Author Archives: Barbara Eastom Bates

About Barbara Eastom Bates

Barbara Eastom Bates is a freelance writer and self-professed computer geek living in southern California.

Reflection of Our Spouses?

Do you think the things you say and do have any affect on your spouses’ ability to succeed in the military? Navy wife and columnist, Sarah Smiley says no. In retaliation to a retired Sailor that admonished her “Shore Duty” column for “finger-pointing” at Navy medicine, Smiley responded with, “A Reflection of his Wife?,” a column where she humorously argues, “If I, Sarah Smiley, am merely a reflection on my spouse and not a separate human being…” it must also be true that [her husband] “forgets to shave his legs every other day,” “dyed his hair blonde, but thought it … Continue reading →

You *Can* Finish Your Degree

If earning a college degree has been your lifelong dream, being a military spouse doesn’t have to stand in the way of your fulfilling it. Thanks to the internet, military partnerships with traditional colleges and universities, and the development of distance education programs, the challenges of a military lifestyle are no longer an obstacle to earning your degree. Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) are a consortium of over 1,800 colleges and universities that have pledged to support the higher education needs of military families. How does this help you? All credit you earn at a SOC school is transferable to any … Continue reading →

Is My Child Developing Properly?

If you gathered together a roomful of new parents, chances are they would exhibit one common concern no matter their other diversities. Among the top questions of parents of children under the age of five is, “is my child developing properly?” While a nearly universal concern for moms and dads, most parents have little reason to worry. According to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Health Interview Survey, fewer than 3.4 percent of children are classified as having a developmental delay, with the vast majority of children developing in a completely typical fashion. Typical, however, doesn’t … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Birth Announcement

The expected arrival is finally here–welcome to the brand new Baby blog here at families.com. I’m Barbara, and I’ll be your hostess on this journey through new parenthood. I’m 31, currently reside in southern California, and have two children–a seven-year-old son, and three-year-old daughter. I’ve been writing about parenting and families for magazines, newspapers, and around the web for a number of years, and I’m thrilled to be here with you now. What I hope you’ll find here is both a combination of the latest information affecting your life as a parent, and reassuring facts about the issues you care … Continue reading →