There’s a particular kind of mental exhaustion that hits when a deployment end date keeps moving. In the middle of a deployment, most spouses find a steady rhythm. You learn how to carry the full load alone: work, school, household decisions, bedtime meltdowns, finances and the emotional weight of missing your partner. It is hard, but in some ways it becomes familiar. Then the official return date is announced, and everything changes. The final stretch suddenly feels much heavier. Carrying that pack for another week, or even another day, can feel almost unbearable. Why?
Preparing for Deployment Season
As I sit here this morning, clicking the soft keys of my computer, the sunshine warms my shoulders, birds chirp nearby and a soft blue sky stretches overhead. I’m thankful to be …
