By Alexa Kelly, USO Specialist, PR & Social Media
See all this and more inside the November issue of Military Spouse Magazine!
They say having a baby changes everything.
But what about meeting your future husband online, moving to a new country, getting married, becoming pregnant, coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and learning that your spouse is deploying soon—all within the same 12 months?
That is a tidal wave of change—and the everyday reality for Ariela Neistein, who is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with her active-duty husband, Army 1st Lt. Sholom Neistein.
Becoming a First-Time Mom in a New Country
Ariela, who is originally from Guatemala, moved to the US in September 2019. Shortly after marrying her husband, Ariela found out she was expecting the couple’s first child, a boy.
Then in the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world and social distancing rules began.
For Ariela, this also unfortunately meant there was little chance that she could have a traditional baby shower. Thankfully, that changed when she stumbled upon an invitation on Facebook to attend a virtual USO baby shower, and she immediately signed up.
Military Moms-to-Be Celebrate their New Babies Together, But Apart
While the USO has a long history of offering in-person baby showers for military moms, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the organization decided to make this program virtual.
Just like at a traditional USO baby shower, these new military moms win prizes, ask questions and play games in virtual break-out “rooms” that simulate the tables they would have been sitting at in-person. Expecting moms can also invite their spouse to join them at the shower, as many attendees, like Ariela, did at the virtual shower for Fort Hood.
Expecting Mom and Singer-Songwriter Ciara Joins the Party
During the virtual USO baby shower for Fort Hood, attendees were delighted to discover a surprise guest—singer-songwriter Ciara — had joined the party.
Ciara, who is also a military child and was born on Fort Hood, chatted warmly about her journey as a mom. At the time, she was pregnant with her third child Win, who was born on July 23.
“I am so grateful for you all and your sacrifices, you are some bomb ladies,” she said.
The group talked about a variety of topics, including staying fit during pregnancy, parenting during COVID-19 and how she felt performing during her first two pregnancies. Some participants asked the singer-songwriter their own questions.
“It was really awesome, and she seems really, really down to earth as well,” Sholom said.
Knowing that her husband would be deploying soon, Ariela asked Ciara how she copes with being a mom when her husband, NFL Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, is away from home. Much to Sholom’s delight, Wilson hopped onto the call as Ciara answered Ariela’s question and wished the shower attendees well.
“It was awesome, especially Russell Wilson coming in. I’m a huge football fan,” Sholom said.
Ciara surprised each new military mom with a Munchkins gift pack filled with goodies before she left the party.
“Rock it, mamas,” Ciara said. “Go and be the great mamas that you are.”
After Ciara left the call, the party continued. The group broke into virtual rooms for small-group games before rejoining together to draw names for the USO giveaway of a stroller, a car seat and a pack-and-play.
All party participants, including Ariela, left with a sense that they are not alone in the journey of being a military mom. On July 16, Sholom and Ariela’s son Stephen Alexander was born. Even during a pandemic, military families know the USO and their local community are always by their side.
__
