Military Life as a Military Wife

- salvador dali - 

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I don’t write much about the dynamics of being a military family because, well, thus far we have been relatively lucky: Despite a scatter of deployments and training exercises, our family has not experienced the headaches of disastrous PCS’s, extended deployments and other hardships that come with this lifestyle. We are, in short, extremely blessed. But there will be changes on the horizon as Stephen enters a new realm in his Navy career. Changes that have us excited and okay, maybe just a little bit nervous too? It’s the measure of uncertainty that inspires this sort of ambivalence: happiness for a new adventure and a smidge of uncertainty for what the adventure might entail. Will we end up in the backcountry boonies on some remote duty station or by the beach on the west coast?

Sometimes I get asked if I miss wearing the uniform and almost before the words can leave the person’s mouth I am blurting “no”. It was a chapter in my life I was eager to close when the time came. It was no longer a good option for me or my growing family and I could feel it begin to wear on my spirit. But no sooner were the boots off my feet was I amidst the confusion of Stephen’s short-notice deployment and I learned about what it means to be on the other end of the deal: the loved one who stays behind.

But a strong love like ours makes it worth every bit of the obstacles we face as a family.