Deployments...

I feel blessed that my husband is home right now.  His ship comes and goes and his days at work are long.  But we have the occasional weekend to look forward to.  And should he not pass out right after dinner on the couch, I have a helper at home to do the bath time routine for the kids.  So I know I am lucky.  Daddy is home.

Three of my good friends recently had to say good bye to their husbands on deployment.  Different ships.  Different missions.  Different cities.  But the tears and hugs are very much the same.  And it makes me so sad. 

Being a military spouse living on a military base, my life is filled with military friends.  While that means being surrounded by people who "get it," it also means that the struggles and stresses of deployment are very much real.  There is always a little girl crying for her daddy in the middle of the night.  There is always a little baby born while daddy is gone.  There are always moms who put on their super mom capes and masks as soon as the ship leaves the pier to somehow do it all while their husband is gone.  And those active duty moms...I cannot even begin to imagine how they do it. 

I'm not sure what the point of this post is.  I think that it's basically to say to my amazing milspouse friends...I love you dearly.  You all amaze me and inspire me.  I know how hard deployments are and I don't think they ever get easy.  But I also know that you are all awesome.  That doesn't mean you have to do it on your own though.  Ask for help.  Call me.  Show up at my door.  Just drop off your children to get your nails done.  I am here for you.  All of us are here for you.  I know that when it's my turn, you will be there for me.  But for now, let me be your shoulder and your helping hand.

And to our loved ones at sea - fair winds and following seas...

Month of the Military Child

I have a military child.  Sadly, I did not even realize that April is the Month of the Military Child until I read this touching blog post by Stephanie Howell.  It wasn't long before I was hysterically weeping; it was as if I was reading about my future.


As we prepare to move once again and quickly approach our first deployment with Charlotte, Justin and I are bracing to prepare Charlotte for an onslaught of change - moving cross country, new school, new house, absent dad. 

Last week, our household goods pack out took away Charlotte's polka dot chair, bike, sheets, most of her toys and books.  Each morning, Charlotte and I will have a conversation somewhere along these lines:


Mommy, where my [insert missing item, e.g., polka dot chair]? 


It's going to San Diego, sweetie.  


Then, without even a pause to process any of the information, she begins to sob, collapse onto the floor, and scream:


I DON'T WANT IT!  I DON'T WANT TO GO!  HOUSE, HOUSE, HOUSE!!!


The following words also trigger similar reactions:  airplane, move, new house, California.  Charlotte started having night terrors the night the movers took away the boxes.  If you ask her where Daddy is (when Justin isn't in the room), she'll point to her heart.  


It doesn't seem fair sometimes.  It feels more like a cruel initiation process into the military family.  But regardless of whether or not it's fair, it is our reality.  We do it because we love Daddy.  And Daddy does it because he loves this country.