I am so honored to be part of Care.com’s interview series for The Month of the Military Child!
Tag: Surviving separation
I’ve been asked by Care.com to contribute to a series about celebrating the holidays as a military family. In Holiday Boot Camp for the Military Spouse, Care.com listed resources for 26 tips for making this holiday special – no matter where your family is stationed.
Since he’s been there, the United States economy began its decline. Jobs in Gregg’s market have been in serious decline and the 8000 mile separation seemed interminable. A contract end date would approach, no jobs would pop up, so Gregg would be forced to sign another contract and stay a few more months, and it would cycle all over again.
Johnathan turned three in May. As I post this, it’s August 12th, and we finally see an end.
After the repairman left, I was making lunch for my kids. As I was slicing bread, I was thinking of all of the things that could be wrong with my hand – staph infection, spider bite – and thinking about dealing with the floor and the dishwasher and the cupboard and my hands started shaking and a panic feeling started welling up inside of me.
I’m not a handy woman. I can work things that don’t require a lot of mechanical know-how. For instance, I can use a level and a measuring tape to map out a series of wall hangings that will be evenly spaced and properly hanged; however, that’s just math. I’m good with math. What I can’t do is use a drill, a chain saw, or any of the other multiple power tools and mechanical items in my husband’s workshop.
Well, actually it officially sprang Sunday, but this was the first available date for this post.
I love every season as it approaches. I enjoy snow and winter, I enjoy heat and summer, I enjoy harvesting my garden and autumn…so WHY am I so excited about spring this year?
My dad said that in his career he saw a pattern. The spouse leaves, and the spouse left behind creates a whole new life. Part of it is a defense against loneliness. Part of it is a way to make time go by faster. But, new jobs, new hobbies, new schedules open the door to new friends, new intimate circles, and more often than people will admit, new lovers or friends of the opposite sex. This creates a whole new life of which the absent spouse is not a part, and when he or she returns, isn’t necessarily welcome.
This is a picture Gregg took a couple of months ago from a hotel patio in Kuwait. A week ago, he received instructions to attend a week-long class there again. He said to me, “It would be cool if you could come.”
This is part eight in a series about surviving separation from your spouse. Read all posts in this series.
This is part seven in a series about surviving separation from your spouse. Read all posts in this series. Gregg and I have been married ….
