This Christmas, no one in our circle of family and friends talked much about scaling back. We just did it. Gifts weren't lavish, and many presents were "practical" rather than "fun". Still, every item was chosen with love, from classic board games to much-needed clothing to fruit-and-cheese baskets.

And do you know what? Christmas was as magical as ever. My children loved their gifts. Delight, smiles and sparkling eyes were all there.

Like many people, we're anticipating that 2009 will be a challenging year. We're thinking twice about making frivolous purchases and we're using our resources as wisely as possible. I like to think of this nationwide attitude adjustment as a return to tradition - a chance to turn toward the time-honored values that our parents and grandparents took for granted. For example:

Repair, don't replace. At our house, my husband has become the fix-it guru. This week, it was our washing machine. He can repair cars and fences and small appliances. Last year, he started teaching these skills to our son. The public library has an excellent collection of home repair books. (Sorry, the washing machine repair book is currently checked out.)

Learn to make gifts. This year, my daughter made all of her Christmas gifts for family members. She learned to quilt (from a book - I don't know how) and improved her knitting skills. Some of our friends put together gorgeous Christmas fruit baskets; if they hadn't told us that they made them, I'd have assumed the baskets were store-bought.

Appreciate useful gifts. This is an excellent skill to have. My son received eminently practical presents this year - T-shirts, magazine subscriptions, books - and I can barely pry the Boeing aircraft shirt off him to wash it. Even functional gifts can be enjoyable if you cultivate the art of appreciation. Besides, your spouse will be able to brag that you're the rare husband or wife who truly appreciates the gift of a toaster or socks.

Work together. My daughter and I spent some very happy hours together before Christmas, knitting scarves and listening to Christmas CDs. I treasured those quiet moments in the midst of holiday chaos.

Enjoy mealtimes together. This is my favorite tradition. Sharing meals with family and friends makes any day special, regardless of what's on the table. We close out the holiday cooking festivities with a huge pot of turkey noodle soup and homemade bread. My children look forward to that simple meal - it tastes good and we serve it every year. Tradition means a lot to military children. They might not be in the same house as last year, but they can count on those special meals and favorite decorations. That's what makes every house a home, if you think about it.

I wish you and yours a very happy New Year.

By: Nancy Parode

Most weeks, it's easy to grumble about rude behavior and bad driving. Here in Maryland, examples of both are easy to find. This week, though, I found myself in several situations where Grinch-like attitudes should have been present, but, strangely, were not. I can only attribute this to the Christmas spirit.

I drove over to Super Wal-Mart on Saturday to pick up some mailing envelopes. Wal-Mart was busy, but the cash registers were fully staffed and I finished my errand quickly. Then reality hit me - I had to get out of that parking lot. I'm not sure who designed it, but that person really should have put another exit somewhere. When busy Kohl's, Lowes, Sam's Club and Super Wal-Mart empty simultaneously, the result is 40 minutes of gridlock. My car inched forward as I listened to the Navy-Wake Forest game. I was very surprised to see people graciously let cars in ahead of them, and grateful that no one honked or jumped out of their cars in rage. I spent a long time in my car, but escaped the parking lot with a very low stress level.

It wasn't until I hit the equally-busy Glen Burnie Post Office that I realized something special was happening. The lines were long. The debit and credit card processing system was down. People should have been grumbling - but they weren't. Instead, they smiled, shared information, lent pens and admired babies. I decided that the spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Anne Arundel County, in spite of a troubled economy and freezing weather.

I've seen other evidence of the spirit of Christmas this week:

• I read Heather Roth's heart-warming article in The Capital about School of the Incarnation students' amazing outreach to the homeless. Students raised $16,000, then used the proceeds to purchase 640 backpacks and fill them with thermal underwear and cold weather gear for the homeless.



• I watched Girl Scout Troop 3114 - Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and siblings - sing for the residents of Sunrise of Annapolis. Many listeners sang along as the children caroled. The Girl Scouts also collected items to send to deployed servicemembers and gathered canned food for the homeless in our county.



• I've seen donations pile up at our church in support of Arundel House of Hope's Winter Relief program. My church is one of over 40 in the area that house homeless people each night during the coldest months of the year. People donate everything from trail mix to sewing services - it's hard to mend your clothes when you have no home - and it's heartwarming to see children and adults work so hard to help our homeless brothers and sisters. This week, the confirmation class made 58 scarves and the homeschool co-op stuffed warm socks with packets of trail mix, raisins and other snacks. By early January, we'll have mountains of warm clothing, stacks of canned drinks and dozens of bagels ready for our guests.

