Sunday, May 24, 2009

What is a MILITARY wife????

Update: I wanted everyone to know that I did not write this. It was sent to me on facebook and I wanted to share it with everyone that always asks how we (military wives) do it. This is pretty close to the truth... I'm so glad that so many of y'all have enjoyed reading it and learning more about us (military wives) or just sending me an Amen from my fellow military wives. Y'all are all awesome and I love hearing from you! 
What is a MILITARY Wife?They may look different and each is wonderfully unique, but this is what they have in common.Lots of moving---Moving.Moving.Moving far from home.Moving two cars, three kids and one dog----all riding with HER of course.Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house.Moving curtains that won't fit.Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.Moving away from friends, moving toward new friends.Moving her most important luggage; her trunkful of memories.Often waiting-Waiting, waiting, waiting for housing; waiting for orders; waiting for deployment; waiting for reunion; waiting for phones calls; Waiting for the new curtains to arrive; waiting for him to come home for dinner----AGAIN!They call her 'military dependent', but she knows better.She can balance a checkbook.Handle the yard work.Fix a noisy toilet.She can put together a WOODEN swing set.She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors, and toggle bolts.She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up a move, -- all with ONE Power of Attorney.She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.Reinvents her career with every PCS; locates a house in the desert, the arctic, or the deep south and learns to call them all 'home'.She MAKES them all home.She is fiercely IN-dependent.Military Wives are somewhat hasty.They leap into decorating, leadership, volunteering, career alternatives, churches and friendships.They don't have 15 years to get to know people.Their roots are short but flexible.They plant annuals for themselves and Perennials for those who come after them.Military Wives quickly learn to value each other.They connect over coffee, rely on the spouse-network and accept offers of friendship and favors and record addresses in pencil.Military Wives have a common bond.The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands, his commitment is unique. He doesn't have a job, he has a 'mission' he can't just decide to quit. He's on-call for his country 24/7 but for you, he's the most unreliable guy in town!His language is foreign:TDY,PCS,MOS,FOB,ACU And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.She is the long-distance link to keep them informed the glue that holds them together.A Military Wife has her moments----She wants to wring his neck, dye his uniform pink, and refuse to move to Siberia...But she pulls herself together.Give her a few days, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, a pledge to the flag, and a wedding picture.And she goes.She packs.She moves. She follows. Why? What for? How come?You may think it is because she has lost her mind. But actually it is because she has lost her heart.It was stolen from her by a man...Who puts duty first.Who longs to deploy.Who salutes the flag.And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military husband,She will remain his Military wife.

5 comments:

Paging Doctor Mommy said...

I'm sending a link to this post to one of my sorority sisters who is an Air Force wife, and she is in the process of her upteemth move. I know she will appreciate and respect this post!

FYI she is Leanne at These Twenty Toes (http://thesetwentytoes.blogspot.com/)

By the way, I couldn't help but chuckle as I was reading as I envisioned your hubby with a pink uniform!

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

You are so amazing. I am in awe of what you do.

LeAnne said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!! hi...i'm the above-mentioned sorority sister! Tiffany sent me a link to this post and i am so glad. i'm gonna have to feature it on my blog...my family and friends would love to pop over here and read it. thanks so much for posting that:)

Rocket Ma'am said...

This is by far the best description I've seen- others are too gooey for me. I'd like to post it on my blog, since you didn't write it, I'll just copy it and list you as the semi-source, if you don't mind. Take care!

Anonymous said...

I am a family member to leanne, the sorority sister. I emailed this one to dr. laura and she has posted your blog on her website for all too see. Thank you for posting it.

background