April is the month of the military child— the month dedicated to our beloved dandelion children who plant roots at every duty station they call home.  As parents, how do we find the soil where these dandelions will flourish?  The answer for our family is Stroller Warriors— Stroller Warriors has been a major part of the root system for my kids.
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My Stroller Warriors journey began in Germany, and it is here where I met Molly at the Stroller Warriors Ramstein Spring Kick-off in 2015.  Molly and I became instant friends as did our children.  From the start, our kids marched to the same drumbeat— barefoot nature-loving children making sandy mud pies with water from their water bottles, a love for running/sports, playing pretend, and learning.  Our families grew together while stationed in Germany.  The day that my second child was born, I was making sandwiches to pack for a Stroller Warriors pool day.  Our family didn’t make it to the pool that morning as we ended up at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center expanding our family by one.  As the days and weeks went on, Molly’s oldest daughter taught my oldest daughter what life is like as a big sister.  Molly’s second oldest helped take care of my son at Café Schmidt (our morning spot after school drop-off, but before Stroller Warrior runs)— picking up my son’s spoon from the ground, giving him his Sophie giraffe, or rocking his car seat when he began fussing.  The day that we flew from Ramstein to PCS back to the States was also a Stroller Warriors workout day.  I ran with my kids to the “airplane” park, ran one final loop with the Stroller Warriors Ramstein crew, and my kids played with their mini-warrior besties 3 hours before we left for America.  We have managed to reconnect with Molly and her family on several occasions since leaving Germany.  Each time, our kids pick up right where they left off— it’s as if no time has passed whatsoever.  Their friendship bond is strong is and enduring like a dandelion.   

​Things started to feel real after our hullabaloo of a PCS back to the states, visiting family around the country, and settling the kids into stateside school/activities— little hearts were hurting.  Enter Stroller Warriors Fort Belvoir to ease their pain with the familiarity and consistency of the Stroller Warriors family.  Many memories were made at the parks and in the dirt.  My kids continually recall their favorite memories from our time in Virginia— memories that include their mini-warrior friends.  While Stroller Warriors members hustled during speed workouts and strength training sessions on the track, our mini warriors were busy creating childhood memories— trying to build a tree fort alongside the track, riding bikes and scooters, catching butterflies in the midfield, and sharing toys in the outside lanes.  My mini warriors still wear their tie-dyed t-shirts they made during the mini-warriors program in 2018.  One member even invited all the mini warriors to their child’s Star Wars themed birthday party, which is all time favorite birthday party memory!  

The kids said their farewells to their Fort Belvoir friends after enjoying frozen yogurt at the Sweet Frog on base.  Two days later we headed to South Carolina for a new adventure.  Unfortunately, Shaw AFB did not have a Stroller Warriors chapter.  SW Fort Jackson was an hour up the road, but a bit of a hike for us to attend workouts during the school year.  I transitioned into the Stroller Warriors Elsewhere chapter.  I thought this would be a big adjustment, but there were Stroller Warrior connections to be found!   As a member of Stroller Warriors Elsewhere, my kids found other military children that they referred to as their Stroller Warriors friends.  I met Abby at our neighborhood pool one sizzling and humid South Carolina summer afternoon shortly after moving to SC.  Or, I should say, Chris met Abby at the pool and called me: “come down to the pool, there is someone here from Montana and she also loves running.”  Abby also had a Stroller Warriors connection— her close friend was also a member of Stroller Warriors in Monterey!  Abby became one of my morning running buddies and her children were what my kids called their Stroller Warrior Elsewhere friends— often taking stroller walks and/or runs through the neighborhood or local park, meeting at the library, or completing  kettle bell strength workouts on the track while the kids ran around…sometimes staying at the track a bit longer to watch the F-16s roll out.  These memories of Abby and her children are often shared by my children— their roots planted at Shaw AFB.   
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Our family PCS’d to Charleston AFB and I immediately joined Stroller Warriors Charleston.  My children were thrilled there was a Stroller Warriors chapter— it meant jumping right back into a familiar friend group/family.  My older two kids began school shortly after our PCS, but my youngest was eager to attend her first Stroller Warriors event at our new home base.  Chelsea, the coordinator of SW Charleston became my first friend at our new location, and her youngest daughter has become a cherished friend for my youngest daughter— often sharing stories with her two older siblings about what she and Chelsea’s daughter played during their Friday Stroller Warriors session.  My daughter recently celebrated a birthday, and with spring break on the horizon, pulling together a birthday party to include all her favorite people seemed impossible, but all HER PEOPLE are her Stroller Warriors friends. We arrived at a Friday Stroller Warriors run with cupcakes and Italian cookies to celebrate her big day.  My daughter hopped out of the car and ran over to Chelsea’s daughter who was holding a birthday present— together the two girls opened the present and ran to the playground to play with a book and action-figurines…taking a cookie or two along the way!  After the workout we all sang happy birthday, but then my daughter wanted to sing everyone who attended the workout (as two other mini-warriors had birthdays coming up, and our dog’s birthday was just a week away)!  The story of her Stroller Warriors birthday party has been shared repetitively with our family, friends or anyone that asks if she had a birthday celebration. 