Whether you're new to the area or have lived here for years, I know you'll see the spirit of Christmas if you look carefully.

I wish you and yours the happiest of holidays and all the best in 2009.

By: Nancy Parode

I just got off the phone with Baltimore-Washington Medical Center. No one I know is in the hospital, but they're calling me just the same. Why? Because the person who once had my phone number didn't tell her family members when she changed to a new number.

For over two years I have been answering phone calls intended for someone else. I know more than I ever wanted to about someone else's life. Today's call, though, was tragic. Apparently a close relative of the person who used to have my number was admitted to the hospital today, and hospital staff members are still trying to track down their patient's family to tell them that their relative is ill.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that even the most organized military family can let things slip through the cracks. When you move every couple of years, it's easy to lose track of paperwork and processes. I can tell you many stories about things I've had to fix after the fact because we moved and paperwork, set aside for a short time, got buried in an avalanche of boxes and "To-Do" lists. It happens.

Consider this, though. I was raised in earthquake country. When I went off to college (a whole hour's drive from home), my parents ran through our earthquake plan. Call us. Stay put. We'll find you. Big events in life, including natural disasters, involve advance planning.

A couple of weeks ago, I described my "dirty bomb" terrorism plan. This plan relies on speed and efficiency; if I ever have to use it I will not have time to call my relatives to explain what's happening - which brings me to my real point.

Bad things happen. Cars collide. Children get sick. If something goes wrong, your family really does need to know how to get in touch with you. Yes, you may be at Fort Meade or Aberdeen or Annapolis, enjoying your first tour of duty, and it might feel great to be away from all those questions and curfews. And, yes, you may be glad to be stationed on the opposite end of the continent from someone whose every phone call and email drains you of energy.

Even so, it's important to keep lines of communication open. You can't predict when a crisis will hit. If something goes wrong in your extended family, they need to be able to find you, and you need to know how to contact them as well.

Because, if you don't stay in touch and update your contact lists often, you will find yourself either in my spot, which is bad enough, or standing in my predecessor's shoes, wondering why no one ever tells her when her family members are seriously ill.

By: Nancy Parode

As I make the rounds at our local shopping malls, Andy Williams' voice reminds me that it's "that most wonderful time of the year" once again. (As if I didn't know.) As a military mom, that means I'm shopping and wrapping and mailing gifts, because my extended family is far away. 2,695.25 miles away, to be exact.

My children have never experienced the Christmas Day drive between grandparents' homes. They've missed out on big family holiday dinners at various aunts' and uncles' houses, and they've skipped the "come for dessert, at least" discussions. Their holiday experiences have not been typical - two Christmas seasons in Italy, several in Virginia Beach, and, happily, quite a few (although not consecutive) in our home here in Anne Arundel County.

I don't feel deprived, though. We made a conscious choice when we finished our first overseas tour to skip holiday travel and spend our vacation dollars at other, less expensive times of the year. For us, that's been a good choice. My husband can get more leave in July than he ever could in late December. I worked at a local airport for a couple of years, and I know full well that I'd rather fly in February than fight the holiday crowds in the parking garage - let alone the terminal. We've missed a lot of Christmas dinners back home, but we have managed to get to the west coast to see our families fairly frequently over the years. Our families have been wonderfully cooperative - they don't make us feel guilty about missing holiday events, but, instead, are delighted when we do visit.

Happily, we've established some family traditions of our own. We set up an Italian Nativity scene, a souvenir from two years in southern Italy. We put up our lights - purple for Advent (or the Ravens!) at first, then mixed colors with our Boy Scout pine garland later in the month. We make treats or craft items for our church music group Christmas Eve gift exchange, then lug home cookies, cheese boards, fruit and fudge after the last Mass on December 24.

Best of all, we fill our home with friends every Christmas Day. We invite people we met 20 years ago in San Vito, now as dear as family; our daughter's godfather's parents, who live nearby and know all about raising kids while Dad's deployed; our first church music director, whom we met in Italy and turned up in our church music group here when we rejoined the choir for the third time. None of us have blood relatives nearby, but we know all about caring and celebrating, wherever we are.

