I am purple again today. I just love Dr. Seuss. Purple is a much much better description for the way I'm feeling--it's deeper than blue and has just a tinge of red to color it which is perfect because I am terribly sad and yet still a little angry. I was having a fairly good day and hadn't cried at all and then someone asked me how Husband and I came to the decision that he should go to Afghanistan. So now I'm purple because if I had been making the decision, we all know that Husband would not be in Afghanistan. So Husband, if you're reading this, I'm too purple to chat tonight. I'm going to go to bed and watch bad TV until my eyeballs dry up and avoid the growing pile of laundry on my bed that I should be folding but I don't feel like folding. I can just sleep around it. Today would have been a really good day to gorge on chocolate, but since God hates me and made me allergic, the only vice I have left is TV. So I'm watching mindless entertainment, which is unfortunately very funny (Big Bang Theory) and is making me laugh. Sigh. I can't even do purple right tonight.
I realized that in my blog description that I said I'm a working mom, and that is true, but since all moms work, I really should have said that I was a working outside of the house and getting paid for it mom. I've done the mom thing both ways. When the kids were little, I was at home, and in that case, I was really at home because we only had one car and Husband used to car pool so he had to drive 2-3 times a week and that meant that I was really stuck at home. We had no money, and I mean no money. Once, when my friends wanted to meet at the McDonald's with a play land to go to lunch and let the kids play, I literally dug in the couch to find change to try to come up with $1.99 so Child 1 and I could share a Happy Meal. I would eat the cheeseburger and Child 1 would eat the fries. It was hard and awful and stressful and tiring. And I miss it. Because the thing you don't realize when you go to work is that you will never have another nap for the rest of your life.
This British soldier is having a worse day than me. Not only was she pregnant and didn't know it, she gave birth in Afghanistan. On an army base. That is constantly under attack. With no pediatrician, or ob-gyn, so definitely no epidural. But at least she gets to leave Afghanistan. So thank you, soldier, for reminding me how nice it was to give birth in a hospital with an epidural. (I love anesthesia.) And thank you for your service. I hope you have a lovely maternity leave.
I realized that in my blog description that I said I'm a working mom, and that is true, but since all moms work, I really should have said that I was a working outside of the house and getting paid for it mom. I've done the mom thing both ways. When the kids were little, I was at home, and in that case, I was really at home because we only had one car and Husband used to car pool so he had to drive 2-3 times a week and that meant that I was really stuck at home. We had no money, and I mean no money. Once, when my friends wanted to meet at the McDonald's with a play land to go to lunch and let the kids play, I literally dug in the couch to find change to try to come up with $1.99 so Child 1 and I could share a Happy Meal. I would eat the cheeseburger and Child 1 would eat the fries. It was hard and awful and stressful and tiring. And I miss it. Because the thing you don't realize when you go to work is that you will never have another nap for the rest of your life.
This British soldier is having a worse day than me. Not only was she pregnant and didn't know it, she gave birth in Afghanistan. On an army base. That is constantly under attack. With no pediatrician, or ob-gyn, so definitely no epidural. But at least she gets to leave Afghanistan. So thank you, soldier, for reminding me how nice it was to give birth in a hospital with an epidural. (I love anesthesia.) And thank you for your service. I hope you have a lovely maternity leave.
Thankfully I did NOT give birth while deployed...but I did find out I was pregnant 10 days into a deployment in the Middle East! My husband and I had been trying for many months and had finally given up as we were both set to deploy to different countries. I was set to get my yellow fever vaccination and was asked if I *could* be pregnant. Sure (I mean--what else do you do on the 2 weeks of R&R you get prior to deploying!)...I *could* be. Well, indeed I was about 5 weeks along.
ReplyDeleteAnd can I just say wow--the British Army is kind to women. I ended up taking my honorable discharge when I was told I'd re-deploy when my son was 3 months old. Maternity leave? Bonding time with your newborn? Yeah right.
I hear you about the maternity leave. And what a bummer that your options were keep your job and leave your child, or stay with your child and give up your job. Bad for families, and bad for the service who lost you.
DeleteAgreed! The other piece to it was that once he got home from Iraq he had to PCS to Colorado and I had to stay in NC as a "geographical bachelor"...they wouldn't even let us be in the same state to raise our newborn. I wish I could say it's gotten better but we see my husband on average 3 months a year (and that's not in a row). I have my OA coming up and we hope that we will be making the switch from the MIL life to the FS life and have a shot at being together a *bit* more. Thank you to YOU, YOUR CHILDREN, and YOUR HUBBY for your service. Oh...and THE DOG ;)
DeleteThanks, although licking the carpet isn't much of a service, but at least The Dog warns us when the pizza guy arrives. And good luck with your orals! Pay careful attention to the instructions in the in-box exercise. Usually, the FS life is more family friendly, except for the unaccompanied tour part. Sigh. But at least those are voluntary and only last a year. Look at me sounding like an optimist! :-)
Delete"Look at me sounding like an optimist! :-)"
ReplyDeleteCaught ya!!!
xoxo,
-A
You know, you don't have to walk alone unless you actually are alone, and in this case, you aren't. We've got your back, mom, and we're with you every step of the way. Also, I still say you're pretty awesome. Hopefully you won't feel so purple anymore.
ReplyDeleteAlways yours,
Child 2
Sobbing, crying until my nose is running, but for a good reason. You are amazing, my sweet Child 2 and way wise beyond your years. I love you!
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