These mini-warrior memories (and many more) make the dandelion roots for my little dandelions— my military kids.  I am forever grateful to Stroller Warriors for providing the soil for my children to flourish!
 
Happy Running,
Rose 

Earlier Facebook days— who remembers the “25 Things About You” list in the notes function?  I do! I made a list 25 bright points while I ran my neighborhood loop and exercised with my kids during spring break. 

25 Things About Running the Circle
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1. I stepped out and decided to run instead of rowing on my back porch.
2. My kids asked to scooter along during the run— hooray!
3. Time for a longer run with the kids home for spring break.
4. Sunshine and cool weather in Charleston, SC made for perfect running weather.
5. I remember to start my Garmin. 
6. My dog heeled next to me during the entire run…even after watching birds, passing squirrels and several other furry friends.
7. And my dog did not try to jump up and bite the leash!
8. I wore the right shorts— a pair that didn’t cause chaffing.
9. Luckily, I spotted the dog poop (not from my dog) on the sidewalk before stepping on it!
10. There are many lovely gardens in my neighborhood.
11. Successfully worked on my 360 breathing technique while running.
12. I measured the loop around my neighborhood— .62 miles.
13. My kids loved racing each other on their scooters while I ran. 
14. My running sneakers are still in good condition after bike riding in a rainstorm.
15. Runners wave exchanges with fellow runners in the neighborhood.
16. There were much fewer no-see-um bugs while running mid-day. 
17. Switching gears from running with a dog running leash attached to my waist, to using our regular leather leash and holding it with my hand.  The change has offered more stability while running with the dog. 
18. Stop-look-listen-wait for me…my kids know and follow this pedestrian rule (it may seem like an obvious lesson all kids allow, but I have seen SO MANY kids in our neighborhood roll right into the road without stopping).  Being able to do this makes for less stress!
19. A neighbor trimmed their trees along the sidewalk to form an arch to walk/run through.  It’s a neat aspect when running loops around the neighborhood.
20. Passing my yard to grab a sip of water out of my water bottle. 
21. Running 4 miles.
22. Walking with the kids while cooling down after a run and watching them find and collect “nature treasures”.
23. My kids convincing me to do some post run strength training in the yard, which included an obstacle course!
24. A new overhead squat PR.
25. Cheese and crackers for a post run snack!

This was a great run/exercise session in preparation for summer break coming at the beginning of June.  I may have to run the neighborhood loop or run 400 loops around the track with the kids more times than I would prefer, but I know that we will be able to make it enjoyable!  And as the seasons change, I’m sure I’ll compile another “25 things” list about running my neighborhood loop.  I know many Stroller Warrior members have repetitive loops/paths that they run with their kids.  What are a few enjoyable aspects of these repetitive running courses?  

Happy Running!

​Rose :)

Hello Stroller Warriors! 

I’ve got an easy craft for you, scrunchies! Soon you'll be able to make scrunchies for all of your favorite running friends. Scrunchies are coming back in style (or so my pre-teen says). Here is how to do them!

​What you need: 
-Sewing machine 
-Thread
-Scissors
-Safety pins (2)
-Fabric 
-Elastic, 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch preferred.

