Five years ago we received PCS orders to report back—for the third time—to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
I will be the first to admit that Fort Sill is not on my list of highly sought after assignments. However, to us, it’s six hours from home and family. We lucked into on-post housing, which is historical, though at times, quite hysterical.
Dear Mr. Dad: A few months ago, my husband got back from his third Army deployment—two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He’s been diagnosed with PTSD and is getting treatment, but I’m worried that his condition is somehow rubbing off on the rest of the family. Our children are having problems in school, I’m finding myself on edge and agitated all the time, and my temper seems to be getting shorter by the minute. I used to think that if we survived three deployments we could survive anything. But now I’m not so sure. What can I do?
It seems like everywhere I turn lately, there’s discussion about the topic of “connectedness;” that is, how engaged (or how lonely) we may feel as military spouses.
Whether it’s on Facebook or in face-to-face conversations that I have with spouses new to our installation, I’m hearing the same thing: it can be incredibly difficult to establish and maintain friendships with others.
“Fort Drum? It’s too cold.”
“Fort Hood? It’s too hot.”
“Fort Leonard Wood? It’s too remote.”
“Korea? It’s… Well… it’s Korea.”
Okay, you get the idea. Every place is too something.
Ever stare at your 5-year-old son as he works a Kindle Fire tablet as well as if he had invented the thing himself?
Ever watch your daughter reading her science textbook on her computer while studying for a test?
It’s been two months since my soldier left for his yearlong tour. As soon as he left, I knew I would need a productive outlet. I’ve always been the creative type, and my current career reflects that. I’m only at work for nine hours Monday through Friday, which leaves the rest of the hours in the week for me to think about my soldier being away.
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