My husband enlisted in the National Guard when he was 17 long before we met. While dating in college he had his weekend drills where he was gone and as a poor college student I worked so it didn’t affect me as much. (Yes, I did miss him though). There were a few weekends he had to miss out on some big events but I dealt with them as they came up.
Fast forward and we are married and have a baby. I REALLY missed him while he was away and even came to see him when I could with the little one in tow. Being a first time mom with a little one was a bit of a struggle without him but I made it through.
Fast forward again and now we have a large family. He felt the desire to re-enlist & I was very supportive of his decision and even brought the kids to see him swearing in. This time around has been very different from the first. With a larger family it has been more challenging while he is away but I can’t complain because he is not currently deployed. I was scared he would have missed the birth of one of the babies but that didn’t happen, (Thank God). One other large difference is how helpful people have been. Anytime things are crazy and I am flying solo with my crew people have offered to help in a number of ways. This has been amazing and a life saver. I am so thankful to those who step up and offer to help whether it’s holding the door for me when I am coming through with my entourage, helping to carry out groceries or taking my shift to work the penalty box at my son’s hockey game.
It’s hard enough to be a Mom. I can’t be Daddy too nor do I want to be. My husband is an amazing father and all of our children look up to him. He works hard to provide for them during the day, serves his community, serves his country, prays with them at dinner and reads them stories at night.
He is a good Dad, a good soldier and a great man. I miss him terribly when he is gone but am proud of him for serving and thankful that there are so many men and women willing to sacrifice to serve as well.
Menne Thoughts 