1. Cut fabric in a rectangle, 4in x 18 inches
2. Cut elastic, 8 inches 

3. Fold the fabric in half, so it becomes 2in x18inches. Sew along the long side to make a long tube. 

4. Turn inside out using the safety pin. 

5. Fold one side of the fabric in by 1/4 of an inch. Iron the folded side.

6. Pin the safety pin to one end of the elastic and fabric. Attach other safety pin to the other end of the elastic. Pass through to the other side of the fabric tube. 

7. Stitch to elastic ends together. Sew back and forth along the elastic several times to secure.

9. Sew along the edge to secure all pieces together. 

10. You’re done! Relax or repeat to make more for your Stroller Warrior friends! 

​During the entire month of March, Stroller Warriors® hosted our first Global Outreach Event of the year supporting Operation First Response, Inc (OFR).  This mission of OFR is to serve all branches of our nation’s Wounded Heroes/Disabled Veterans, Gold Star Families and First Responders with personal and financial needs. Services are provided from the onset of injuries or illness, throughout their recovery period and along their journey into the civilian world. Financial aid varies as each case is based on individual needs ranging from rent, utilities, vehicle payments, groceries, clothing, and travel expenses.

Operation First Response provides a variety of programs:

Family Assistance Program and Last Mission Project: In several cases, the VA process can take over a year or more to help Combat Wounded Veterans support their families- leaving families feeling helpless and unheard. This is where the Family Assistance Program steps in by providing the amount of assistance the individual will need to continue through the VA process claim. They also support by assisting with basic needs like groceries, utilities, rent, vehicle payments, and mortgage payments. Additionally, Last Mission Project helps alleviate those stressors to individuals suffering with PTSD.
 
OFR Backpacks: Imagine being wounded and showing up to a combat hospital with no belongings. OFR Backpacks are filled with personal hygiene items, undergarments, socks, and other necessities to provide a little bit of comfort from home to those that need it the most.

Operation Final Salute: Artist, Kaziah Hancock, has created over 580 portraits of fallen service members— ranging from combat veterans to retired service members.  Portraits are given to the families to cherish and respect with one “Final Salute”. This program has been provided by financial donations given to Operation First Response.

Project Specialized Training: Operation First Response has collaborated with Veterans Institute of Training and Technology to provide Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching certification. The training course, books, and reimbursement of the exam are all covered by OFR. This certification allows service members to seek employment with the knowledge of designing, building, and maintaining business networks and networking hardware.

Random Acts of Kindness Initiative: Small cards are made with the information and picture of a fallen service member. Individuals then take part in an act of kindness for their fellow friend, neighbor, and or stranger and provide them with the card. The card says it was “NOT a random act of kindness but done in “honor” of the fallen service member. It is a way to give back to those around you while honoring a hero who gave back to our country.

Through our global outreach events, many of our Stroller Warriors chapters supported Operation First Response by hosting a dedication run and/or donating supplies:
 
Due to wet weather, Stroller Warriors Virginia Beach, Virginia held a run on April 1st. All their miles were collectively dedicated to Operation First Response.

​Stroller Warriors McConnell, Kansas hosted a run supporting Operation First Response on Wednesday, March 30th.

Stroller Warriors Lewis-McChord, Washington hosted a run supporting Operation First Response on Monday, March 28th.

Stroller Warriors Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii dedicated their C25K Graduation miles to Operation First Response! The group ran 32.24 miles on March 25th and had a great turnout that morning of runners, cheerleaders, and other support volunteers. In their event, members shared information on the global outreach.

​Stroller Warriors Iwakuni, Japan was honored to support the Operation First Response Global Outreach Event for the month of March. They had twelve runners dedicate a total of 479 miles throughout the month! This included a run on Wednesday March 23rd that was specifically for Operation First Response. All their members attended the event wearing blue and gold!
 

​Stroller Warriors Okinawa, Japan was able to donate underwear, t-shirts, socks, band-aids, and over the counter pain relievers from Operation First Responses’ amazon wish list. They also collectively dedicated 112.92 miles!

As always, our members went above and beyond supporting this wonderful organization. Congratulations Warriors on a job well done!

If you are interested in learning more and supporting Operation First Response please visit their website at https://www.operationfirstresponse.org/.