Feb 21st, 2008
Feeling Like A Twit
Hubby is a pilot, which means he’s gone quite a bit . . . half of each month actually. It’s always been that way, ever since we met in college - we’ve never really had a “full time” relationship as far as every single day we’re home doing our thing together. For the most part, it works for us . . . we’re both independent and do our thing . . . and I guess it HAS to work for us because that’s just the way it is.
And for the most part, I’m OK with it . . . but every now and then I just really want him to not have to go to work. Every now and then I whine about him having to be gone for the next 10 days. Every now and then I whine about having to do it all by myself . . . the kids, the dogs, the job, the extracurricular activities. A few weeks ago, I was whining a LOT about him being gone . . .
. . . Then I took the kids to gymnastics. And one of the kids’ dads was there. He’d gotten off of work early to come watch his kids in gymnastics because he’d never seen them do it. The wife commented how she was so happy he could make it because he can’t usually leave work early. The next week he showed up as well and was very solemn throughout the whole hour. There was lots of hand holding and just being close to his wife while watching the kids having fun. Last week, he wasn’t there. I figured he couldn’t get off of work.
This past week, he wasn’t there, either. Turns out his deployment day had come. He’ll be gone for minimum of 15 months.
I’m feeling like a twit. Hubby is leaving tomorrow for 8 days and I was getting a bit whiney to myself. This man will be gone for 15 months and his wife is taking in stride, with much pain and fear that I can only imagine. Please pray for this man’s safe return.
And I’ll remember that I’ve got it pretty damn good only being on my own for 15 days each month and not for an entire 15 months!
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I have no idea how military families do it. I am amazed by their strength and courage. And it makes me sad every time I hear about another mom or dad having to leave their family for an extended time. They are definitely my heros!
Deployment is a difficult situation for all of these National Guard who never dreamed they would ever be deployed. At the same time, they chose to join the National Guard and we have paid for them to be trained on an ongoing basis so that they would be available and ready to defend our country in a situation such as this.
Don’t get me wrong…I do feel compassion…particularly for the young families that are left behind to struggle on their own for extended periods of time. But we cannot lose sight of the fact that prior wars required our military to be gone for much longer periods of time, under conditions that were much worse, and with a much higher death toll.
There is a price that we all have to pay for freedom. God Bless America!
Jodie - irregardless, I have always been very proud of the way you have dealt with all of the family affairs and needs when Dan was gone flying. You are quite remarkable!!
Love…Mom
Wow. That definitely puts things into perspective!
I cry when my husband works 14 hour days…30 of them in a row. I guess I at least get the reprieve of him being home at night.
Military families amaze me. I sometimes wonder how they do it, but then I see how close the military families are with each other. They depend on each other for a lot and become their own little unit.
I need a unit.
Anyone got an opening?
I hate when my hubby has to work all day and I don’t see him until after the kids go to bed and that is just once in a while. I don’t know how you do it. Military families are amazing! They are so so strong!
My husband and I are both flight attendants and have to work opposite schedules since we don’t have child care. I see him twice a week but it works for us.
Praying for the father’s safe return home.
I don’t know how they do it either. My hubby works in film and the hours are unbelieveable. When he is on a show I see him for one day a week (most of which he sleeps) for months at a time and I think that’s bad. BTW I am a pilot too…:)
That really puts it into perspective, doesn’t it?