he smuggles himself aboard his dad's deployment-bound aircraft, seeking to discover answers for himself and the family left behind. Air Force Ace brings reassurance to any child facing the deployment of a loved one that their service member is happy and proudly doing important work for us all.

Do you need someone encouraging you, especially when you are learning to let go of your child to military service? How about when they are difficult places or in harm's way? Do you feel stressed or worried? You are not alone. Elaine Brye and Army Mom Strong have combined their efforts to create a powerful, emotional and inspirational pictorial book of encouragement and support for military moms of all branches. The authors are veteran military moms who have supported many moms through the challenges that come with sending a child into harm's way. "The Heart of a Military Mom" gives you valuable insights to help you to stand strong in the face of fear and on the home front. It is the first in a series of supportive books to inspire you to create a more fulfilling journey as a military mom.