When I first decided to rekindle my blog and replace my military
spouse slant with my new experiences as a divorced woman (sorry, I still haven’t
warmed to the title “divorcee”), I wondered how I would weather the transition
from one blogging community to another that was so drastically different.
That concern was partly a curiosity about my readership, about
whether or not any military audience I still had left would
stick around to follow my adventures that no longer revolved around military
life and whether or not I could gain a following from divorcees (there, I said
it!).
whether or not any military audience I still had left would
stick around to follow my adventures that no longer revolved around military
life and whether or not I could gain a following from divorcees (there, I said
it!).
But that concern was actually just a thumbnail of a bigger
picture, a smaller version of one of the nagging questions that’s been pounding
at the back of my head since I publicly shared the news of my divorce:
picture, a smaller version of one of the nagging questions that’s been pounding
at the back of my head since I publicly shared the news of my divorce:
Where do I fit in now?
The ubiquitous “they” say you learn who your real friends are
when you go through a life-changing event. The true friends hang on and help
you through, while the posers fall off and find a new pal who doesn’t force
them to exert too much emotional energy.
when you go through a life-changing event. The true friends hang on and help
you through, while the posers fall off and find a new pal who doesn’t force
them to exert too much emotional energy.
I’m proud to say that my divorce announcement proved I
have pretty amazing friends. I might even be so bold as to say I have more
friends offering me love and support now than I ever have. But despite these
bolstering friendships, I still find myself needing something else.
have pretty amazing friends. I might even be so bold as to say I have more
friends offering me love and support now than I ever have. But despite these
bolstering friendships, I still find myself needing something else.
Most of my friends are married. Although some had ringside seats for the disintegration of my marriage, they weren’t
fighting in the ring with me. They cannot know exactly what I’m going through.
Just as many military spouses say about their civilian counterparts who complain
about their husbands going on 3-day business trips or ask why service members
don’t get “normal” jobs, there’s just no possible way anyone can understand
unless they’ve lived it themselves.
fighting in the ring with me. They cannot know exactly what I’m going through.
Just as many military spouses say about their civilian counterparts who complain
about their husbands going on 3-day business trips or ask why service members
don’t get “normal” jobs, there’s just no possible way anyone can understand
unless they’ve lived it themselves.
I’m reading post-divorce self-help books, and I’m starting
to follow divorce-related blogs. Everything I’ve read so far only confirms that
nothing can replace a community of real-life people who know what it feels like
to pack up the kids every weekend to ship them off to dad’s house and how to
deal with the prospect of both parties dating. Like a military spouse seeking
solace from other military spouses as she struggles through a first deployment,
I’m feeling a pull to be a part of a community of divorced women (yeah, I just can’t say divorcee) if for no
other reason than to hear them say, “Hey, I totally get it.”
to follow divorce-related blogs. Everything I’ve read so far only confirms that
nothing can replace a community of real-life people who know what it feels like
to pack up the kids every weekend to ship them off to dad’s house and how to
deal with the prospect of both parties dating. Like a military spouse seeking
solace from other military spouses as she struggles through a first deployment,
I’m feeling a pull to be a part of a community of divorced women (yeah, I just can’t say divorcee) if for no
other reason than to hear them say, “Hey, I totally get it.”
As much as I adore the military spouse community, I realize I
no longer belong there. I’m truly happy for my friends whose husbands return
from long deployments, and I can empathize with other friends who are awaiting
new orders and prepping for PCS moves. But deployments and PCS’s have a
completely different meaning for me now. I still have to deal with
military-induced transitions, but only for the sake of my children as I try to
figure out how their military father’s career is going to affect the time they’re
allotted with him. I’m no longer celebrating homecomings. I’m no longer PCS’ing.
no longer belong there. I’m truly happy for my friends whose husbands return
from long deployments, and I can empathize with other friends who are awaiting
new orders and prepping for PCS moves. But deployments and PCS’s have a
completely different meaning for me now. I still have to deal with
military-induced transitions, but only for the sake of my children as I try to
figure out how their military father’s career is going to affect the time they’re
allotted with him. I’m no longer celebrating homecomings. I’m no longer PCS’ing.
And that’s where the gaping difference hits me:
They all have husbands. I don’t.
I’m slowly but surely meeting other divorced women who are
able to offer me the solace I once sought as that new military spouse trying to
wrap her head around the military lifestyle. I’m still not quite accustomed to
girls’ night out conversations that now revolve around the quality of available
men on Match.com rather than the pitfalls of deployments, but it’s all part of
finding a community that fits where I am in my life right now.
able to offer me the solace I once sought as that new military spouse trying to
wrap her head around the military lifestyle. I’m still not quite accustomed to
girls’ night out conversations that now revolve around the quality of available
men on Match.com rather than the pitfalls of deployments, but it’s all part of
finding a community that fits where I am in my life right now.
I’m certainly not abandoning my military community, especially
after they’ve stepped up and rallied around me in the past couple of months, because they didn’t abandon me.
But I’m looking forward to joining another community that, at this point in my
life, is a better fit for me.
after they’ve stepped up and rallied around me in the past couple of months, because they didn’t abandon me.
But I’m looking forward to joining another community that, at this point in my
life, is a better fit for me.
