Getting a little depressed?

Question

My husband is in the army and we had to move to Washington in November, all the way from Iowa! This is his first duty station. We live in Lakewood, near Tacoma and south of Seattle. It rains almost 6 days out of the week here. I have a 10 month old daughter and we are away from all of my family (that I love dearly and am very attatched to!). I don't know anyone here and get little help from my husband. I never get to go out and do things by myself. I feel very isolated and have been pretty sad the past couple days. What can I do to make myself feel better? I wish it didn't rain all the time here so I could take my daughter for walks in the stroller every day like I used to. I need some ideas of things to do with my daughter or ways to get out and be around other people aside from when we are running errands. I am new to the area so of course I have no clue what there is to do here. My husband will be gone for a whole month starting Feb. 18th and will leave for Iraq in May. Help! :(

I will be moving back to Iowa when he goes to Iraq, so I just need to try and stay as busy as I can and as happy as I can until I can be with family again. I'm a stay at home mom right now so that is why it is hard for me to meet anyone here. I wish I could just get a job but we only have one car and my husband doesn't have his license, so I get to be the personal taxi driver, maid, and nanny! I don't really get any time to myself, but it doesn't bother me too much because I love taking care of my daughter. Anyway, thanks to anyone that can help!

Answer 1

Seattle's not that bad I promise! It's been a weird weather year :)
Try looking online at seattle.Craigslist.org for community events for moms...there's lots of stuff posted on there, and it changes all day long.

Answer 2

My husband is on his 4th year of service in the Army, 2nd duty station and has done 1 tour in Iraq. Its HARD to say the least. I was in your same position, still kind of am. We just came from Germany, had a ton of friends, and had to leave to come to Oklahoma. I'm from California, so going home often isnt an option. I try to get involved in the FRG unit, go to the meetings to meet other women. Also, check on post library, they usually have a playgroup. Our does anyways. Going to the FRG meetings is a good way to meet women in your exact same position. Maybe if they don't have a playgroup at your library, try organizing one with your units FRG. Also, the Armed forces YMCA usually at all posts has a thing called "mommys day out" or something along those lines. You can leave your child one day a month at the day care, and i believe its free, or very reasonable cost, and just take a few hours to yourself. They also have a parents night out. Make sure to call and see what they offer. Best way to meet people and is to just get out of the house. First 6 months here i didn't leave the house and i became very depressed. Now i get out when i can, even if it means taking the kiddos just to mcdonalds or something. Good luck. I know how hard it is at a new place, and hubby working non stop doesn't help the feeling of being alone, but i promise ya things get better!! :-)

Answer 3

Try Yahoo Groups. Below are some search results that I found for the Tacoma area. You can probably find some indoor playgrounds on the gocitykids website I listed below. When the weather warms up there will be lots more to do. I'm actually jealous because we visited the area last summer and I fell in love with it!

I found some moms on a Yahoo Group when I was in a similar situation as you. Meeting some new people will help you out alot!!

Good luck!!

Answer 4

It could always be worse!! Our first duty station was Friedberg, Germany. Talk about missing family....we saw them about once a year. You will make it, don't worry!!! Get active in your FRG to meet wives, also take your little one to the park and you can meet other wives there too, and its a plus because your litle girl can make some friends also. But the biggest thing would be to get involved with the FRG (Family Readiness Group)...they should contact you. But just breathe and take one day at a time. I was the same way in Germany and I couldn't get a job, so there were some very long days. Good Luck with everything and make sure that you contact the FRG if they haven't contacted you yet. I'll keep you in my thoughts!!!

Answer 5

First, honey, there are hundreds of thousands of us who have or are going through it. We're with ya.

Talk to your husband. It may be that the first thing you say needs to be "I need to be allowed to talk to you about this". My husband has to be reminded of that sometimes, and it usually gets him to at least hear me out.

See if there are other new moms on the base (or near it) that you could befriend. Look into MOPS International (Moms of Preschoolers, it was GREAT when I was a stay-at-home mom, and your "preschooler" is any child not in kindergarten yet). Join a young mom's Bible class. Ask a local gym or college campus if there are classes for moms and babies. Get your daughter involved in a playgroup.

Answer 6

sure, I do and so so fairly some ladies I talk to. the main reason is that Christmas has grow to be so commercialized with the aid of the media and the retailers. interior the US, from the week until now Thanksgiving, many radio stations play Christmas music around the clock until evening on December 25, whilst it without warning ends. The retailers are worse, and look putting up Christmas reflects in the previous each 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. maximum of society seems to have forgotten that the Christmas season would not end on December 25, it starts off on that day and extends to Epiphany -- the 12 Days of Christmas. i think of that we've to plot to reject the commercialization of Christmas if we will have any desire of restoring its actual meaning. I sympathize with you. good success.

Answer 7

Look to find out if there is any mommy and me classes, or baby gyms. You will be getting out of the house and could meet other moms to talk too. You can also find out what they do in the area with there little ones.

Answer 8

Join a Baby/Mommy Exercise Group!
They are held inside, and I've heard they're a great way to meet new moms.

Answer 9

I'd go back home to your family while he's gone.