As Linus would say, "That's what Christmas is all about." When you're living the military life, you have the chance to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. For me, that includes sharing heart and home with friends. Wherever we happen to be stationed, we're home for the holidays.

By: Nancy Parode

We spent Thanksgiving weekend with friends we met 20 years ago at our first duty station. We had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, my friend's mother, who lives with them, had to be hospitalized Thanksgiving night.

I spent part of yesterday going through boxes of Christmas decorations, revising my shopping list and discussing gift ideas with relatives. After all, those holiday mailing deadlines are right around the corner.

This morning, I read a news report that describes the likelihood of a nuclear or biological terror attack on the U.S. Apparently, such an attack is likely within the next five years.

These seemingly random statements actually have something in common - advance planning.

One of the things I learned at that first overseas duty station was that I can't control what the military does - even if it affects me directly - but I can plan ahead for sudden change. I watched my friends calmly and effectively execute a "What if Mother gets sick?" plan on Thursday night. They made telephone calls, packed medications and headed off into the night. It all worked well, mainly because my friends had thought through this scenario before it happened. When the time came, they knew what to do.

My holiday plans are pretty much the same every year. I don't travel far away over Christmas unless my husband is deployed. (Perhaps my two years working at a local airport have influenced this plan...just a bit.) I talk over the shopping list with my husband, but we both know who's doing the shopping. Most years, my husband spends much of autumn traveling for the Navy. It's less stressful for me to plan for his absence than to hope he'll be around and feel let down if the Navy sends him away. My holiday plans are simple, by necessity, but they're time-tested and they work for me.

Yes, I even have a nuclear attack plan. This plan evolved when my husband was on a team of people designated to go to a safe facility in case of a terror attack on Washington. You guessed it...that meant I would have to handle our family's response to terrorism alone, just the way I dealt with hurricanes two years in a row. (Navy ships all go to sea - with all hands onboard - during hurricanes. Guess how I know?)

My terror attack plan is simple. We leave. Our route is planned, based on prevailing winds and likelihood of road closures. We have a destination, and we've discussed our plans with our hosts. It sounds creepy, I know. For me, though, this plan is a comfort. If bad things happen, all I have to do is grab my important documents (yes, they're ready to go), bundle up my children, collect the cats and go. No panic. Just a plan.

I can't control weather, change Postal Service deadlines, predict terror attacks or guess what next week's Dow Jones Industrial Average will be. I'm pretty good at organizing, though. Having a game plan ready to go helps me handle the crazy changes the Navy throws our way.

P.S. - I am happy to report that my friend's mother is doing much better. We hope she'll be able to come home this week.

By: Nancy Parode

For me, Thanksgiving week is the time of year when I finally plan out my holiday calendar. My personal Christmas season begins with Black Friday shopping - not for the faint of heart - and continues through January 6, the Feast of Epiphany.

As the school year temporarily slows down, I like to include some special holiday events on our calendar. Some years, we attend holiday concerts and performances. Other years, I come down with Craft Show Fever and head out to a different craft event every weekend.

If you're looking for something special to do over the holidays, take a look at some of the events going on at our local military bases. Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground have already published their December MWR calendars; I'll bring you Naval Support Activity Annapolis' events as soon as that information is available.

At Fort Meade, you can choose from several special events, starting with a holiday concert at Meade Senior High School on December 7 at 6:00 P.M. The Army Field Band's Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus present their "Sound the Bells" concert. This event is free.

Fort Meade MWR is sponsoring Breakfast With Santa on December 13. There are two seatings. You'll need to buy tickets in advance from Child and Youth Services. Bring your own camera.

ITR is offering two trips to New York City. The ever-popular trip to see the Rockettes' performance at Radio City Music Hall is on December 12 this year. This trip usually sells out, so get your tickets early. You can also head to the Big Apple to shop or sightsee on December 20. Buy your tickets for both trips at the ITR office.

Aberdeen Proving Ground's Holiday Extravaganza and Tree Lighting Ceremony take place on December 3 at 6:00 P.M. at the AA Recreation Center. Santa will, of course, be in attendance, so bring your cameras and enjoy the fun.

Also at Aberdeen, Army MWR is sponsoring an Arts and Crafts Show on December 4 from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Vendor tables are still available.

