Military families aren’t like other families.

We move often, switch jobs and adjust schedules, all while managing the day-to-day challenges of raising children. While roughly 24-26% of American women are stay-at-home moms, military spouses report closer to 36%. For some of us, staying home isn’t just a choice; it’s practical.

I am one of the lucky ones: My husband is active-duty Coast Guard, and I work full-time. We have a 1-year-old and plan for more. Yet sometimes I wonder: Does working make sense after we expand our family? During a government shutdown, a civilian paycheck is more than a convenience; it’s a lifeline. For families with two active-duty members, the stakes are even higher.

Next year, our family faces our first permanent change of station (PCS). We don’t yet know where w

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