D is for Deployment

What they don't tell you about your first deployment as a MilSpouse. 

The first deployment is a brutal shock to the system 💙

No matter how much preparation you’ve made - you will always feel unprepared... 

You'll find yourself crying in the bathroom - muffling your breathing so he can't hear your cries. Then you’ll take a breath – wipe your tears and act like nothing happened.

You’ll leave little reminders everywhere to let him know how much you love him.

The days / weeks leading up – the dread will suck the life out of you.

But most importantly – they’ll remind you to make every minute of them count – because for the next 400 days, texting will be your best friend with the occasional video / phone call.

You'll help him finish packing his things and spend one more night together.

You'll drive him to the base. You'll hug him and kiss him - holding back your tears to not make this harder for him.

You'll look back one more time and see him walking away – you’ll get in your car… you'll lose your s*** and you’ll drive away. If you're one of the lucky ones - you'll be able to call your mom and get a listening ear. You'll come home to an empty house and get rid of everything that reminds you of deployment, and you'll cry some more (wine helps!). You'll put on your favorite movie and try to relax.

And then you begin... the next 400 days are all self-exploration, some easier than others. You’ll find a strength in you that you never knew you had – you’ll miss him, but you’ll be counting down the days until he comes home. You’ll lean on your people – and there will be days that are filled with tears and feel like they are never ending, but they do eventually end. And you start again the next morning. 

Here are some things to get you started: 

Get some projects going (wallpaper is my fav) -read your favorite books - watch ALL of your fav shows that he can’t stand (Love Island is literally never ending and amazing) - try some new recipes (Mac and cheese only goes so far) - staying in is good, but make sure you’re still spending time with friends  

But most importantly always remember – you WILL be okay.

 

Xoxo, Steph 💋