Would you be proud of your son or daughter if they Joined the Army?

[mickeyfan2]

Are there seriously no jobs that you would hope your children wouldn't end up doing?

Did you read the entire thread? Many of us have stated yes, as long as it is legal. We might not be happy but we would be proud and support them in their adult decision.

 

[Galahad]

Are there seriously no jobs that you would hope your children wouldn't end up doing?

You said you would do "anything in your power" to keep them out of the military. Will you do anything in you power to keep them from doing any other job, or is it just the military? That phrase certainly points to an utter distain for it, not just "i'd rather they not do it".

 

[Bob Slydell]

Are there seriously no jobs that you would hope your children wouldn't end up doing?

There's a big difference between hoping that your kids don't choose a certain career path and not being supportive of them in that chosen career. Short of something illegal, I would be hard pressed to not be proud and supportive of my children.

 

[Pigeon]

You said you would do "anything in your power" to keep them out of the military. Will you do anything in you power to keep them from doing any other job, or is it just the military? That phrase certainly points to an utter distain for it, not just "i'd rather they not do it".

Yes, there are other jobs I would actively discourage my children from taking. But few, I think, are as bad as the military. It's dangerous, pays badly, allows one very little control over one's own life, typically requires that one's spouse abandon all pretense of having a serious career, and uproots kids every few years. Worst of all, to me, is how the country treats injured veterans. The military will allow you to sacrifice your physical or mental health and then spit you out. If other people find this attractive, go for it.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Yes, there are other jobs I would actively discourage my children from taking. But few, I think, are as bad as the military. It's dangerous, pays badly, allows one very little control over one's own life, typically requires that one's spouse abandon all pretense of having a serious career, and uproots kids every few years. Worst of all, to me, is how the country treats injured veterans. The military will allow you to sacrifice your physical or mental health and then spit you out. If other people find this attractive, go for it.

And if your child still chooses to enlist in the military even after this lovely spiel, then what? You disown them?

 

[va32h]

Yes, there are other jobs I would actively discourage my children from taking. But few, I think, are as bad as the military. It's dangerous, pays badly, allows one very little control over one's own life, typically requires that one's spouse abandon all pretense of having a serious career, and uproots kids every few years. Worst of all, to me, is how the country treats injured veterans. The military will allow you to sacrifice your physical or mental health and then spit you out. If other people find this attractive, go for it.

It can be dangerous. So can taxi-driving. Our pay is fine. Would we like more? Who wouldn't? Do I get annoyed when they don't reimburse us for travel expenses fast enough? Heck yes.

But I had three babies and paid a grand total of $17 in hospital bills (for meals from the civilian-run cafeteria). I can take my children or myself to the doctor anytime without ever worrying about co-pays or deductibles. Any financial problems our family has are brought about by our poor budgeting, not our poor pay.

I did have a hard time constantly applying for new jobs - so I started my own business online, which I can pick up and move with me. I take my career very seriously and I fully expect my business to grow and flourish with every year.

We haven't been assigned to a new station in five years, so my children have had quite a bit of stability with the same school, neighborhood, etc. But they are bored! They have said more than once that they are tired of being in the same place and ready for something new.

You can look on moving as a disaster or an adventure. I choose the latter. Home is wherever our family is, not a house, or a city, or a state.

I would agree that Veteran care is not what it should be. That's a reason to fix it though, not wash one's hands of it.

A job in the military is like a job anywhere else. There are pros and cons, risks and rewards.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Yes, there are other jobs I would actively discourage my children from taking. But few, I think, are as bad as the military. It's dangerous, pays badly, allows one very little control over one's own life, typically requires that one's spouse abandon all pretense of having a serious career, and uproots kids every few years. Worst of all, to me, is how the country treats injured veterans. The military will allow you to sacrifice your physical or mental health and then spit you out. If other people find this attractive, go for it.

Your generalizations about the military is very insulting to proud military families. Yes, as you have noted some veterans have been treated badly and there are drawbacks but the picture you have painted is simply not true. The military is what it is but these down your nose opinions are quite insulting and seems several people in this thread need some education about the modern military.

I know many, military spouses including myself with successful careers and happy marriages that include money in the bank. Some are teachers, real estate agents, DOD employees, local university employees and bankers. I myself teach military spouse classes and deployment classes and before that I worked at the local university teaching college freshman.

