First time with hubby deploying

Angie - posted on 03/13/2009

Thank you all for the best advice, a shoulder to lean on, and an ear to listen. I'm sure I will need to chat sometime. It's just now becoming real, even though we have known he was leaving for many months now. Thank you!!!

Crystal - posted on 03/10/2009

I forgot one of the most important things to remember. They will sometimes be busy and can't get to the computer and / or phone. I know how hard it is to not worry but keep y our head up and remember no news is good news.  Don't believe everything you hear on tv also. They only tell you the bad things. 

Crystal - posted on 03/10/2009

My advice, I have been through two deployments,  Iraq and Afghanistan. Is to keep a routine, It will keeps things smooth. Hopefully your husband will be able to contact you at the same time. My husband always contacted me at 4 pm. I always made sure we were home. Also stay active in the FRG. They are helpful, and it keeps you busy and active in whats going on. Always send letters emails, pics, anything to keep you feeling close to your husband even though he is 7000 miles away. that always helped me. what also helped me was I decided that the year he was gone, I made a scrapbook, from the time he left to  home coming. I also kept all the emails that we sent back and forth and put them in a binder, so some day we could look back on them. and That was a gift to hiim for when he got home. Both of my deployments I had a 2year and then a newborn for Iraq, and for Afghanistan we had our third child and he left 2 weeks later. For Iraq it was a 16 months he was gone. and It did go by fast. Afghanistan was 12 months. Keep your kids involved also. Let them understand what daddy is doing.  My husband made a video  with pics and music and sent to the kids for them to see daddy, and that helped out with the kids. I wish you all the luck, and if you need some one to talk to I will listen.

Lori - posted on 03/10/2009

I totally agree with Jill, Traci and Jennifer. My husband has been in the Navy for over 20 years, and we have gone through our fair share of deployments. Keeping a regular schedule really helps. Our sons are involved in various activities at different times of the year (baseball in the spring and summer, school stuff Sept-May) and that helps them. I do not work outside the home, but keep busy with various volunteer organizations, plus the added household tasks my husband normally does. And definitely take time for yourself...a massage or a night out with friends can do wonders for your psyche! The time really will go by fast....when my husband left last year it seemed an eternity until he would come home...but now we are down to mere days. Best wishes to you and your family.

Whitney - posted on 03/10/2009

always plan something special for urself once a month :) also we always make chain links for to "rip away" every month

Jennifer - posted on 03/10/2009

I agree with Jill. My husband just started his second tour ( WI national guard) and those kids will keep you busy. We have 3 and they do keep your mind occupied. It will take a few weeks for you to get used to doing everything alone.Just make sure when people offer you help take it. Don't feel guilty about taking time out for yourself. You will need it so that you do stay sane. Take care.

Traci - posted on 03/10/2009

She gave all excellent advice...and also remember that, "No news is good news!" My husband finished his third Iraq deployment last July and there were times during those deployments I wouldn't hear from him for days at a time because of his schedule and what was going on.

Jil - posted on 03/10/2009

I would say the best advice I can give you is to keep a normal schedule and just enjoy your children. Your children will keep you busy and will keep your mind from wandering to him so much. Being a military wife and mother is one of the toughest jobs when it comes to deployments, but keep your chin up and know that there is always a shoulder to lean on here! During the last deployment we did I began a work out schedule and got in shape to run a marathon, pick up a hobby to pass the time if you have some extra on your hands. You will see that before you know it he will be home! All the best to you and your family!