This November, we honor the military community and the families who serve alongside it. Tonya Glamann, Regional Manager of Operations, reflects on 21 years as a military spouse and the lessons she carried forward about resilience, belonging and the power of community.
"Being a military spouse was one of the toughest roles I've ever fulfilled — and one of the most honorable responsibilities I've ever had," Tonya says.
Over 21 years, Tonya's family toured the world. They were stationed everywhere from Minot, North Dakota, to a NATO base in Germany and the frigid landscape of Alaska before finally returning to the Lower 48.
The highs and lows of military life
Across those decades, Tonya experienced the full emotional weight of military life: worry, fear, anger, sadness, joy, elation and immense pride.
"It often felt like a constant roller coaster, yet I would never trade the countless experiences and opportunities we were blessed with because of his military service," she says. "My husband was a different man in uniform — steady, confident, fulfilled. He was made for service, and he was honored to do it."
Starting a family overseas
Their time in Europe was especially meaningful. The family lived off base, and their German landlords quickly became family. That bond grew stronger when Tonya's eldest son was born in Heerlen, the Netherlands, her first experience in a foreign hospital.
"It will forever hold a special place in my heart because it's where I first earned the title of 'Mom,'" she says.
Living among the 13 nationalities represented on base gave Tonya and her family an extraordinary opportunity to experience different European cultures. Along the way, they formed friendships that became lifelong bonds.
Their next chapter took them a full day's travel away to Alaska, where they welcomed their second son. Two boys, two well-traveled dogs and 21 years of experiences helped shape the family they are today.
Leaning on community through deployments
No matter how uncertain the future felt, Tonya’s family always had a community that understood.
"When deployments happened and the silence was deafening as you waited for contact, your military family stepped in — filling the time, the space and the worry," she says.
Tonya's career in NAEYC-accredited child care centers on base gave her days purpose and stability. Evenings were filled with swim lessons, basketball, soccer and lots of happy movies to keep everyone's spirits up.
"Still, nothing compares to homecomings," she says. "The moment you see your service member again — the joy, the relief, the indescribable elation — it's something that stays in your heart forever."
Finding home again at Bright Horizons
Tonya took great comfort and pride in being part of the military community. She still misses that life, though she admits she appreciates the certainty civilian life offers.
She's also grateful for the military's high standards, especially its requirement that every child development center on base be NAEYC-accredited.
After building her career in those large, accredited centers, Tonya knew what quality and consistency should feel like when her family returned to the Lower 48.
"When I found Bright Horizons, I knew I would feel at home again," she says. "That sense of continuity — knowing what to expect even when everything around you is new — is powerful. It eases the fear, reduces the worry and brings comfort when the world feels unsteady."
Giving families a place that feels like home
Today, she sees Bright Horizons give families that same reassuring sense of continuity and belonging.
"The familiarity they feel, center to center, is huge. It is comforting. It is valuable. It is appreciated," she says. "It may be different — but it feels like home."
"I'm so honored that through all our tours, assignments and experiences, we landed close to a Bright Horizons where I could join this community and proudly call it my home."