How many other professions do you know where $1000s aren't spent out of pocket on healthcare. Last year one of my best friends had to have her newborn baby med-flight twice to a children's hospital. The expense to them when it was all said and done: $50. Another family within our unit has 3 special needs children including one in a wheelchair and two very autistic children. Their insurance allows their children specialized one on one physical therapy and any other therapy needed with very little spent out of pocket.

Another topic brought up is uprooting children after a specific period of time. Now in the army, at least, you have options of staying at one military installation for 7 years should you choose to do so. We have been at this one for 6 years now, though we didn't choose so. All the juvenile deliquents you know came from military families? Are you trying to imply military children are less equipped to deal with life's curveballs because it is my experience that military children are more likely to handle anything that life throws out them and hit it out of the ballpark without blinking. These children are expose to so many different people and cultures that I don't see how it can do anything besides enrich their lives and for you to suggest anything less is insulting to all these parents.

Many have mentioned pay and yes sometimes it sucks when starting out but how many people do you know that start out on the top of the totem pole? Yes, it may take a spouse going to work even *gasp* at the commissary to make it work but THERE IS NO SHAME IN LEGAL HARDWORK WAGES. Right now we have a wonderful housing allowance that because of our ways is allowing us to bank much of it in our dream house fund. Do you know many people that can say that they are making a house payment and in the same breath being able to save for the house of their dreams.

I'm tired of all these generalizations and pronouncements that my military families are less than any one else on this board. Yes, maybe our spouse has their name on their shirt and yes, they go to war and put their life on the line and yes, it's hard and difficult and certainly not for everyone but I will NEVER understand this need to judge our lives and find us lacking. If anyone is lacking, it is the people that are constantly judging others and thinking they are superior.

One last thing: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can go anywhere in almost this whole world and say I'm a military spouse and have so many people have my back that it's amazing. That is the bond that military families have. Do you see that in an everyday, civilian life?

 

[Briarmom]

I'm tired of all these generalizations and pronouncements that my military families are less than any one else on this board. Yes, maybe our spouse has their name on their shirt and yes, they go to war and put their life on the line and yes, it's hard and difficult and certainly not for everyone but I will NEVER understand this need to judge our lives and find us lacking. If anyone is lacking, it is the people that are constantly judging others and thinking they are superior.

One last thing: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can go anywhere in almost this whole world and say I'm a military spouse and have so many people have my back that it's amazing. That is the bond that military families have. Do you see that in an everyday, civilian life?

 

[momrek06]

Your generalizations about the military is very insulting to proud military families. Yes, as you have noted some veterans have been treated badly and there are drawbacks but the picture you have painted is simply not true. The military is what it is but these down your nose opinions are quite insulting and seems several people in this thread need some education about the modern military.

I know many, military spouses including myself with successful careers and happy marriages that include money in the bank. Some are teachers, real estate agents, DOD employees, local university employees and bankers. I myself teach military spouse classes and deployment classes and before that I worked at the local university teaching college freshman.

How many other professions do you know where $1000s aren't spent out of pocket on healthcare. Last year one of my best friends had to have her newborn baby med-flight twice to a children's hospital. The expense to them when it was all said and done: $50. Another family within our unit has 3 special needs children including one in a wheelchair and two very autistic children. Their insurance allows their children specialized one on one physical therapy and any other therapy needed with very little spent out of pocket.

Another topic brought up is uprooting children after a specific period of time. Now in the army, at least, you have options of staying at one military installation for 7 years should you choose to do so. We have been at this one for 6 years now, though we didn't choose so. All the juvenile deliquents you know came from military families? Are you trying to imply military children are less equipped to deal with life's curveballs because it is my experience that military children are more likely to handle anything that life throws out them and hit it out of the ballpark without blinking. These children are expose to so many different people and cultures that I don't see how it can do anything besides enrich their lives and for you to suggest anything less is insulting to all these parents.

Many have mentioned pay and yes sometimes it sucks when starting out but how many people do you know that start out on the top of the totem pole? Yes, it may take a spouse going to work even *gasp* at the commissary to make it work but THERE IS NO SHAME IN LEGAL HARDWORK WAGES. Right now we have a wonderful housing allowance that because of our ways is allowing us to bank much of it in our dream house fund. Do you know many people that can say that they are making a house payment and in the same breath being able to save for the house of their dreams.

