September 9, 2008
Posted by Claire
It’s tough being a combat mom
You know when the boys were little I often found myself in positions that were demanding. You know the shtick — take a kid here, drop a kid there, pick a kid up there, sign that form for that thing and bake cookies for the other. Then one day they join the military and suddenly your understanding of major stress, the value of every moment you spend together, and the fragility of life and the human spirit is honed in and fine tuned. It’s not that you take them for granted when they are little, but we protect our hearts and minds by lulling ourselves into a false sense of security.
Then they go to war and your eyes are forced to stare point blank into the sun, so to speak.
You know how it is when you stare too long into a source of light? It burns the images you are looking at into your mind so that when you try and close your eyes the silhouette of that image is still there. You can’t escape it and it takes a very long time to erase it from your mind.
I woke up in the very early hours this morning with a quickening in my heart. I was no where awake, but consicious enough to talk myself through the startle. “Yes, Mike is home. Bryan is sleeping right here. We’re OK. We’re OK.”
We are OK, but we are not unscathed. We are fine, but changed. War will have a place in the center of my life for a long time to come. With Mr. Hooah! gearing up to rejoin, my youngest son going forward with his military career and Mike facing deployments in the future I can’t find a way out of it. There’s no wiggle room.
It’s a darn good thing that combat mom’s are tough.
7 Comments
September 9, 2008
{{{{{{{{{{Claire}}}}}}}}}
Those images are what I call “photo albums of the heart.” I cannot imagine what mums in your position go through, but I have often told deploying heroes to store up those “photo albums of the heart.”
I was commenting to someone the other day that in all our lives come those pivotal times, that shape who we are to become, as we carry them with us forever. Seems to me, that military mums/wives have more than their share of those.
I have no words of wisdom for any of you – just the reiteration that in my ignorance of what you really go through, I DO stand with – and for – you.
September 9, 2008
Brat said it so well, so I won’t even try…
Except to say you’ve been tempered by fire.
{{{Hugs}}}
September 10, 2008
Claire,thanks for this article. I am thinking and trying to put all my thoughts together and here you do it for us. It’s all different now !! My son is coming home this weekend for his 21st birthday already a combat veteran. It all happens so fast. He has been home now for 4 months and so excited about the upcoming football season. He is still my little boy in a way but yet he is not if that makes any sense. Have a great day. Bulldog Out!!
September 10, 2008
Thanks, Claire. That time is certainly imprinted, month by month. Waves of whatever wash over from time to time, triggered by various stimuli such as a media report or certain music. Makes me wonder what it takes for redeployed men and women to get their feet on the ground, cope with the residue, and restore themselves. God bless each and every one of them and the families and friends standing in their support.
September 10, 2008
Indeed, it is a good thing that we military moms are tough…but I get so tired of being the strong one sometimes…don’t you? Sometimes I’d like to go off by myself into the woods somewhere and scream out loud and bawl like a baby…but I haven’t done it…yet. Who has the time anyway when I’m moving my office home and running back and forth between here and Fort Hood. And who can really want to scream when awaiting, as patiently as possible, the arrival of my grandson……
September 10, 2008
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the – Web Reconnaissance for 09/10/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
December 4, 2008
What she said.
) My son called at 12 midnight ( he forgot time difference) last night, excited about the 2nd portion of his training. He stated “listen”, and in the back ground was shooting, cannons booming, and people yelling. He was so proud and excited about this type of work he has chosen. I was pretending to be happy but all of us know my heart was frozen with fear.
God bless and please protect all our loved ones who dare to take on this job
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