Pat Benatar, 1979
Dear Sweet Old Lady at Walmart,
My son is autistic. I have been his mother for six years, and while his behavior may catch you off guard, I assure you, I have things under control.
Pat Benatar, 1979
Dear Sweet Old Lady at Walmart,
My son is autistic. I have been his mother for six years, and while his behavior may catch you off guard, I assure you, I have things under control.
The holidays always mean craziness for our family and this year was no different. But as I look back through the hustle and bustle I can say it was, and always has been, worth it.
I consider myself a fairly well-informed military spouse. I try to keep up with the news, both official and that of the blog-o-sphere. I attend regular FRG meetings and try not to embarrass my husband with specific policy questions, at all of them.
Apparently, however, I’m already failing at making the transition from active duty family to retirement.
I married my husband late in his Army career. He was an E-6 when we walked down the aisle and I had already built my own career and life.
Soon after we started our family, he deployed to Iraq and during a six year span was deployed or TDY for a combined 5 years. I stayed at my job, in my home, with my friends, in my world. He came and went as he could.
I like going to school. I enjoy it even more now than when I was a teenager. I don’t know if the difference is that as a teenager I had to go and now I want to go, but it is something I really enjoy doing.
During a recent coffee break with my neighbor she asked how I possibly had the time to go to college.
Holidays are not always merry.
For military families who are far from families and friends, the constant reminders all around them that they should be joyfully reunited with their loved ones can be too much to bear.
We have never sent a Christmas letter in our holiday cards. Honestly, I’m lucky to get just the cards in the mail. If I tried to draft, and print, an actual letter my good holiday tidings would probably reach my nearest and dearest sometime after spring break.
And, something about an annual roundup of my family’s good fortune feels, fake.
The O'Jays, 1991
New Year's Eve has always been very special for my sweet soldier and I. We met on New Year's Eve 2000, and we rekindled our relationship on New Year's Eve 2001. So every December 31st that we are together, we pull out the toasting flutes and toast to all that we hold dear.
One of the struggles I have faced as a military wife has been having my own identity.
Or maybe it’s losing my identity.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy being a military spouse or that I’m not appreciative of that “title.” I do love my life and I believe there are so many great things about my role as a military spouse.
Over the years our Army family has been able to celebrate the holidays around the world. Sure, it stinks to be far from family but learning the cherished holiday traditions of another land is a gift I would never trade.