Thinking back on my beginning days of blogging four years
ago, I remember feeling hopeful and excited to find other military spouses to
guide me and to provide positive examples through their journeys. But one day,
maybe it was a year later, maybe it was two, I discovered something huge. Somewhere during that journey to find guidance,
I had become a guide for others.
ago, I remember feeling hopeful and excited to find other military spouses to
guide me and to provide positive examples through their journeys. But one day,
maybe it was a year later, maybe it was two, I discovered something huge. Somewhere during that journey to find guidance,
I had become a guide for others.
I thought of that yesterday as a woman I recognized from my
apartment building pulled up next to me in the parking lot minutes after I loaded
my children and their suitcase in my ex-husband’s car and watched them drive
away for the weekend.
apartment building pulled up next to me in the parking lot minutes after I loaded
my children and their suitcase in my ex-husband’s car and watched them drive
away for the weekend.
“You just made my day,” she told me. “My son was watching your
kids, and he said, ‘Look Mom, those kids live in two different houses too.’”
kids, and he said, ‘Look Mom, those kids live in two different houses too.’”
“That’s right,” I answered, smiling at the little boy in the
backseat. “My kids DO live at two different houses.”
backseat. “My kids DO live at two different houses.”
“It’s hard,” the woman practically whispered. “Sometimes it’s
really hard.”
really hard.”
Yes, sometimes it’s really hard. But as I watched this woman
drive away, I knew I had just added another person to my new community, another
person to whom, in one simple and unknowing way, I was able to offer a little
bit of solace. And I have a feeling that one day, after getting to know each
other and trading divorce stories, she’ll return the favor.
drive away, I knew I had just added another person to my new community, another
person to whom, in one simple and unknowing way, I was able to offer a little
bit of solace. And I have a feeling that one day, after getting to know each
other and trading divorce stories, she’ll return the favor.
I’m still figuring out where I fit in. I don’t imagine I’ll
have the answer anytime soon. But one day maybe I will. Until that time comes, I’ll
just consider myself extremely lucky to have those amazing friends, whatever
community they may reside in.
have the answer anytime soon. But one day maybe I will. Until that time comes, I’ll
just consider myself extremely lucky to have those amazing friends, whatever
community they may reside in.
I've recently stopped blogging in the military niche as I felt there was more to me than just my military wife side. And there is… so why is it so hard figuring that out? lol Life is a journey that is constantly changing. New paths. New bumps and mountains to climb. New happy moments. New. I look forward to seeing what your 'new' brings you and where you find your comfort and your community.
Hey Laura! You're so right that there's more to all of us than one single title. Good for you for exploring those other sides of you. 🙂
For what its worth, I'm no longer a military spouse–retirement not divorce. But I can say though it requires some readjustment, civilian life has some advantages. I live in a small town and can ride in the July 4th parade and know half the people I see standing watching or in the parade too. I still get an itch to move every couple years, but can do things like run for school board or help out with the swim team–knowing I may be in it for the long haul. I can live near enough to see family as often as I have time. I can plan vacations that don't get cancelled because of matters I can't control. I miss the friends and experiences of the military life, but like the control I know have of my life. I hope it doesn't take to long to start enjoying the positives of civilian life. Sally from Sasebo
Hi, Sally! Thank you so much for your comment. I've heard from a few mil spouses who joined civilian life because of retirement, and they all say similar things about the transition. I think I'll miss the military experiences the most (like Sasebo!), but I'm learning there are definite advantages to leaving that life behind. 🙂
I'll still follow your blog, even if you're not a mil spouse anymore. That might have put us in contact originally, just like with your military friends, but that's not what makes me (or them) stick around. We're all always searching for where we fit in, military or not. Good luck with your transition!
Monica, that's so true that we're always searching for where we fit in. Thank you for the comment and for sticking around. 🙂
You are ALWAYS welcome at my fire! I have several milspouse friends who are going through divorce and discovering their new normal. As the child of divorced parents, I can tell you that although things weren't "leave it to beaver" picture perfect, I never questioned my mom's love. Our mantra of "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all" was how she lived her life – which is what helped me become the woman I am today! Love your babies, show Love and kindness to others – and remember to LOVE yourself! 🙂 ((big hugs))
I got divorced in 2007. It was weird because I still lived near a military base, but I had no military connection anymore. My plan was to stay until the house sold, then move home. I made some great friends in that weird transitional time and most of them were affiliated with the military, but that makes no difference at all. I mostly took care of my son and worked. Then I kinda met a Marine and you know how that story goes. I hadn't planned on it, but it happened. Anyways, it's not an easy adjustment, being divorced or no longer having the military association, but it will work out. I'm a firm believer that all things happen for a reason. I didn't even realize you were writing again! I just happened to see this post on someone else's blog roll.
This is exactly what I've been dealing with lately. I've done a great deal of healing in many other aspects of my divorce but this one has stuck with me. Though I created my own career, finishing my masters while married and working in my field through my divorce until the present, I feel I am still lacking something vital in my life having divorced the military too. Perhaps it's not lacking but grieving this part of my old life now too. I find old wounds opened up as I feel the feels of not having that purpose and stability and community and adventure anymore. I don't know what to replace it with or how to heal this fresh new pain. It seems every time I make great growth in recovering, it's preparing me for another new revelation of what was lost or emotions I hadn't been ready to feel yet. I know it all comes together but I cannot tell you what this post means to me, feeling alone in a loving world of married to military friends, single civilian never been married friends and married and never military friends. It's just something no one seems to get the breadth of and I greatly appreciate you writing this and hope this too heals soon.