I Am A Military Wife....

I have chosen to devote my life to following the service of my husband and following his career wherever it may lead us.

I have left my friends at each new location every three or four years.

I have figured out how to be alone for dinner half of the time.

I have given up my opportunities to have a stable, in tact career and instead have to start over each time that I move.

I have seen my child walk, say words for the first time, celebrate holidays, cry for her Daddy, get sick, get hurt, make a soccer goal, give a dance performance...and I have been the only one that has seen it.

I Am A Military Wife...

I get asked all the time how I can stand to be by myself so much, and I am tired of having to give the answer.

I am hundreds of miles form my closest family member.

My children's grandparents have seen them only a handful of times, and yet I know many people who's child is at their grandparents every time the need a night off.

I have eaten chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese for dinner over fifty times this year.

I have been the brave voice on the phone telling him that everything is fine because that is my job.

I Am A Military Wife......

I have gone without just about everything at times so that my children will never have to want.

I have had to grow out haircuts and give up getting my nails done or my hair highlighted when money was tight between moves.

I have had to get up in the middle of the night dozens of times with my sick babies and then had to get up and go to work.

I have had to wear clothes that are too small/too big/put of style because that is what I have.

I Am A Military Wife....

I have gone through the times of plenty and the times of want.

I have gotten spoiled to the privileges that my husbands career has awarded me and then I have had to learn to be without them.

I have had to struggle to find work because my husbands job comes first and I am limited to the hours that I can find childcare.

I have had to give up precious hours with my children to work to support them.

I Am A Military Wife....

I have sat through church services alone and defeated and cried at the sound of the hymns.

I have had to lean on my neighbors to literally hold me up when I can not stand.

I have had to beg for favors, at all hours of the night when I have ben the only one there.

I can make dinner, wash the dog, vacuum the house, do homework, and talk on the phone at the same time to my deployed husband because that is when he happened to call.

I have carried my phone into the bathroom, work place, church...is case that is when the call comes in.

I Am A Miltary Wife.....

I am the forgotten demographic, the politically neglected.

I am looked down upon because I am the support.

I am felt sorry for by people who say that they know what it is like but who do little to help me.

I am reprimanded for the choice to be the wife.

I am reprimanded for my choice to raise my children myself.

I Am a Military Wife.....

I know how to be brave when I am not.

I am the one who always has to make everything okay for my sad babies.

I am the one who comes last, and I have CHOSEN that role.

I am the dependent, I accept that all that I have been blessed with has come from my husband's job.

I Am A Military Wife....

I have to say no to invitations when I can not afford to attend.

I have had to ask my parents for help.

I have had to cry on the phone to long distance friends who know just how it is.

I have had to learn strength and will power when it seems I have none left.

I Am A Military Wife...

I have chosen my role because I love my husband I love my country.

I will gladly answer to all of those who chose to tell me that my role is meaningless.

I will fight my way to make the best of every situation that I am given because that is what it means to support.

I believe in the right that I have to raise my children and do all that I can to support them however I have to.

I will not feel sorry for myself because of what I have not, but I will give all praise to Almighty God for what I have been given.

I Am A Military Wife....

I am strong when I think that I am weak, I am a voice to the ones who are there with me as well. We are the forgotten causalities, we are the CORE of the family and the ones who have CHOSEN to give up whatever we can give to be there for our husbands and our children.

I AM A Military Wife....

And I have a voice.