Aberdeen offers several daytrips to New York City during December. A bus will run from Aberdeen to New York each December Saturday. The cost is $45. Contact (410) 278-4011 for more information.

I'll have more information on holiday events next week.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving.

By: Nancy Parode

At this time of year, I always feel like I'm trying to tie up far too many loose ends. Holiday shopping looms. Special events crowd their way onto our family calendar. Sometimes I forget what time it is, let alone which day I'm living through.

At times like these I tend to forget about events I'd really like to attend. I read about them, then forget to log them on the calendar. Days slip by and I miss an opportunity.

I thought I'd remind you of some completely unrelated events and deals, just in case you accidentally deleted a few too many MWR newsletters.

• The Fort Meade Automotive Craft Center is offering classes on Sundays for people who want to work on their cars, but don't know how. The classes are from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M. and cost $10 each. You can learn how to perform basic maintenance tasks on your car under the guidance of trained staff. Call (301) 677-5542 for more information. (You will also need to get a MWR card in advance; this involves watching a safety video, listening to a safety briefing and going to Gaffney Fitness Center to get the actual card.) Working on your own cars is a great way to save lots and lots of money. With oil changes costing $30 and up, just knowing how to change your own oil can save you hundreds of dollars over the life of your car.



• Annapolis MWR is sponsoring a Cold Turkey Trot 5K run on November 22. The race begins at 9:00 A.M. (brrr!) at the Bay Room on Greenbury Point at Naval Support Activity Annapolis. The entry fee is $5 (active duty military are free) and includes a T-shirt. You can register ahead of time at Building 89 or sign up before 8:30 on the day of the race. All participants will get a free cold turkey sandwich, courtesy of Subway.



• Speaking of Annapolis MWR, the MWR holiday hours schedule is now available. Check the schedule before you drive down to the base.



• On a completely different note, if you're considering a Disney vacation next year - and Disney's offering some great hotel deals right now - plan the trip around a birthday. In 2009, Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are offering free admission on your birthday. Proof of age required. Visit the Disney Parks Web site to register.

By: Nancy Parode

Last fall, I had the chance to visit the Verdun battlefields in France for the first time. I've been to literally dozens of American battlefields and I've walked the beaches of Normandy, but Verdun really tore at my heart. Visiting a place like Verdun really brings home the idea that freedom isn't free.

Veterans Day isn't just about honoring our fallen, though. It's really about thanking everyone who has served in our nation's military. Serving in the armed forces is not easy. Military members and their families make all kinds of sacrifices, large and small.

Our veterans deserve this day. Take a look around the next time you're at Fort Meade or Annapolis. You'll see young men on crutches and older veterans whose health was undermined by military service. And you'll see something else - pride. Walk up to these veterans and thank them for their service. Watch them stand tall. They joined the military for all kinds of reasons, but they are all proud of their service to our country and to you.

We should be proud, too. Please take the time today to thank a veteran.

Photo by Nancy Parode

By: Nancy Parode

Election Day 2008 is finally here. Whether you are sighing with relief - no more political ads - or worried about the future, please vote today. We are choosing not only a new Commander in Chief but also elected representatives who will write and pass laws that affect your military pay and benefits. Voting is your privilege, right and duty. Please exercise this privilege.

If you have questions about today's election, the Maryland State Board of Elections Web site has information about polling places, provisional ballots and voter registration.

You may take one or two children under age 13 into the voting booth with you if necessary. Polls are open until 8:00 P.M. tonight.

By: Nancy Parode

Fort Meade will host a job fair Wednesday, November 5, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at Club Meade, located at 6600 Mapes Road. While the job fair is billed as a Veterans Job Fair, everyone is welcome to attend. Representatives from 83 companies and government agencies will be at Club Meade for this event.

Bring your resume, updated, of course, a photo ID and your trusty pen to the job fair. If you're driving and don't have a military sticker for your car, be sure to bring your current registration and proof of insurance, and enter Fort Meade at the Reece Road gate.

If you haven't updated your resume; in a while, or if your interview skills are rusty, take the time to do a little pre-job fair "homework." As you might guess, I've gone through this process a few times during our 10-move Navy experience. My own favorite resume; how-to guide is Resumes That Knock'Em Dead by Martin Yate. The 2009 edition just came out two weeks ago, but earlier editions should be available at your local library.

