ok so i just watched by boyfriend drive off for the first time and this is so hard for me to do. the story is:

-we met when i was 14 and he was 16 and now i am 19 and he is 21. i've known him for 6 years and we have dated off and on and the thing about it is that i did not want to date him because of him bein in the marines but i have come to my senses and he was on pre-deployment leave he came in on the 14th and suprised me and my cousin kacee (his friend brian is dating kacee) and he just left today. which he was on his way yesterday but had some truck problems, so when he left today it wasn't as hard as it was yesterday, yesterday i was a mess! but anyways him suprising me was the greatest thing ever! i was so happy! :cp :D but since he's been home we spent almost every waking moment together and only spent about 2 days apart! but it was awesome seeing him for that long. we went out once before and were engaged but it was too hard on me him bein in iraq and not bein able to talk to him so we called it off...but no we are back together (thank god!!) and since we've been together everything has been heaven!! :happydance nothing could be better than having him come back home again. he's currently on his was back to his barracks with brian and im sittin here in our hometown waiting for him to call and say "baby im on my way home". 6 months till i get to see him again because he is going on deployment to the japan & the phillipines for training. no combat this time (:pray i hope so anyway)

the point of this was for someone to be there and guide me through this whole thing. i've never had to watch him drive off into the sunset or anything and i need some advice on things to keep me going and to do while he's gone...any advice please let me know! thanks!

well it's hard as you know from his last deployment, but you have to be internally strong and find some hobbies and a great support network. You need to honest with him the whole time about all your feelings. and seriously the best advice is to stay busy! SOS is a lifesaver for sure.

watching them leave is the worst. Allow yourself to feel like shit. It is normal. Don't look at the big picture, take it day by day. If you look at like it will never end then it will feel like it. You can handle it and you will have communication which will be incredibly reassuring during this time.

the point of this was for someone to be there and guide me through this whole thing. i've never had to watch him drive off into the sunset or anything and i need some advice on things to keep me going and to do while he's gone...any advice please let me know! thanks!

I am in the same boat as of Monday sweetie. I'm so scared for the goodbye. It terrifies me. I don't want to lose it because it isn't like he can do a damn thing about it but I don't know how i'll keep myself together. I know its going to be ugly the first few hours after he leaves. :sigh

I guess my plan is to keep busy, i asked for some extra shifts at work, and i've let my friends know how much i need them right now. And to drag me out of the house at some point because knowing me i'll just want to crawl into bed and feel sorry for myself.

PM me if you want to talk.

Good luck!

My advice is to keep busy and read/post on here often. Last deployment it made me feel better to make care packages, write letters, and plan for homecoming. I was planning a week long vacation and just thinking about the end of the deployment made life seem a lil more pleasant, ya know?

i hope it gets easier. my bf was suppose to go one that deployment but switched units. :hugs...

Letting my DH go off the first time was so incredibly hard too. It just shows you how much you love them and will miss them. It still will suck, but things will begin to get better. Just keep busy.

I'm with you as of [very] soon! We'll all get thru it and need to get glasses or increase our prescriptions from posting on this til all hours of the night!