I'm tired of all these generalizations and pronouncements that my military families are less than any one else on this board. Yes, maybe our spouse has their name on their shirt and yes, they go to war and put their life on the line and yes, it's hard and difficult and certainly not for everyone but I will NEVER understand this need to judge our lives and find us lacking. If anyone is lacking, it is the people that are constantly judging others and thinking they are superior.

One last thing: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can go anywhere in almost this whole world and say I'm a military spouse and have so many people have my back that it's amazing. That is the bond that military families have. Do you see that in an everyday, civilian life?

Ahhh, T, you are the BEST ever and the VOICE for so many of us!!!

THANK YOU!!!!! (Typed in green in honor of the ARMY!!)

 

[DISUNC]

Proud.....YES!

COMPLETELY GRAY HAIRED TOO!!

 

[katerkat]

Yes, there are other jobs I would actively discourage my children from taking. But few, I think, are as bad as the military. It's dangerous, pays badly, allows one very little control over one's own life, typically requires that one's spouse abandon all pretense of having a serious career, and uproots kids every few years. Worst of all, to me, is how the country treats injured veterans. The military will allow you to sacrifice your physical or mental health and then spit you out. If other people find this attractive, go for it.

I can't think of much to add that va32h and Tina haven't said. However, I'd like to point out that the kind of flight education my husband received, plus the accumulation of flight hours, would cost a civilian well over $2 million. Sure, the pay might be bad (though I would heartily disagree, but I'm a captain's wife) but the benefits in training among other things far outweigh it. It's not just for pilots, too - a friend was recently offered several high paying computer technology positions after four years in the Air Force.

My pregnancy and birth cost me 25-cents, the one day I had to stay longer than an hour and paid for parking. My friend's high risk pregnancy cost her nothing. Russ's seven months of physical therapy cost me nothing. My friend's son's speech therapist will cost her nothing. No co-pays, no payments for prescriptions, nothing. It's not the best system (I had to wait a month for Russ's PT referral) but it's free and it's decent.

This summer, Russ is going to day "camp" three days a week, 3 hours a day, at the base child care center. It will cost me $60 a month. Find that anywhere else. (And it's based on rank, so enlisted are paying LESS than that.)

I don't have a career, true. I don't want one right now anyway - I always wanted to be a SAHM when my kid is young, so I am. (And I admit to having a kid out of boredom, but he's totally worth it.) I write novels in my spare time and I'd love to be published one day - a career I can do anywhere, and traveling so much has really broadened my horizons. Oh, and even though we moved a bunch in training, we've been at our current location for 3 years and expect another year at least. 4-5 year assignments are becoming common in the AF.

And, like Tina said - the bond between other spouses is amazing. I can mention I want to blow all our family sep pay on a Coach purse and Briarmom is right there, mentioning tax-free and BAH. Last summer, three of us in the neighborhood had spouses deployed at the same time. We decided that instead of all of us cooking piddly little meals for ourselves and our one kid, we were going to split the days so that three days a week, we had a good home cooked meal and the kids got to play with each other. I'm part of a non-military Mom's Club and they are nice and will bring over a couple meals for a crisis, but they won't be there making sure we get good food three times a week.

For civilians on the outside, I think it's really hard to see ALL the benefits of military life. And yes, some things suck. Our fifth anniversary is Friday and guess what? He's deployed. He's been deployed for my birthday two years running, Christmas while I was pregnant and close to bed-rest, my first Mother's Day, his first Father's Day, six months of his son's first year of life, his son's second birthday. He's probably going to do yet another deployment this year, probably over Christmas. It SUCKS. But there is plenty of good to outweigh the bad. And for thousands of military members and their families, the good does outweigh the bad.

 

[sha_lyn]

While I only spent a little time as the spouse of someone in active duty, I wanted to address the concerns about no stability, uprooting the kids etc.
While I'm certain there are many families who don't take advantage, the base is/can be your community. There is a great deal of support, from moms clubs, teens groups at rec centers etc. Everyone there has been the "new wife" "new kid" etc at one time or another.
Sure the pay isn't the greatest, but for one thing, you get paid while training,and you don't pay a dime for the training. As others have said the benefits are good too. Most items one would buy are available on base tax free and cheaper. Medical/dental/mental health is basically free. Sure there are several disadvantages, but there are many advantages too. To some the trade off is well worth it.

