Being Married to the Maine Corps is a Tough Job, Not for the Weak

Well being married to a Marine is not easy. I think being a USMC wife is one of the toughest jobs. I have been married into the military for 11 years now. I have had my husband over in Iraq for beginning of this war. I had an ex-husband that had to go over seas for 1 year unaccompanied, we had to stay behind, and well that ended in a divorce. We are now doing a 3-year tour of recruiting duty in Wisconsin. We have managed 1 year of it and boy has it been a rough year. We have two more to go. Now do not get me wrong I and very proud of my husband and what he does do for my family and the freedom of our country.

I honestly believe that being a Marine wife is the toughest job there is. While my husband was in Iraq, we had three children and raising them alone and keeping the house running was tough. On top of that keeping my husband involved so he was not missing the kids growing up that was draining. Keeping his sprits up when he missed the kid's birthdays and other holidays was close to impossible. He felt that he was providing for us being away and that was very hard to handle on both ends. That was a tough 7 months and I feel for the wives that have to do it longer. You do not get a break for your children and there is not time to yourself. I truly felt as thought I was a single parent. Trying not to make changes to the house for when he did come home was a challenge. He for a long time felt like he was just a visitor in his own home with his family.

When he did finally come home, it was not a smooth adjustment. You get so use to doing everything on your own and coming and going as you choose worrying about just my own schedule that when he becomes part of the routine boy is that a rocky period. I felt as though he was in my way and trying to change our system that we had down. He felt not needed because we learned to cope without him. I had to force myself to include him and make him feel needed. When they are gone, you want so badly for them to come home and be there to help but when they do get to come home, it really is very hard to get use to that extra person.