My SO & I have been together for 2 years (come April 07) & I'm about to face the biggest challenge of my life....my first deployment.:unlove I'm scared....I don't have anyone where I live that I can talk to. Since we met, he's been my world, he's who I've spent every moment with (minus those times the Army sent him away to the field or off to training!) it's him that I've been with...but now I must face it all alone and I'm scared. My co-workers at work don't understand what it's like...in fact, one even said to me "You knew what you were getting into when you started dating him. You knew the risks so I don't want to hear one word about it"....umm...thanks! :sadeyes I'm not looking for anything, but sometimes I just need them to know that when I'm quiet it's not bc I'm rude, it's b/c there are other things more pressing in my life...worry. If I break out in tears it's just b/c I'm thinking of him....I don't need them to start rumors & run to my supervisor thinking they can shove the "care & concern" crap on & say they're worried that I might hurt myself. Please! My man left to sacrifice for their freedoms, it's not worth killing myself over! BUT...do I not have that right to be a bit sad at :sadeyes times? Esp. when I see his picture on my desk?

Anyway...any encouragment that anyone could give me would be much appreciated. Tips/ideas of how you survived your first deployment, etc:sadeyes .

I may not be able to check this site that often since I'm in the process of helping him finish up last minute stuff & moving out plus spending the last few days iwth him...but I can be found thru email!

Thanks

You will survive, just like we have all (or almost all) survived. Deployments are hard, but if you both have everything the relationship needs to stay strong, then you'll be just fine. As far as tips/ideas for you - work alot, stay busy, are you in school? Find a hobby. Buy a dog. Write alot of letters and bake alot of freakin' cookies (for care packages of course ;) ). AND, don't forget you've got a thousand people here at SOS that will do what we can to help keep you strong :)

Anyone who says that stupid ass phrase "you knew what you were getting into when you got with him" pisses me right off! No one understands unless they have been through it so they can't possibly say that, and be right! Gr!

My advice is, don't listen to the negativity you get from people. As i said, they don't know a thing, they havn't been through it. They arn't going through it and they will most likely NEVER go through it. You will hardly ever hear a military SO say that because well- they know what its like and they know its nothing they ever imagined.

You will get through it. Tough times don't last, strong people do. If your relationship is strong, and you guys have a bond. Then you will get through the stresses and end up together in the end. My dh has been deployed for 11 months now and well.. were still together. It's been tough. We have both had bs to put up with, deal with and get through but we have made it and now the time is coming to when he is leaving Iraq. And i love him more then the day he left.

You will be fine, keep strong, keep busy and try to get those negative people out of your life, or atleast out of your head.