Single parenthood, again

[kalimyre]

So I just dropped my husband off at his unit this morning; they fly for Korea today. He'll be gone for a year. It's always a little surreal doing this. He's been deployed before, he already spent a year in Afghanistan and I dropped him off for that one, too. I remember our older daughter was three then, and the baby was only two months old.

Comments

[marag]

::hugs:: I am honored that you're willing to give up your husband for a year to protect the rest of us. Thank you.

[kalimyre]

Thank you! We'll have been married for eight years next week, and I think these separations are actually good, in a way. Gives us a break and makes us appreciate what we have.

[rivier]

I just wanted to wish you and him the best of luck for the year ahead.

And I hope that you take as much time as you possibly can to look after yourself as well as your family. Two small kids and a job is quite knackering enough as it is - being a compulsory single parent at the same time is just going to add to your fun, I'd guess. Lots of vitamins and early nights for you!

You're both doing a good thing. And I look forward to reading about you picking him up a year from now. It'll fly by!

[kalimyre]

Thank you much for the good wishes! I do plan to make this time to take care of myself and my kids; especially to eat better and exercise since hubby is rather a bad influence in that area. I'm looking forward to his return, too. *g*

[boy_ish]

My co-worker's husband just returned for 3 weeks off after 4 months in Afghanistan, and will returned for 11 more months. I can't imagine how difficult the time away has to be, especially for your kids.

Thinking positive is the best you can do, of course. And you'll make it through, and soon enough he'll be home again.

[kalimyre]

Thanks for the kind words. I think it will be a little rougher on the kids this time, now that they're older, but they've been through a lot and they're very adaptable. My older girl, who turns 7 today and recently started the first grade, has moved with us eight times and been to four different schools, and she always rolls with the changes. So yeah, I think we'll be okay.

[lt_kitty]

I grew up a navy kid, so I know how rough that can be on the kids.

When I was your older daughter's age, it really helped to write to daddy and get letters back. It took ages, especially since he was at sea so it wasn't just international post or military post but a helicopter going out to the middle of the pacific, but it was something physical and substantial to connect me to dad.

Good luck. :)

[kalimyre]

Hey, that's a good idea with the letters, thanks. She's just learning to read and write, too, so it'll be good practice for her. She loves to draw pictures, we'll throw in some of those as well. Since he's in Korea this time where there is a regular post, not a field location like his last deployment, communication should be more reliable. When he was in Afghanistan, I had no real way to contact him except through his unit, and that was for emergencies only, so hopefully this time will be a bit easier. Thanks much for the good wishes!

[leenys]

Wow. I thought it was hard when hubby was gone for three months. Email me if you need to chat. ((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))

You got this. *grins*

[kalimyre]

Thank you! *hugs you back* And yeah, I feel good about this, overall. I think we're going to be fine.