My husband is going into the Army Nat'l Guard. I have been so supportive of him, his family not so supportive. His own mother even called one night and said for him to purchase a wheel chair now, cause I would be pushing him around in it, among some other things she has said...
Please give me some advice to help soothe my worries. Im an air force brat myself, and know it's going to be hard, we also have a 3 year old daughter....
I am clueless as to how I am going to explain this to her, and tell her that he loves her, but wont be home every now and again?!
I am so proud of him, for trying to make our life easier, and better. And I have to admit, the Army does a lot for their soldiers.
Any Army wives out there who could help me determine how to go about this with our daughter??
Thank you
2007-01-23 01:15:16 · 5 answers · asked by Kimberlynne 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Well, it is difficult and more so when family isnt supportive. You need to let them know right up front, politely, that if they want to speak negative about it, than information regarding him will not be shared. As far as your daughter is concerned, she will have good days and bad ones, just like you. She is at an age where she will be wondering where the heck is daddy. The best thing to do is answer her questions as honestly as possible. Take lots of pictures of her and her daddy and frame them and put them throughout the house. Video tape your husband reading stories to her so she can watch and follow along. Also go to www.militaryonesource.com and get the FREE Elmo dvd about deployments. our 2 year old LOVES it and it even helps me when there are days I am dreading deployments. keep her busy and active, as well as you. Good luck
2007-01-23 02:38:08 · answer #1 · answered by mpwife_99 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was an army wife and now I'm in the army so I know exactly how you feel. It is going to be hard becuase unlike the training the soldiers get no one trains the families on how to survive without their loved ones...The best advice I can give you is to be strong. You need to start looking into all the services they provide for the families of deployed service members. There is the Family Rediness Group, and they are full of information, they will also provide activities for you and your children to participate in while you soldier is away. You may also want to look into getting a nice full/part time job to make the time go faster. Or maybe even just take up a hobby to keep your mind occupied on a daily basis. And pray. Prayer will always get you through....And don't let loneliness get the best of you. I hear about so many wives that cheat on their husbands while they're away...That is not something you want to get involoved with. And take advantage of every opportunity you get to write to him and email him while he's gone because as insignificant as it may sound a deployed soldier needs to hear from their loved ones, it's very encouraging and it does a lot to get them through the day....
2007-01-23 01:27:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My husband has been in the Active duty Army 4 1/2 years now. We have twins who are 2 1/2 years old and currently daddy is away in the field. To tell you the truth i don't even know what to say when they cry because they hear a car door and it's not daddy coming home. Also when one of them talked to him on the phone, he cried til 1am that night asking "where dada" all night. It is hard. All i try to do is keep my kids busier, give them extra attention, tell them Daddy is at work when they ask and try to drop it as soon as possible and move on to something else. It will be hard, but being supportive of his decisions and what he's doing is great. I try to be as supportive as possible even when i am lonely, mad, overwhelmed ect. We are expecting our 3rd and last child and that makes it a little more emotional....but get involved with the unit he is assigned. Meet wives who will be alone when you are, do things with them...im not sure if Nat'l guard has it, but for active duty we have FRG and its a lifeline to those in the same situation you are. Also informative, if they have meetings, go to them, hear what will be going on and when. Good luck to ya!!
2007-01-23 01:58:20 · answer #3 · answered by misty n justin 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Explain it to her as you did in here. What he is doing is to make a better life for her, and the rest of the people in this country. My father did almost 30 years in the Army. He went to Panama, Desert Storm, and a year this last go around before retiring. My mother was an Army wife the whole time, never once complaining. I guess we just grew up knowing that these things happened. She will grow up with that understanding as well.
As far as the parents, just ignore them. They will either come around, or they won't. I will bet they will come around once they see they can't change his mind.
2007-01-23 02:55:02 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmm, I'm 19 and I joined the Corps when i was 17 as a PFC, I was lucky to get guide too, so i left boot as a Lance Corpral, and my parents almost disowned me for it, but I trucked through it, they changed their mind, lucky me. I'm sure you and your daughter will make it with you Soilder, the Army takes care of its people don't worry
2007-01-23 01:23:58 · answer #5 · answered by t j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