Family Strong

I know I've said this before, but the Air Force really is a big family. Everyone cares for and helps each other. We are able to cry together, laugh together and we all understand what each other goes through.

I bring this up again because a huge part of a family is children. Many of my good friends have recently become parents and while being a mother or father is never an easy job, it is even more difficult when the military plays a role.

The Air Force tries to make sure the guys are home for the actual arrival of a new baby but many times the husbands miss out on the essential planning and preparation stages because of deployments and/or temporary duties elsewhere.

Generally, once the baby arrives it is very soon after that the new dads have to leave again. It is perhaps the most heartbreaking thing in the world to watch families, especially ones with children, be separated but they are skilled in making the best of a bad situation! By using Skype and sending pictures, they stay updated and are able to see the milestones their children are hitting. (By the way...Skype is a truly wonderful thing!)

So bottom line is, being a military family is not easy and it only becomes more difficult with the addition of children. However, the support system for our families is wonderful, technology makes it so that kids can never forget mommy or daddy's face and for that we are truly lucky.

I would like to say that I am very proud of my friends and of all the parents who hold the home together during deployments. You are strong and loving and I know that your spouses appreciate all that you do!