 

[MrsPete]

Your generalizations about the military is very insulting to proud military families. Yes, as you have noted some veterans have been treated badly and there are drawbacks but the picture you have painted is simply not true. The military is what it is but these down your nose opinions are quite insulting and seems several people in this thread need some education about the modern military.

I know many, military spouses including myself with successful careers and happy marriages that include money in the bank. Some are teachers, real estate agents, DOD employees, local university employees and bankers. I myself teach military spouse classes and deployment classes and before that I worked at the local university teaching college freshman.

How many other professions do you know where $1000s aren't spent out of pocket on healthcare. Last year one of my best friends had to have her newborn baby med-flight twice to a children's hospital. The expense to them when it was all said and done: $50. Another family within our unit has 3 special needs children including one in a wheelchair and two very autistic children. Their insurance allows their children specialized one on one physical therapy and any other therapy needed with very little spent out of pocket.

Another topic brought up is uprooting children after a specific period of time. Now in the army, at least, you have options of staying at one military installation for 7 years should you choose to do so. We have been at this one for 6 years now, though we didn't choose so. All the juvenile deliquents you know came from military families? Are you trying to imply military children are less equipped to deal with life's curveballs because it is my experience that military children are more likely to handle anything that life throws out them and hit it out of the ballpark without blinking. These children are expose to so many different people and cultures that I don't see how it can do anything besides enrich their lives and for you to suggest anything less is insulting to all these parents.

Many have mentioned pay and yes sometimes it sucks when starting out but how many people do you know that start out on the top of the totem pole? Yes, it may take a spouse going to work even *gasp* at the commissary to make it work but THERE IS NO SHAME IN LEGAL HARDWORK WAGES. Right now we have a wonderful housing allowance that because of our ways is allowing us to bank much of it in our dream house fund. Do you know many people that can say that they are making a house payment and in the same breath being able to save for the house of their dreams.

I'm tired of all these generalizations and pronouncements that my military families are less than any one else on this board. Yes, maybe our spouse has their name on their shirt and yes, they go to war and put their life on the line and yes, it's hard and difficult and certainly not for everyone but I will NEVER understand this need to judge our lives and find us lacking. If anyone is lacking, it is the people that are constantly judging others and thinking they are superior.

One last thing: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can go anywhere in almost this whole world and say I'm a military spouse and have so many people have my back that it's amazing. That is the bond that military families have. Do you see that in an everyday, civilian life?

While I am not military, I can tell you this: My husband and his sister were raised in a military family, and THEY BOTH WANTED THAT LIFESTYLE FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN! When they talk about growing up living on bases in the states and in Europe, and when they talk about moving around to so many places, it's obvious that they both MISS IT!

A small disability kept him from joining the military; she didn't join because she knew that her college degree (very specialized) would've kept her here in the states, and she really wanted to return to Europe. But I think they both have regrets about NOT being military.

 

[MrsPete]

Are there seriously no jobs that you would hope your children wouldn't end up doing?

I want my daughters to earn college degrees. I want them to choose professional jobs that'll pay well so that they can support their famlies entirely on their own if they need or want to do so. I want them to be able to earn enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle, save for their retirements, etc. I want them to choose professions that are likely to be around for a while (and jobs that are not likely to be shipped overseas). I want them to choose professions that would be available in a wide variety of places so that they're free to move from place to place, should the need arise in their future families. And finally, I want them to choose professions that're well-suited to their personalities so that they'll enjoy their work.

That does rule out some low-level jobs, but it doesn't rule out military. I would be unhappy if they joined as a private and were content to STAY in that rank for years and years, but I'd be very happy if they found their nitch within the military.

 

[Nancyg56]

Your generalizations about the military is very insulting to proud military families. Yes, as you have noted some veterans have been treated badly and there are drawbacks but the picture you have painted is simply not true. The military is what it is but these down your nose opinions are quite insulting and seems several people in this thread need some education about the modern military.

I know many, military spouses including myself with successful careers and happy marriages that include money in the bank. Some are teachers, real estate agents, DOD employees, local university employees and bankers. I myself teach military spouse classes and deployment classes and before that I worked at the local university teaching college freshman.

How many other professions do you know where $1000s aren't spent out of pocket on healthcare. Last year one of my best friends had to have her newborn baby med-flight twice to a children's hospital. The expense to them when it was all said and done: $50. Another family within our unit has 3 special needs children including one in a wheelchair and two very autistic children. Their insurance allows their children specialized one on one physical therapy and any other therapy needed with very little spent out of pocket.

