Many husbands and wives have spouses who are serving overseas in Iraq. Though they are very supportive of their country and their spouses, the one left at home is often the one who suffers the most with loneliness and fear for his or her loved one.
It’s difficult being away from the one you love, but when you add the threat of war to the picture, the difficulty becomes more intense. If you have kids, reassuring them that their father or mother will be all right is a task in itself. Missing your loved one is what often hurts the most. So, what do you do?
Stay in touch as often as possible. Most of our soldiers overseas have access to email, cell phones, and snail mail. Providing them with special, personalized care packages can make their day. Children can include drawings, crafts, and special cards prepared just for their mommy or daddy, and you, the spouse, can practice up on love letter writing.
Keep in mind special dates and times when they might be back to visit or to come home for good. Special celebrations are always fun, and keeping a calendar countdown for you and the kids can help the time go by.
Most of all, keep up the faith and the positive thinking. Stay focused on your ultimate goal of being together again as a family. Make plans for things to do when he or she gets back. Stay in touch with family in town. Get together with friends. Keep up on projects and hobbies you enjoy. In other words, keep yourself busy, so you don’t obsess too much about your beloved and lose track of yourself and your family.