Real Life Army Wife: Meet Sarah

This is week two of our “Real Life Army Wife” series, and I chose Sarah because she is a great example of an Army wife and mom, who is also a creative entrepreneur.  Again, another Super Mom!!

When she is not busy raising three boys (the most polite boys you’ve ever met), she has a business that she runs online and even in local boutiques.  I asked her some of her thoughts and ideas for having a successful career path when you are married to a soldier.

What kind of business do your own?

I own a sewing/crafting business named, Poutberry, specializing in stylish necessities and gifts for baby, children and mom.  I started doing this because I could never find anything at the store that was quite right for me.  It has proven to work nicely being “married to the military” because I can work from home anywhere we go.

When you decided to marry your spouse, what were your feelings about your future employment?  Did you fear that you could not continue with your career in the way you would have if your location had been stabilized?

I was more concerned with finishing school when we got married, but did fear that it might not happen because I wouldn’t be stabilized anywhere long enough.  Eventually having the boys got in the way more than the Army did!

What other jobs/career paths have you taken?

I was a successful Realtor for a couple years but this was when we were located back home during a break in service.  I had many connections and was very familiar with the area, so it was a great fit.

How do you advertise your business?  Has your connection to the military helped you with this?

I haven’t sought out any military connections to advertise my business, so far.  Having a husband in the military does afford you the opportunity to continually meet new people so, in that respect, the military has benefitted me some.  I advertise mostly through social networking sites currently.  I have done craft shows to get my name out in the public and to showcase my products.

What fears did you have about your career when you got married, if any?

I didn’t have any fears when we got married.  I was ready and excited for the adventure a military lifestyle offered.  I did have some fears when we came back the second time around that the connections and relationships I had formed would be lost when moving to a new location and I wouldn’t be able to continue my Real Estate career.

Were those fears ever realized?

I decided not to continue in the Real Estate field because a lot of it is based on referrals and knowledge of the area.  I lacked both when coming back to the Army so in a way, I suppose so.  I had also lost interest in this career, as my father is a builder and I worked mainly for him back home.

What advice would you give another spouse who wanted to have some sort of employment, but had a spouse in the military?

The only advice I could give is to try to choose a career path with some portability and with a high need.  I have met a lot of teachers and nurses who were Army spouses and they were always able to find employment.  Working from home is also a great option.

Does your job depend on your location in any way?

I’m not dependent on my location.  Many of my sales are from all over the country.  I’m just starting out so if I were to build a large local clientele, it may be a different story.  Most anything I make though can be shipped to anywhere though so it really isn’t a concern for me.

What do you know now that you wish you would have known years ago?

I wish I would have realized earlier that it was OK to do something just for me.  I felt for so long that be a dutiful, loving Army wife meant that I had to put my education/career on hold to devote myself completely to my husband’s career.

I felt the need to participate in all FRG [Family Readiness Group] and Army related activities and give everything I could to show my support.  I’ve learned that I need to find a balance between the two.  I have done that now and I am much more satisfied.

My advice would be to do what you love and not let your spouse’s career slow you down.  Having a spouse in the military is stressful enough, try to do something that makes you happy.  If you have a special talent or interest, explore it.

What do you want to share that I did not ask?

The only thing that came to mind when reading through all your questions about the fears with moving and switching careers was childcare.  For families that have children, moving around and finding a reputable childcare center that has openings can be a challenge.

In the earlier years of my husband’s career, this held me back from even pursuing employment.  I was not comfortable leaving my children with “just anyone” and found it often impossible to locate a facility or someone who I trusted.  This is what else ultimately led me to start working from home.

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Note from Amy: I highly recommend Poutberry products because they are so cute and very durable!  We recently ordered a few gifts for our friends because we know how satisfied they will be with them.  Her prices are so reasonable; it’s hard to believe you can get cute boutique goods without the boutique price tag! For our Fort Bragg friends, Sarah will be displaying her Poutberry goodies at the Yule Mart, November 20-22.

One last thing: Our thoughts are with those who have lost so much in Fort Hood this week.  We have a few readers in that area, and we just want you to know we are sending our love and prayers.

© 2009, Amy. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Army wife, Real Life Army Wife