I was looking through some of the keywords that people use to come to this blog and “Can I Really Make it Through This Deployment?” came up a few times. I wanted to tell these people that it does seem hard, but you can make it through. The time before they leave can be really difficult. You wonder what it will be like, if you can do it alone, if you can parent alone, if you can handle him being in a war zone, etc. It is hard to know exactly what to expect, even if you have gone through one before.
There have been times during all of our deployments that I just wondered how I would make it one more day. I felt burned out and just done with it all. But somehow I was able to pick myself back up and get on with it. Sometimes it was because of lot of prayer, other times it was getting together with a friend and sometimes I would give myself a pep talk. Even if that was after a lot of tears.
I think we try to be strong and don’t think we can ever cry about it. We even hear people say we shouldn’t complain. But some days you just have to break down. You just have to let it all out before you can move on to the next day. It is ok to have a bad deployment day, to have ice cream for dinner, to cry to a friend. It is all apart of getting through it.
So to those of you afraid for your first deployment and think you won’t be able to make it through, if you love your husband, if you are committed to him, then you will. You will be able to make it through. You will get through the X amount of months and come out stronger on the other side!
What advice would you give to someone facing their first deployment?
The days/weeks/months leading up to the deployment, and all the anticipation you feel is often times, the worst part of it all. Once you get into a routine after their gone, you figure things out and things get better. Never underestimate yourself!
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This was a really great post! Thank so much! My husband will be leaving soon for his first deployment, so this is really great advice.
My recent post The Reality of Deployment
Great post and really hit home for me! Especially the part where I feel like I won't be strong enough.
Read a poem when in need of a spiritual lift . .http://3poemsaweek.blogspot.com/ thanks and good luck to you and your family.
Thank you!