I recently read a book whose title is a cry for help, and whose pages reach out to answer that cry. "Help! I'm a Military Spouse I Get a Life Too!" by Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer is full of encouragement and practical guidance for spouses, covering topics such as ...

• Family
• Careers
• Friends
• Faith
• and the Myth of the Perfect Military Spouse

Kathie and Holly, both experienced military spouses, offer insights gleaned from available research, their own lives and from conversations with hundreds of other spouses. Since 1993 they have traveled around the world leading workshops for military spouses.

Not all military spouses are women, and not all stay at home parents are mothers. Jaime Coston and Don James, both stay-at-home dads stationed in Japan shared a little of their lives with Stars & Stripes reporter Chris Fowler for an eye-opening Father's Day story. (Click here for the whole story from the June 17 edition of Stripes.)

Jaime tells about being rejected by an online parenting help organization because he wasn't a mom. There are Web sites for stay-at-home dads to find help and to get connected with other dads like them.

After our families, what is more important in the lives of military spouses than our friends? Sometimes making new friends at a new place is hard. (See Spouse Calls June 3.) Saying good bye is even harder. How do you stay in touch with far away friends? Do you stay in touch? I hope you do.

Why are your military spouse friends important to you? Mine have helped me pack, move, clear quarters, take care of sick children, cry over spilled milk, make Christmas cookies, celebrate the holidays in foreign places ... you name it. Tell me about yours ...