How It's Done

When people discover that I am in a relationship with someone in the military, I inevitably hear the same statement over and over again: "I don't know how you do it." Believe me, sometimes us military loving people don't know how we do it either. Actually, most of the time we don't know how. 

Coping with the idea of loving someone in the military can be a tough thought to deal with. Sometimes there is a constant struggle of staying or leaving, and sometimes that struggle doesn't exist because your heart knows exactly what it is that it wants. It is often scary, but it is always worth the leap of faith.

So, how do you go months apart? How do you deal with the crazy hour work days? How do you pick up and move your entire life every few years? How do you live and love in the military? How exactly do you do it?

We take the necessary time to build a strong relationship when time allows.

We understand that life is different for us than it is for others that exist in our civilian lives.

We prepare for last minute changes, long periods of time apart, and facing the unknown.

We communicate...a lot.

We are flexible.

We embrace and enjoy the time we do get to spend together...every single second of it.

We continue to look towards the future, even though we are unsure of what it will bring.

We take the time to learn and understand the military as best we can.

We call on those in our shoes.

We learn to be independent.

We are patient.

We stay positive and enjoy the ride.

We accept the reality of the lifestyle.

We trust one another.

We are proud.

Choosing to love in the military - not only a spouse, but a parent, child, or relative - is difficult. No one can say exactly how it is that they get through it. But, one answer is common for sure, we love the (wo)man in uniform.