I've known for months that Brady would not get a two-week leave this deployment, something about being overseas for less than 9-months allows the military to revoke that privilege. Well, Brady will likely be overseas exactly 9-months, August-May... Until this week, the date was sometime in April; tonight, I found out that for whatever reason--despite our president's claim that we are at peace after 10 years (then bring my husband home today, sir)--the return date is being pushed back to May. I just want to make one political statement now... To each and every person who tried to sell Obama to me 4 years ago with "If Obama wins, you won't have to worry about deployments anymore, he's bringing the troops home!" What do you have to say now???? Obama sent my husband back and to a worse place, and if Obama cared about the troops, he'd make sure my husband got his 2-week leave as promised on the day of the stupid Yellow Ribbon event that we were forced to attend ALL DAY on Brady's birthday--by the way, he won't be home on his birthday this year more than likely.
Do you know what it's like for children to be separated from their children for 9 months? Do you know what it's like for a husband and wife to be separated for that long? January marked the longest time Gavin and I have ever gone without seeing Brady. For Kailee, that date was much earlier since she was not around for the last deployment.
Do you know what it's like to work full time at a job that requires a lot of time and heart and then come home and have to be Mom and Dad? Do you know what it's like to see it in your son's eyes that he'd rather have Daddy here than Mommy--not because he doesn't love me but because he's a daddy's boy through and through--and to know that you are not the fun parent and all of life's stresses are making you an even less fun parent? Hats off to all the single mamas of the world.
Do you know what it's like to be out of days in January when there's still 6 months left of school and to have to exhaust other options for childcare in the event your children get sick when really you (and they) would prefer you to do it because they are YOUR babies?
There is a reason families fall apart in the military. The thing is, the National Guard should be here, protecting us stateside, helping with natural disasters locally.
For the record, the majority of National Guardsmen who have been deployed will tell you that there was NO point to them being sent. NO POINT! Brady's been 3 times. The story has always been the same.
By the way, active duty (as in, not National Guard, but "legit" Army) still gets their leave.
I just want to put a disclaimer here. I am so unbelievably grateful for all the wonderful family and friends who do so much to help make our lives easier during this rough time. I thank God everyday for you! I also want to say that I know God has his reasons for this deployment and I need to trust him. I'm just having a bad night. I'm home alone--which believe me, I appreciate nights off--and just got done talking to Brady where I learned of the date being pushed back. There's a reason I read like crazy and watch a lot of TV (or have it on in the background). It distracts the voice in my head that reminds me of the loneliness of this year. It keeps me in the moment and makes it easier to pretend that these 9 months will be over soon. We are over the hump. We are over halfway. I just wish we could have had him home for a bit recently. It would have made it more bearable--I know from experience.
