Has your husband been confined to his ship for the past six months or longer? Did he kiss you and the kid's goodbye and say I will be home soon?

When the Navy says you are going to be attached to a specific ship and you will be leaving on a specific date for an unspecified amount of time, what is the first thing you feel? Do you feel panic? How am I ever going to exist for the next few months while my husband plays war games on his big war ship?

Now is the time maybe for the first time you are left on your own to cope with whatever life throws at you. In many cases this is when the car breaks down. When the washing machine overflows or the electricity decides it is so outdated, nothing outside of rewiring the house will work.

Decisions are what make us grow each and everyday. How we handle day to day crisis's sometimes to the point you think you are going to lose you mind, but when you confront it head on, somehow it is diminished and it slowly goes away.

When you husband kisses you goodbye and you are now left completely on your own, your life can change. You can get a job. Do volunteer work. Go back to school. Your life will change. You will become stronger. This is the time to have friends. You can count on to help you when the times are tough and the money is less.

Many women bundle up their families during these stressful times of deployment and go home to their families. They only return to greet their husband when their ship returns to port months later.

Whatever you decide to do to get yourself through this stressful, growing time, you will not be the same person you were when you kissed your sailor goodbye.

Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of my other numerous articles on various subjects.

Linda E. Meckler Copyright 2009