I one thing I am learning, and seems like a no-brainer, but much easier said than done in my situation. I am learning the hard way right now.

Staying busy when you SO is deployed is really important. Otherwise, you will be consumed with all of the expected worries, lonliness, etc.

One thing that we need to be sure to do, however, is to make sure that the things that we stay busy with a good balance of work and play. Rigth now I am consumed with work and literally have not had one day completely off since August. This is starting to trigger panic and anxiety attacks and at the times when I just need a moment to be emotional, I can't be. It is starting to take it's toll on my health and well-being.

I now have to drop out of important commitments just so I don't have to sacrifice the quality of others. I haven't seen or talked to most of my friends in weeks, I haven't seen a movie, played video games, ran in local races, or anything that I like doing. I am in desperate need for bras and I actually have to put "bra shopping" on my calendar just to make sure I can get them at all.

Worst of all, my DB might becoming home earlier than expected for leave time and I am stuck working while he is home. :(

So....lesson learned.....HAVE SOME FUN!!!

Very true!!:hugs Hope things start to calm down soon for you and that you get to have some of that much needed fun!:hugs

yes it is very true. what about your weekends...working too? i'm sorry. does your school let you schedule "personal days"? I am lucky that I have accumulated 5 this year and this is a good time to take advantage fo them. Don't be afraid to take a little time off. If you don't have personal days...you may want to become "sick". even if you don't get to spend the day with your friends (if they are all working too because i know mine do), you can still use the time to go shopping or run those erraqnds that just don't fit into your normal schedule. When I did this, it felt sooooo good!! i hop eyou find some time for yourself, sweety!

yes it is very true. what about your weekends...working too? i'm sorry. does your school let you schedule "personal days"?

Well, this time of year, on top of just teaching full time (I see 20 classes, 2x per week), our school district has a choir festival that I have to bring kids to (and I have to rehearse them during my planning time), plus I am putting together this huge Vet's day assembly. When that is done, I have to start putting together a school wide winter holiday concert (every grade is involved). I often have to go to my school on the weekends to catch up on work (we also have a brand new curriculum). Aside from my job, our state requires teachers to do a "professional certification program" in order to have a permanent teaching certificate. It involves taking classes, giving presentations, etc. for 2-3 years. That also consumes alot of my weekend time....plus I am slowly picking away at my Master's. On top of this, I am in a professional choir, which is supposed to be fun, but is actually very demanding and consumes every bit of my extra time....so I will be quitting the choir this next week. Ugh.

does your school let you schedule "personal days"? I am lucky that I have accumulated 5 this year and this is a good time to take advantage fo them. Don't be afraid to take a little time off. If you don't have personal days...you may want to become "sick".

Our school gives us 12 sick days. Three of those can be taken as personal days, but we have to submit a request for them. If the request happens near the holidays, it is often denied. Also when we use them, they get deducted from our sick days anyway. We are only allowed to accumulate sick days, so only 9 of the sick days carry over from year to year. This forces most of us to lie about being "sick" just to avoid the pain in the butt of requesting, knowing that those first three days aren't going to carry over anyway. Kinda screwy, huh?

When DB comes home, I am definitely going to get "sick" for a couple of days, but I have to be carefull because my kids need me to get ready for their performances.

Sheesh!:no :freakout

take more time for you sweety:goodvibes :hugs

i agree with this actually, but in my case its the opposite. I do all my work like im supposed to yeah (in my case its schoolwork but still) but then i let myself have my fun, like partying with friends (college student, dont worry im not going crazy though) but its just sometimes, i miss my SO so much that i let the partying overpower me and take over to replace that. Last night especially i realized how its all really to much to handle. i need to find a better balance between my work and my fun, because although my work is getting done, the fun has taken it to a place where it is comepletely overwhelming. I think its time to find a part time job of some sort (the only problem is i have lots of travel plans especially for the holidays, so no one really wants to hire someone who cant work for 5 days at a time 2 different times in the first few months) oh well, anyone have any ideas??? PM me if you do please! suggestions are much appreciated!!!!!

i agree with this actually, but in my case its the opposite. I do all my work like im supposed to yeah (in my case its schoolwork but still) but then i let myself have my fun, like partying with friends (college student, dont worry im not going crazy though) but its just sometimes, i miss my SO so much that i let the partying overpower me and take over to replace that. Last night especially i realized how its all really to much to handle. i need to find a better balance between my work and my fun, because although my work is getting done, the fun has taken it to a place where it is comepletely overwhelming. I think its time to find a part time job of some sort (the only problem is i have lots of travel plans especially for the holidays, so no one really wants to hire someone who cant work for 5 days at a time 2 different times in the first few months) oh well, anyone have any ideas??? PM me if you do please! suggestions are much appreciated!!!!!

Heee hee! I do some of your parties if you come and help me get my work done! LOL:teehee :teehee

:popcorn :yourock I totally agree girl! I am thinking about you and I so wish that we lived closer so we could hang out and go shopping or just go to dinner!