Military Spouse Network
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Saying “I love you” isn’t very difficult, but it can prove to be an issue when your spouse is deployed and communication isn’t easy. If you can’t talk on the phone every day, you might find it hard to communicate your love on a regular basis.
So the next best thing is to get creative with the methods through which you say “I love you.” Here are several creative things you can do from the home front that serve that purpose.
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Deployment is a large adjustment for a couple. The military service member might usually have had certain responsibilities at home that the spouse must now undertake. Because deployment is a change, some spouses might decide to keep the household as similar as possible to normal, but others might choose to do things differently.
Whether or not spouses have children, deployment is a time when habits and behaviors tend to change temporarily, both out of necessity and out of choice.
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Rejoice in the fact that your service member is home.
Homecoming is a hard thing to prep for as a military spouse. It’s hard to keep your mind from wandering. The imagination runs wild, and after being on your own so long, it feel nice to hope and fantasize about how all of your worries and your loneliness will melt away and magically your family will move forward without missing a beat.
Unfortunately, that’s seldom the case.
It’s key to remember that a successful reintegration and homecoming is one that has few expectations, because disappointment can really sour everything. One area that expectations are hard to manage is in the bedroom.
Kristen Smith, manager of Loving a Soldier blog, talks about her experiences with military life.
Meet Kristen Smith.
She is a military spouse, but she is also the blog coordinator for Loving A Soldier, a mother, a professional photographer, a volunteer, a food blogger and an equestrian. Although very busy, she makes the most of her time and has much wisdom to share regarding all aspects of being a military wife.
She discusses her experiences with military life, work, deployment and relationships below.
Christine Lay’s husband, Andrew, just returned home from deployment. She is pictured here with her son, Jamey.
When Christine Lay’s husband came home, she described the feeling as “amazing,” if she could even put her excitement into words.
You might know Christine as the mother whose son, Jamey, received a service dog from Veterans United Foundation. But there’s a lot more to this military spouse. Her husband, Andrew Lay, returned home in July to El Paso, Texas, from deployment after being away for nine months.
Although she said their relationship grew stronger because of this challenge, it wasn’t always easy maintaining a sense of normalcy at home.
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Life moves fast in the military. Vow renewal may or may not be the perfect solution to a less-than-ideal wedding.
Plans are often tentative in the military. A road trip alone may have a plan A, B, C, D and still not work out. Road trips come and go, but what happens when a military couple wants to plan their once-in-a-lifetime wedding?
Some military couples may have their dream wedding no problem, but it isn’t uncommon for an enlistment date, assignment, deployment or other military-related circumstance to call for some sacrifice and compromise.
Many couples consider vow renewals or second ceremonies. If you’re one of those couples, here are a few things to think about: See More
Military families don’t always get to rank their priorities. A marriage often endure deployments, PCSs, and TDYs in addition to work, school, children and everyday life. That mix can make a healthy marriage fall pretty far down the list.
Sometimes a marriage need a little reinforcement to ride out the inconsistencies of military life. Whether it’s to revive or just maintain a healthy marriage, here are some resources designed specifically for the military marriage: See More
Military homecomings are often incredibly emotional periods for both returning service members and their families.While joyous and exciting, sometimes they can also prove emotionally and psychologically challenging. Family’s dynamics can change. Children have grown. Experiences in the field can register a significant impact on military members.
The reality is that homecomings can prove challenging for service members and those who love them.
“Reunion with family often is idealized as a quick, smooth return to normalcy,” according to the American Psychological Association’s Help Center. “The reality may fall short of that ideal.”
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