Whichever resume; guide you use, make sure you include your most important information - current security clearance leaps to mind - in the top half of the first page of your resume. Have a friend proofread your resume to make sure you've caught every error and explained every military acronym. Civilian employers don't always know how to translate milspeak, so it's up to you to tell them that you know how to weld, not just that you were a Navy machinist's mate. (In a former life, I "translated" military resumes into civilian terms for commercial training proposals. The best way to do this is to describe all aspects of your military jobs to a civilian friend and have the friend write down what you say.)

Prepare a list of references and past employers in case you are asked for this information on job applications. Look up addresses and telephone numbers in advance; the last thing you want to do is leave blank spaces on your application form.

Don't forget to put your best foot forward; dress professionally and make sure you're well-groomed. One of my friends, who manages a Navy galley (chow hall) and club, has told me all kinds of stories about job applicants who turned up in ripped jeans (and worse) and talked about all the things wrong with the galley during the interview. Needless to say, they weren't hired.

Attention to these details will help you make a good first impression. I wish all you job-seekers the best of luck.

By: Nancy Parode

Fall is the time for yard sales and flea markets in Maryland. Neighbors huddle over steamy coffee mugs, while shoppers pile out of cars and trudge up driveways, hoping for bargains.

If yard saling is one of your hobbies, don't miss Fort Meade's last flea market of 2008. It's this Saturday, October 18, from 7:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in the Pavilion. The Fort Meade Pavilion is just inside the Llewellyn Gate, which is the first gate you reach on Route 175 after you exit Maryland Route 32, heading toward Columbia.

This flea market will be packed with vendors - all the tables have been sold. Parking and admission are free. If you get hungry, you can buy food and beverages at the Pavilion.

If you don't have a base sticker on your car, come a bit early. Don't forget to have your current registration, proof of insurance and driver's license with you. Please don't use your cell phone on post unless you have a hands-free device. Talking on cell phones while driving is prohibited on all military installations.

By: Nancy Parode

Thank you for 223 years of faithful service!

By: Nancy Parode

If you're a Maryland resident, you have only two more days to register to vote in this November's election. Registration closes this Tuesday, October 14. You must turn in your voter registration application by 9:00 P. M. Tuesday. If you plan to mail your application, be sure it's postmarked on or before October 14.

Planning to vote by mail? Request your absentee ballot before your home state's deadline. (Maryland's deadline is October 28.) Once you receive your ballot, please complete it and mail it right away.

As I've said before, this is not a political blog. However, I have to say that I truly believe this election is one of the most important in our history. All military members, spouses and their adult children have a very important reason to vote. The man elected next month will be our Commander in Chief. His decisions will influence your life for the next four years. Shouldn't you make your opinion known?

By: Nancy Parode

I spent Sunday afternoon in D.C. with my family at Union Station's centennial celebration. (It was wonderful - lots of historic trains - and now my kids want to take a train trip.) As we were leaving the "mall" section of Union Station, I noticed that the Swatch store had posted a sign that said "10 percent discount for students and military with I.D." or something to that effect. I couldn't help smiling - it's so nice to see local merchants supporting our hard-working military members.

Finding military discounts can be time-consuming. While some companies, such as Anheuser-Busch (Busch Gardens and Sea World), advertise their military discounts and promotions, most don't.

One of the best ways to find military discounts is to do some online research. If you're planning a trip or making a major purchase, it's worth a few extra minutes to find out about possible discounts and special offers. For example, when we moved back to Maryland, I checked all the local cell phone providers to see if military discounts were available. Happily, I found a plan (from Sprint) that matched our calling patterns. I checked with the Fort Meade Sprint vendor and learned that I could also get a military discount.

If you shop online, the AAFES/Navy-NEX Web site includes a link to the "Online Mall," a listing of merchants that offer free shipping or discounts for military shoppers. Merchants include Books-a-Million, World of Watches, AreYouGame and Costumes, Inc.

There are a few Web sites that provide information on military discounts, including Military.com, 4MilitaryFamilies.com, Military Avenue and the Army Times.

Don't forget to pay attention to local media. Some merchants, such as Lowe's, offer military discounts at select times - Memorial Day weekend, for example - and they advertise in newspapers and on the radio.

Is all this research worth it? You bet. Over time, those discounts add up. You've earned them - it's time to reap the rewards for your service to our nation.

