It's finally here. I'm been worrying about it for months but I can no longer avoid it or ignore it. DB called last night and asked when would be best for me for pre-deployment leave. How can I pick out what day is best for me to say goodbye to him? It's so real now. I had hoped we could keep avoiding it and it would just never arrive. Not only is it here now, but they cut back his leave from 14 days to 10 for some unknown reason! :vent I know that I am still very fortunate to be able to see him, and I am excited for him to come home soon, but I am just worried that his time home will be marred because I know that he is leaving oh so soon. :pout

I'm not going to lie. It's going to be hard for you and him. Never forget he's on the other end of that deployment too. All the pain you're feeling he's feeling too, just in a different way. Talk to him. Find out something that would be memorable for the both of you around his predeployment. exp: a baseball game, mini golf....something and plan around that. Don't spend the last days stressing. you have many months ahead for that.

I'm not going to lie. It's going to be hard for you and him. Never forget he's on the other end of that deployment too. All the pain you're feeling he's feeling too, just in a different way. Talk to him. Find out something that would be memorable for the both of you around his predeployment. exp: a baseball game, mini golf....something and plan around that. Don't spend the last days stressing. you have many months ahead for that.

:agree What great advice! I'm so sorry you're having to face the goodbye. Like LovinganMp said, it's tough, but you'll get through it somehow. It's so tough for both sides, but you know it's part of what makes us so proud of our military loved one. Each time we deploy I try my hardest to not think about it. we've had three major deployments and this last one we were only given 4 days of leave together before he left and it was just awful. He barely landed and had to leave again. I guess that will make R&R even more wonderful when that time comes, huh? Remember that tempers may flare while he's home as you both are coming to terms with the upcoming separation. I absolutely hate it, but it has happened with all three of our deployments. Hang in there and know that we're here for you when you need us. :hug to you.

Thank you both for the great advice!

you have got to try your hardest to make the very best out of the time you guys have together. I can say with full confidence, that you would hate to look back on his leave as wasted because it was filled with negativity.

You can do this! I promise!