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Had a bucket-of-cold-water awakening today of how military spouses sacrifice.
A thread. 1/
A thread. 1/
My wife of nearly 16 years has been a homemaker for the last 11 years. She has treasured the time, having done amazing volunteer WORK with our church congregations, schools, community, and of course as the primary everything to our kids 2/
She’s ready to begin a professional phase of her life and OOOOOH BOOYY it’s complicated.
- Whose career comes first?
- What about the kids?
- How much are we going to spend?
- How much schooling?
- If school, how do PCSes play out?
- What career field? 3/
- Whose career comes first?
- What about the kids?
- How much are we going to spend?
- How much schooling?
- If school, how do PCSes play out?
- What career field? 3/
- Which career field will give the greatest payoff and satisfaction considering she’s on the cusp of middle-age?
But the biggest consideration is how PCSing affects schooling and career advancement. 4/
But the biggest consideration is how PCSing affects schooling and career advancement. 4/
She has her undergrad in history, but is seriously considering becoming a radiography tech. It’s a five semester program and the advisor doubts any of the major credits would transfer to another school if we have to PCS.
This is a total mind-screw. 5/
This is a total mind-screw. 5/
I feel like there’s very little I can do to help her except to be an encouragement.
She’s said repeatedly that she doesn’t want me to slow down my military career at all — but of course she would say that 6/
She’s said repeatedly that she doesn’t want me to slow down my military career at all — but of course she would say that 6/
A lot of my career has meant 10-12+ hour days with little predictability. How do we juggle babysitters, tutors, after school sports, and church obligations like that? 7/
Im not complaining at all My family, and especially my wife, has enjoyed our Army life But that just goes to prove the amazing resiliency of military families. PCS, TDYs, deployments, weekends, midnight emergencies — military families share all those things with their soldiers 8/
Im going to figure out a way to help my wife achieve her professional goals. She deserves it and is entitled to it. 9/
But this has all been an enlightening reminder that LEADERS MUST be mindful of their soldiers families.
My family is my strength and I’m not alone in that 10/10
My family is my strength and I’m not alone in that 10/10