By: Nancy Parode

Last week I was buying groceries at the Fort Meade Commissary and heard two ladies discussing their shopping experience. One of them held up a box of frozen meat and told her friend that she was saving at least $3.00 over her local membership warehouse store's price. Her friend commented that she believed that her savings on meat alone covered the cost of the extra gasoline she used to drive to Fort Meade. I have a feeling that those two ladies will be back at Fort Meade this week.

If you haven't shopped at your local commissary lately, you might want to take a trip to Fort Meade, Annapolis or Aberdeen Proving Ground. You'll save on basics, like meat, milk and disposable diapers, and you can save even more on sale items. To find out what's on sale at our military commissaries, visit Commissaries.com and click on "Savings Aisle."

In this time of economic uncertainty, it's nice to know that military members and families have a place to shop that can truly help them save money.

By the way, if you have a college-bound student in your family, why not apply for the Defense Commissary Agency's Scholarships for Military Children? Applications for 2009 scholarships will be available online and at your commissary beginning November 1. Home schooled applicants are welcome to apply.

By: Nancy Parode

My son will be applying to colleges sooner than I'd like to think. I like to plan ahead, and I love research, so it falls to me to find out about financial aid, application deadlines, and, most importantly for a military family, residency requirements. I'm happy to report that the University of Maryland system gets an "A+" from me when it comes to helping military families with this important issue.

Basically, active duty military members and their families who live in Maryland qualify for "temporary" residency while they live here. Not all states are this military-friendly, so I'm very glad I live here at this critical time in my son's educational journey.

You can read more about University of Maryland's residency requirements and the University System of Maryland's residency policy online.

By: Nancy Parode

Seven years ago, I was looking after my daycare children when my mother-in-law called to tell me about the attacks on the World Trade Center. Today, I'm watching the memorial service at the Pentagon - the place where my husband's friends and colleagues lost their lives.

I don't know anyone who was unaffected by the terrorist attacks on our beloved country. Everyone I know either lost someone or knows someone who did. Today we remember the innocent victims in the buildings and on the airplanes, and we remember the brave rescue workers and passers-by who died trying to save them.

Seven years ago, the airplanes that routinely fly over my home fell silent. Today the air will be filled with hymns and prayers and remembrances, and it should be. We will never forget - how could we? - but we must also do our part, as citizens and residents of the United States of America, to make sure no one in this country ever has to go through this experience again.

Please vote. Be an active citizen. Look out for your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers. Never give up, and never give up hope.

I write this just before 8:46 A.M., the moment when our beloved country was attacked. Please join me today in remembering our fallen.

By: Nancy Parode

Fall is my favorite time of year, especially here in Anne Arundel County. I grew up in a fall-free area, Southern California, and I like to think I am making up for all those years without blazing autumn colors by enjoying each fall as much as possible.

There's so much going on here each fall that I can't possibly list every event, but I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.

Fire Expo, September 20

This event, held annually at the Fire Training Academy on Maxwell Frye Road (just north of Benfield Blvd. off of Veterans Highway), is great fun for kids. You get to watch firefighters in action, and there are plenty of things to see and do. My son's Webelos den liked the zip line best - but it's hard to go wrong with big shiny fire trucks, any way you look at it. Rain date is September 21.

Kinder Farm Park Fall Harvest Festival, October 11

Traditional fall fun at its best - everything from pony rides to scarecrow making. Warning - pumpkin painting is fun, but can get messy, so dress your children with that in mind. The usual park entrance fee is waived for this event, but you'll need to bring some money to pay for games and crafts. Food concessions are available.

Maryland Renaissance Festival, Weekends Through October 19

You'll have to save your pennies for this one, but it's so worth it. All the stage shows, musical entertainment and, of course, jousts are included with your admission ticket. Some children's games are free, but there is a charge for some games and rides. Food of all kinds is available; prices vary. Last year's surprise hit, Albannach, is back this year - catch their drumming and bagpipe frenzy October 11 and 12 - or give the beautiful and talented Mediaeval Baebes a listen during the last weekend of the festival. Dress up if you like - you won't be alone! Discount tickets are available from Fort Meade ITR.