Another topic brought up is uprooting children after a specific period of time. Now in the army, at least, you have options of staying at one military installation for 7 years should you choose to do so. We have been at this one for 6 years now, though we didn't choose so. All the juvenile deliquents you know came from military families? Are you trying to imply military children are less equipped to deal with life's curveballs because it is my experience that military children are more likely to handle anything that life throws out them and hit it out of the ballpark without blinking. These children are expose to so many different people and cultures that I don't see how it can do anything besides enrich their lives and for you to suggest anything less is insulting to all these parents.

Many have mentioned pay and yes sometimes it sucks when starting out but how many people do you know that start out on the top of the totem pole? Yes, it may take a spouse going to work even *gasp* at the commissary to make it work but THERE IS NO SHAME IN LEGAL HARDWORK WAGES. Right now we have a wonderful housing allowance that because of our ways is allowing us to bank much of it in our dream house fund. Do you know many people that can say that they are making a house payment and in the same breath being able to save for the house of their dreams.

I'm tired of all these generalizations and pronouncements that my military families are less than any one else on this board. Yes, maybe our spouse has their name on their shirt and yes, they go to war and put their life on the line and yes, it's hard and difficult and certainly not for everyone but I will NEVER understand this need to judge our lives and find us lacking. If anyone is lacking, it is the people that are constantly judging others and thinking they are superior.

One last thing: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can go anywhere in almost this whole world and say I'm a military spouse and have so many people have my back that it's amazing. That is the bond that military families have. Do you see that in an everyday, civilian life?

Whoa Nellie!!!!!!!!!!!! You pack a punch when your feathers are ruffled

 

[lisajl]

Proud but scared. It would not be my choice to make. I would stand behind my kids 100 percent. BTW, my dad was in WWII, even though he was in his 30's then, and all preceding men in my family were in a war.
I thank God they fought for our freedoms we enjoy now.
I am behind the troops 100 percent. I don't agree with this war, but I appreciate all the service men and women and what they are doing for us.

God Bless them.

 

[MichelleVW]

Your generalizations about the military is very insulting to proud military families. Yes, as you have noted some veterans have been treated badly and there are drawbacks but the picture you have painted is simply not true. The military is what it is but these down your nose opinions are quite insulting and seems several people in this thread need some education about the modern military.

I know many, military spouses including myself with successful careers and happy marriages that include money in the bank. Some are teachers, real estate agents, DOD employees, local university employees and bankers. I myself teach military spouse classes and deployment classes and before that I worked at the local university teaching college freshman.

How many other professions do you know where $1000s aren't spent out of pocket on healthcare. Last year one of my best friends had to have her newborn baby med-flight twice to a children's hospital. The expense to them when it was all said and done: $50. Another family within our unit has 3 special needs children including one in a wheelchair and two very autistic children. Their insurance allows their children specialized one on one physical therapy and any other therapy needed with very little spent out of pocket.

Another topic brought up is uprooting children after a specific period of time. Now in the army, at least, you have options of staying at one military installation for 7 years should you choose to do so. We have been at this one for 6 years now, though we didn't choose so. All the juvenile deliquents you know came from military families? Are you trying to imply military children are less equipped to deal with life's curveballs because it is my experience that military children are more likely to handle anything that life throws out them and hit it out of the ballpark without blinking. These children are expose to so many different people and cultures that I don't see how it can do anything besides enrich their lives and for you to suggest anything less is insulting to all these parents.

Many have mentioned pay and yes sometimes it sucks when starting out but how many people do you know that start out on the top of the totem pole? Yes, it may take a spouse going to work even *gasp* at the commissary to make it work but THERE IS NO SHAME IN LEGAL HARDWORK WAGES. Right now we have a wonderful housing allowance that because of our ways is allowing us to bank much of it in our dream house fund. Do you know many people that can say that they are making a house payment and in the same breath being able to save for the house of their dreams.

I'm tired of all these generalizations and pronouncements that my military families are less than any one else on this board. Yes, maybe our spouse has their name on their shirt and yes, they go to war and put their life on the line and yes, it's hard and difficult and certainly not for everyone but I will NEVER understand this need to judge our lives and find us lacking. If anyone is lacking, it is the people that are constantly judging others and thinking they are superior.

One last thing: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can go anywhere in almost this whole world and say I'm a military spouse and have so many people have my back that it's amazing. That is the bond that military families have. Do you see that in an everyday, civilian life?

