Our Military Life Blog

July Hits Differently When You’re a Dual-National Guard Family

July used to mean summer magic — pool days, sticky popsicles, fireworks lighting up the sky with family all around. Now it feels different. I’m a mom and a National Guard soldier married to another Guardsman. July is all about balancing life, service, and family. 

Sometimes our drill weekends overlap. That means both of us are in uniform and away at the same time. It is a beautiful kind of chaos. Some years we have spent the Fourth of July apart. I am at drill. He is at training. The kids celebrate without us. Other years we get lucky. We come home together and watch fireworks while holding onto every moment. 

Being a dual-Guard family means juggling schedules and roles every day. We trade off parenting like a dance. We lean on each other to keep the house running. There isn’t a big military community nearby, so we built our own support system with family, friends, and a lot of resilience. 

It is not always easy. We miss moments. We sometimes feel stretched thin. But through it all, we teach our kids what commitment means. We show up even when it is hard. We make space for joy no matter the chaos. 

July hits differently for us now. It’s not just a holiday. It’s a reminder of why we serve and who we serve for. Our life is not perfect, but it’s ours. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

Remember…you are never alone in this journey!

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Kalina Hyche