And before we know it, Friay again. I am again linking up with Janine and Kate for Finish The Sentence Friday. Today's prompt:
The hardest choice I ever made was...
... leaving the Army. We had just brought our Lily home from the hospital, Richard was still home on leave (because his unit was on a concert tour), when he asked me if I would agree if he left the Army.
He told me how unhappy he was with the Army, that he felt there was no place for him and he was just pushed from one void position to the next without a real purpose. And that he did not want to leave Lily and me to be deployed. That he could not imagine leaving his little daughter and come back to a kid a year older, who probably didn't recognize him any more, or had no memories with her dad for a year.
I cried. I was scared what would happen; we had planned visiting my family in Germany during the winter leave that year, but if we were out there, who knows when this would happen? Would we get jobs, how would we manage the transition, and where would we go. But most of all, I cried for my husband's unhappiness.
I knew that I would probably give up a lot of time with our daughter, as I would most likely be the one who would get the primary job as my education was a lot better than his. I would not be the part-time working mom I wanted to, but I also would not be the sometimes-single mom waiting for her deployed husband to call and confirm that he was alive.
It was by far the hardest decision I've ever made. There were times when I regretted it, there were times when I would have given everything to be able to work only part-time. But then again we're luckier than most. We are able to raise our kids by ourselves, according to our values. We can live comfortable off my income, and once Richard starts working, who knows, maybe I'll be able to cut some hours. But for now, this is the best decision we could have made for our family.
I commend you both for making that decision. It's tough but you did what was best for your family. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Jen! We went through some very deep downs the first year post-Army, having been not prepared at all, but we came out alive and stronger.
DeleteStephanie, as you know, from my post I could totally relate and sometimes the most difficult decisions are the best in the end for the greater good and that is what matters in the end. Just so glad everything turned out so well for you all and thank you as always for sharing with us!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Janine! I am also glad that things have turned out the way they have. There was always a way back in, but that would have been the very, very last resort for us.
DeleteWow, leaving the Army would be a really hard choice. It sounds like you did the best thing for your family though.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kristi! It was definitely, in hindsight, the best decision we could have made. I saw so many families separated for years due to the constant reassignments of the soldier while the kids needed a steady home. Heartbreaking, but luckily not our fate..
DeleteIt was a hard decision, Lizzi. But how could I found my life on my husband's unhappiness? It would have destroyed him and as a consequence our family sooner or later, and we both couldn't let that happen.
ReplyDelete