Awesome post!!!

 

[va32h]

He's been deployed for my birthday two years running, Christmas while I was pregnant and close to bed-rest, my first Mother's Day, his first Father's Day, six months of his son's first year of life, his son's second birthday. He's probably going to do yet another deployment this year, probably over Christmas. It SUCKS. But there is plenty of good to outweigh the bad. And for thousands of military members and their families, the good does outweigh the bad.

Just to go off topic for a minute about those badly-timed deployments. My husband would always get deployed shortly after I became pregnant. With the last one, he shipped out literally a week after the conception.

Anyway - it became a family joke. He would say that he just didn't want me to get bored while he was gone, and my friends would tease me about his "parting gifts". The only frustrating thing was that once I began to show, my husband would be long gone. I got a few raised eyebrows when people would ask "when are you due?" and then "where is your husband?"

But you know...ever since I had a surgical procedure and can no longer get pregnant - he hasn't been deployed. Even when his name was up, something happened and he was taken off the list. So apparently, he can't leave the country if I'm not pregnant.

 

[transparant]

Originally Posted by lovemygoofy
Your generalizations about the military is very insulting to proud military families. Yes, as you have noted some veterans have been treated badly and there are drawbacks but the picture you have painted is simply not true. The military is what it is but these down your nose opinions are quite insulting and seems several people in this thread need some education about the modern military.

I know many, military spouses including myself with successful careers and happy marriages that include money in the bank. Some are teachers, real estate agents, DOD employees, local university employees and bankers. I myself teach military spouse classes and deployment classes and before that I worked at the local university teaching college freshman.

How many other professions do you know where $1000s aren't spent out of pocket on healthcare. Last year one of my best friends had to have her newborn baby med-flight twice to a children's hospital. The expense to them when it was all said and done: $50. Another family within our unit has 3 special needs children including one in a wheelchair and two very autistic children. Their insurance allows their children specialized one on one physical therapy and any other therapy needed with very little spent out of pocket.

Another topic brought up is uprooting children after a specific period of time. Now in the army, at least, you have options of staying at one military installation for 7 years should you choose to do so. We have been at this one for 6 years now, though we didn't choose so. All the juvenile deliquents you know came from military families? Are you trying to imply military children are less equipped to deal with life's curveballs because it is my experience that military children are more likely to handle anything that life throws out them and hit it out of the ballpark without blinking. These children are expose to so many different people and cultures that I don't see how it can do anything besides enrich their lives and for you to suggest anything less is insulting to all these parents.

Many have mentioned pay and yes sometimes it sucks when starting out but how many people do you know that start out on the top of the totem pole? Yes, it may take a spouse going to work even *gasp* at the commissary to make it work but THERE IS NO SHAME IN LEGAL HARDWORK WAGES. Right now we have a wonderful housing allowance that because of our ways is allowing us to bank much of it in our dream house fund. Do you know many people that can say that they are making a house payment and in the same breath being able to save for the house of their dreams.

I'm tired of all these generalizations and pronouncements that my military families are less than any one else on this board. Yes, maybe our spouse has their name on their shirt and yes, they go to war and put their life on the line and yes, it's hard and difficult and certainly not for everyone but I will NEVER understand this need to judge our lives and find us lacking. If anyone is lacking, it is the people that are constantly judging others and thinking they are superior.

One last thing: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can go anywhere in almost this whole world and say I'm a military spouse and have so many people have my back that it's amazing. That is the bond that military families have. Do you see that in an everyday, civilian life?[/QUOTE]

Fantastic post Tina. You are one heck of a lady - and I for one am EXTREMELY proud of you and grateful for what you do for our military families. And girl...you know I've got your back!!

 

[katerkat]

Anyway - it became a family joke. He would say that he just didn't want me to get bored while he was gone, and my friends would tease me about his "parting gifts". The only frustrating thing was that once I began to show, my husband would be long gone. I got a few raised eyebrows when people would ask "when are you due?" and then "where is your husband?"

*snicker* I have one friend who was charting, so she knows that while the "act" occurred before he left, the actual conception was a couple days later. When she told everyone, we started counting on our fingers. "Twelve weeks pregnant and he's been gone for nine and a half weeks...?"

Another friend conceived so close to the return of the deployment that we were counting on that one, too. Seriously, she was announcing it 12 days after he got back!