My husband has been deployed to Iraq since last summer. Michigan can be a hard place to be in the military because there is almost no base and therefor not a lot of support. Its hard to connect with poeple who really dont know what you are going through. I have three kids two of them have special needs. The days and nights can be so long. Is there anyone else out there going through this. Is there a better way to deal with the constant fear that that dreaded knock on the door will be there or the handling of the everyday needs that you sometimes feel like you cant do one more minute on your own. Thank You, M.
Hi M.,
I'm a single, divorced mother with two kids with Special Needs. My ex-husband is in the military and perhaps I can lend some support to you. It's very difficult being 24/7 with the kids!! I'm in the Waterford/Clarkston area....where are you?? If you'd like, I'd be glad to talk some more. Just send me a private message.
Best of luck.
M. M.
I totally feel for you. My husband is no longer in the military, but he was active duty Navy for the first 10 years of our marriage. When the kids were little we lived in Norfolk, VA, which was great because it is a military town, & everyone understood what you were going through. No one really understands in a non military town.
I'm not a wife of someone in the military, but I can only imagine what your going through. I will ask around though to see if there's anyone. Take care! L. O'Neil
I am also a mother and my husband is deployed to iraq. I go through the same thing feeling like there is no one to talk to who understands. I am always waiting for the knock on the door thank god my hubby calls me daily. Can i ask what unit your hubby is deployed with?? My hubby is with the 1461st out of Jackson Michigan. My yahoo is ____@____.com and you can go ahead and add me i would love to have another wife to talk to!!!!! My name is Evie.
M.,
I don't know if it is much comfort, but I am retired from active duty of 20 years and my husband retired with 24 years. He went back to the middle east as a civilian contractor. He came home for 18 months and next month he is leaving again. He spent 6 years in the middle east as a civilian contractor. I KNOW exactly what you are going through. We moved to Michigan to be close to family. Do you have family here? I stay busy with volunteer work, my job, my kids and GOD got me through a whole lot. Keep journals, have your 10 year old and 7 year old write in a journal. IT REALLY HELPS. ASk their teacher to get involved with something to DAD from the class. Write about everyday stuff. Your husband will love it when he comes home and reads them. Or better yet send them to him. Make videos of your everyday activities for him. Did he take a portable DVD player with him? I hope this helps, THANK YOU,THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to you, your family and your husband for being part of the military. YOU ARE ALL SPECIAL and appreciated.
I am in Michigan as well. and my husband is deployed he is in Georgia right now. I am prior military, my husband and I met when we were both active duty. I do know that the American Red Cross has support groups for people and they also have couseling. I do beleave that the state has programs as well. here is a web site thatr may help you out. https://www.mi.ngb.army.mil/family this other web site may help out as well. it is for families of deployed service members. you may have to sign up for it but it is free. http://www.dailystrength.org/
Good Luck and I hope that it helps out a little bit, if you would like to talk or anything you can email me.
God Bless.
M. Messinger
____@____.com
Hi M.~ I'm not sure what part of Michigan you live in but there is a Coast Guard Station in Essexville (Bay City) and another one up in Tawas, these wives (myself included) have husbands who work 2 or 3 day shifts at a time~ so we know about being lonely and taking care of kids by ourselves, you should contact them (or me and I can set you up with a play group if you are interested!!! Good luck
I was a military wife while I was married to my husband and raising my children. Since we divorced, he joined the National Guard, but has not been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and has not maintained much contact with us.
For the past year, my mom and I have "adopted" a military unit deployed to Afghanistan. We have been sending 200-400 unsigned homemade cards per month to a soldier in that unit. She shared them with the other soldiers in her unit for them to send to family members back here. And, as she contacted us with other things that the soldiers wanted or needed, we sent those things too!!
The military unit that we have been sending our homemade cards and care packages to is returning home this month - November 2010. WHOOHOO and WELCOME HOME TO THEM!! Now, we need another address of a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan to send our homemade cards and care packages to. It would be awesome if they were from Michigan, like us!! But, we are willing to "adopt" a soldier from anywhere in the U.S.!! Is there anyone out there that is willing to share the address of your soldier with us so we can continue sending care packages to soldiers and support our troops?? Please email me at ____@____.com. Thank you!!
Hello up in Boyne City. I have a sister who lives in Boyne City and she loves it up there. I am a mother of one child and when we were overseas, play groups were always great. Kids play together while the mom's get adult conversation. Everyone brings snacks and drinks. It felt so good to sit and talk to other moms and get out of our houses.
My husband was called to active duty in 2004 while I was pregnant with our second child. Luckily, he made it home to see his son born and got to spend 4 days with him before heading back to NJ, before shipping out to Iraq. In all he was gone for 15 months. The time he was gone was probably one of the toughest times in my life, but I also realized how strong I could be if needed. The fear you must learn to live with, but if things start to get the better of you, there are ALWAYS other wives who are more than willing to help you! If you ever need someone to talk to just let me know. When is your husband due to come home? Hang in there and just remember we other wives are there for you if you need us!
Hey M.:
I saw this on the news last night. There's a new support group in the Sturgis area. Here's the link: http://www.wwmt.com/onset?id=34463&template=article.html
My husband has been in Afgan for only a month and a half now and I know exactly how you feel, we had our first scare 2 days ago and he lost a friend! This is all I have been able to think about the past few days.. I wish I could get it out of my head but I just cant! I am a strong christian and I know that God is in control of our situation, and that god will bring him home, but I also live where there is not to much support for military people! No one knows the kind of burden I carry every single day, I will keep you and your husband in my prayers, as well as the rest of our troops hope things get better for you!!
