Dear Military Wife

Dear Military Wife,

I’ll be honest with you. I never really thought much about your world until my family moved  near a local military base. I knew we had men and women serving our nation around the world, but I never really took much time to think about what life was like for those left at home. It wasn’t because I was heartless and uncaring. I just didn’t know.

And then I moved next door. Our children became best friends. We sat around your table drinking coffee, talking about motherhood and our families. You’d throw out words like PCS and TDY and I’d have to go home and google them to find out what they meant.

I watched as your husband was gone for weeks or months at a time. I watched you hold down the fort and keep things going at home. I saw you volunteering at school, at church, and in the community. I saw you slip out of play-dates when you got a phone call from across the ocean. I listened to your worries when you hadn’t received a phone call. We prayed for his safety and your sanity as you juggled the role of two parents on your own.

I read your Facebook posts as you waited for your loved one to disembark from his plane. I cried when I saw the pictures of your kids running to give your husband a hug. I saw the relief on your face when he was finally home. 

I know that you do what you do because you love your family. I know it’s not easy. I just wanted to say that I’m proud to be called your friend. You may not wear a uniform, but you sacrifice to provide a safe place to come home to, and that’s important. I know it’s your family’s “normal,” but as an outsider looking in, I’m continually amazed by your willingness to persevere through deployments, moves, and changes. You’re stronger than you know.

I know you’re not perfect and that military life is not easy. I know that some days you feel like the stress of it all is overwhelming and that you’re often far from family and friends and home. When those days come, give me a call. We’ll sip on a cup of coffee while our children happily destroy the house.  I may not be a military spouse, but I’m a mom, and we’re all in this together.

Thanks for letting me be a part of your world.

Sarah