A Real Military Spouse

I am up. Its almost 3am here, and I am sick and can't sleep. I can't tell though if it's because I feel compelled to write this blog post, or that I have insomnia tonight.

I have gotten several links today to vote for this year's military spouse of the year. Each of the links were of people that I am proud to say I know personally. Each one has made sacrifices, and supported their soldier and others. And I hope that one of them win.

I know that this is just my own thought, but sometimes I don't feel like a real military spouse. My husband has never deployed. I have never been asked to be a key spouse. I don't participate in spouse events because my husband has our only car at work with him when they are all scheduled. We don't live on base. We have gotten orders, but they have always been cancelled for one reason or another, so no PCS either.

How do we define a REAL military spouse? Distance, time, location, works? This life is so competitive. Our military men and women compete for rank, and the best places to move to, and here we are trying to measure our own worth by those around us.

I know my value as a mother, wife, daughter, and sister. But, I am the only one close to me who has an active duty husband. So, I guess that I get to decide what makes me a real military wife.

I have moved across the country, not to mention out of my parents house, to be with the man I love. I have known the fear of possibly giving birth on my own. I have seen my soldier walk away, knowing it was not a normal day and he would be gone for only a few weeks. I have argued with finance because they messed up our pay. I have celebrated my birthday by myself more than once. I have been to every PT test I can because he needs my support. I have packed a mobility bag, and put all of my husband's uniforms together when he wasn't at home...and I say, I am a REAL military spouse because I married my soldier!

You don't need an award, or to be nominated for one. You don't need to have been through a deployment. You don't need to move to Japan. If you have been married to your soldier for 1 second, you ARE a real military wife!