Loyal readers (both of you — you know who you are),
I’m back with another series! This will be an exploration of the trials and tribulations of life as a dual-military couple and some of our tactics for overcoming them and strengthening our relationship. This is what worked/is working for us, which leads into the disclaimer my lawyer keeps bugging me about…
This is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I’m not a therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or any other flavor of behavior/mental health professional. Just a guy on his third (and final!) marriage. My IT degree qualifies me to diagnose computers – not people or relationships. What works for us may or may not work for you. This isn’t advice. In fact, you probably shouldn’t read it at all. Just don’t listen to me.
That being said…
A little About Us
I’m a National Guard soldier, training up to deploy this summer. My wife (The Fox) is an active-duty field-grade officer – which, yes, makes me a proud dependapotamus when I’m home. Our friends and neighbors know me as a pretty good full-time househusband and sort of terrible part-time soldier.
I’m incredibly fortunate to have the partner I do. Our mutual support for one another’s careers, goals, dreams, and (too many) hobbies is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. However, no relationship is without its challenges. One partner being in the military adds an additional level of complication, with late nights, early mornings, TDYs (work trips, if you’re not familiar with the terminology), deployments, and – too often – toxic, incompetent leaders. Both partners being affiliated…well, it’s kind of a lot. We spend more time apart than together, making it that much more important to consciously work on our relationship to grow together, rather than apart.
Mindless Musing Vol III will be a series of short articles about just this: the things we do to support each other, grow as individuals, and consciously grow together as partner and teammates. Maybe somebody will find this useful and/or entertaining. Maybe not.
See you next time.