Anne Arundel County Fair, September 10 - 14

You can't get more traditional than a county fair. For just $5 you can enjoy all kinds of events, exhibits and contests. Opening day admission is just $2 if you bring a 14-ounce or larger can of food to donate, and kids under 10 and Scouts in uniform get in free on opening day with a paying adult. Exhibits range from china to honey to the popular Christmas Corner. Food and commercial vendors will be on hand - don't forget to enter all the drawings. Come on out and enjoy the best of Anne Arundel County.

By: Nancy Parode

Disclaimer: This is not a political blog. I definitely have political opinions, but you won't be reading them here.

Still, I'd like to remind you that Election Day is only 66 days away. Closer than Christmas. Closer than Thanksgiving. If you haven't registered to vote, you don't have much time left.

If you're registered to vote in another state, you'll need to request your absentee ballots as soon as possible. If you're not registered at all, the same "ASAP" applies.

Not sure how to get started? The Federal Voting Assistance Program can help. Click on over to their Web site and they'll take you through the registration and ballot request processes.

Whether you plan to vote for Obama, McCain or Bozo the Clown, please vote. It's your civic duty. You can vote by mail or in person - the important fact is that you CAN vote, and that's a wonderful privilege.

By: Nancy Parode

My children, like many others I know, are frantically trying to cram as much summer as possible into this weekend. I've dropped off and picked up my two more times than I thought possible - we've had beach parties and sleepovers and shopping trips and even a Wolf Trap concert. And let's not even talk about the hours of video games! I hope I'm not the only mom whose children have to be dragged out of bed during the school year, only to have those same children wake themselves up early all summer long, in order to have more time for fun.

Nevertheless, the new school year is almost here. My house is littered with books and spiral notebooks and new clothes. I noticed enhanced traffic enforcement on Fort Meade yesterday, with electronic signs warning that "School Starts August 25." The big day is definitely upon us.

For many military families, this will be the first day at yet another new school. Moving is part of military life, and this means our beloved children change schools frequently. This is one time of year that students need lots and lots of love at home, because new classrooms and academic challenges can be so nerve-wracking.

For us, there aren't so many worries. That's because, after several years of camping out in Catholic school parking lots, usually before dawn, and trying to figure out how to help my children adapt to new schools, we decided to try homeschooling. That was six years ago and we're still going strong. Still, I know exactly what it's like to be Standard Issue Military Mom, working full time with a deployed husband, calling ahead to schools near the next duty station to see what I'm getting myself into. It's tough duty, I know.

I also worked as a substitute teacher on an overseas military base, teaching students of all ages. I taught kindergarten and 7th grade life science and pre-calculus. I learned a lot about military kids, and I quickly discovered that they're just like everyone else. They want to fit in. The only problem is, they move often enough that "fitting in" is a very frequent challenge.

Changing schools is hard, but there are a few things we, as parents, can do to help our children adjust. First, we can listen. This means active listening, where we ask a few open-ended questions and then truly pay attention to our child's answers. We don't do dishes or send a text message while this happens. Children want to know they come first with us, that we'll truly be open to them when they want to talk. If we start now, when they're teens they'll still want to share their worries with us.

Second, we can get to know each new school - teachers, administrators, counselors and anyone else involved in the lives of our children. It takes time, but it's time well spent. Volunteering is one great way to find out more about a school, but making appointments for conferences can be valuable, too. If a parent is deploying, be sure to discuss this with teachers and counselors.

Third, we can give our children ways to connect. My children are active in Scouting, and we've always been able to find troops for them to join. Scouts, 4-H, church groups and service organizations can help your child not only find common ground with peers but also learn valuable life skills they'll use forever.

Fourth, we can do our homework. We can research new schools and new duty stations before moving time arrives. We can offer children choices about involvement in team sports, on-post youth programs and other extra-curricular activities.

Finally, and most important, we can give our children our time. Quantity does count. Even the busiest active duty parent can set aside time for a meal away from the TV, or for a walk around the neighborhood, or for a half-hour playground visit. Time with our children doesn't have to cost a lot, nor does it have to be educational or revolve around a meal. It just has to be. Your child wants to spend time with you. Fly kites, read aloud, play board games, walk the dog. Just do it together.

For more information about military kids, moving and schools:


Military Students on the Move: A Toolkit for Military Parents (excellent resource)

Through Their Eyes: The Military Child's Perspective

Military 'Brats' Thrive While Coping With Challenges

By: Nancy Parode