Oh… Military Life! This is likely what brought you to Mission: Milspouse in the first place. It is what binds the military community together with its wildly unique lifestyle.
Whether you are here to learn how to better live in this military life, how to support a loved one who is living the military lifestyle, or to see if this lifestyle is something you may like to be a part of, you have come to the right place.
Here at Mission: Milispouse the military lifestyle is what inspires us, drives our home lives, our moves, and our service member’s career, and gives us a camaraderie like no other. So welcome friend, take a seat and read more about all things that make us who we are and make the military lifestyle a life like no other!
I was given a quote this week by my new friend, Susan: “Friends are your chosen family.”
This is when I started to really think about how military families socialize differently.
It’s true that friends are our chosen family. I’d bet that most of your friends are your military friends. Mine are. I choose them; they choose me. Somehow, in this odd and challenging lifestyle, we bond as if we were always together, like family.
Exactly two weeks ago today, I was frantically fixing my hair, worried about shaving my legs for the first time in weeks, making sure our house was perfect, cleaning the van, packing the van, and hanging signs at 10 a.m.
Less than two hours later, our service member would return home!
It’s crazy. I started to think yesterday that, if he were home on R&R, he would be heading back in just four days. Boy, am I glad he’s not on leave!
Deployments come faster and faster. Home, away, home again, and away again. I knew I couldn’t be the only one wondering if it’s really harder to be the one leaving or the one who is being left.
I began a mission to find out.
When I asked service members and their spouses which is harder, leaving or being left, the majority of them seem to agree—it’s easier to leave.
You remember Goose from Top Gun? He was such a good guy. I never understood why they called him Goose. Today, I came across an article called “The Wisdom of Flying Geese.” And I think, yeah, that sounds like him. In fact it sounds like us, too—milspouses.
After about six years of being a milspouse, I just realized something today.
I don’t have to be okay.
This for me was a huge epiphany. My husband deployed in January, and I’ve been striving since then to carry on. You know, pay the bills, keep the house maintained, keep the yard neat, the vehicles maintained, nurture and teach our sons—and smile.
As I go about my day, I find comfort in my home, for my home is a connection to my husband. Yes, it is where my computer is, so I have my literal connection to my husband, but just as important are all the memories and reminders of him—us—that fill its walls and surround me.
Mission: Milspouse is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN Number: 88-1604492
hello@missionmilspouse.org
P.O. Box 641341
El Paso, TX 79904