Not Your Typical Military Wife.

So y'all wrote me in response to my last post and my belief that 11:30 is not late enough to sleep in.  It got me thinking about how different I am than the majority of military wives.  Not in a bad way either but.. well, let me explain...

(Disclaimer: Nobody take offense to anything I am going to say about my opinion of the average military wife.. deal?)

I am not under any circumstances a morning person.  I frequently sleep till noon or later when I can.  Unless I have something to get up for, like work (7:45 really isn't my friend.)  98% of the military wives I have come across thus far in my lifetime get up... early... send their husband off, tend to their kids if they have them, and get all their errands ran and chores done before I even think of hitting snooze the first time.  That just isn't me.. yes, I get envious that they are put together by 7 in the morning, but I will NEVER be that person.  Anytime before 9 is never going to be my friend frankly.

I'm also not a fan of cooking.  At all.  I can do it (well most of it..), I'd just rather not.  My husband cooks in our family (yeah I've been up a tree without him around!) and I'm supposed to be the one that cleans up after his rather messy self.  I see Facebook status' from my mil spouse friends all the time about their plans for dinner and how they hope their man gets off on time so that dinner is still warm when he arrives.  Even when I didn't have a job and frankly did not do anything during the day except take the dog out 150,000 times, dinner was never on the table (except maybe twice) when he walked through the door.  Sorry Rob!  Maybe someday when we have little people running around.. until then.. probably not going to change.

I'm probably one of the few military spouses that will not jump at the opportunity to live overseas.  I just love America way too much.  I love my sense of normal and it's just not something I have this crazy desire to mix up.  At the end of the day though, I go where he goes and if that means we are on assignment to Korea then I suck it up and deal with it.  But you will not find me telling my husband to beg and plead for that overseas spot.

If you follow me on Pinterest you'll see tons of cute things pinned to my Get Yo' Craft On board.  I have great intentions to be a craft everyday kind of person.  But at the end of the day I'd rather go home and lay on the couch and watch some good (no-good) TV while drinking a glass of wine.  I follow all these lovely military spouses and their blogs and they are some of the craftiest women I know.. someday my friends.  But today, I shall warm the couch and pin for the future... that also probably isn't going to change anytime soon.

Rob and I talk about having little people frequently.  I am absolutely in no rush though.  At Ft. Meade we were part of the kid-less crowd.  Since we've left Ft. Meade two of our friend-less couple friends have re-created.  In a way I feel like it's the "thing" to do.  Have babies, be a mother, stay at home with your kids and all that.  Don't get me wrong, I want to be a mother, but not now.  Not yet.  Not while there is still a chance my husband could deploy again.  Call me selfish, but I don't want to find out if I can be as strong as all the woman that do it everyday taking care of their children alone without their husband.  I give mad props to you women, but nine times out of ten I am perfectly okay with just having a dog to handle... and I feel like that puts me in the minority among military wives.

The last thing that make me not so typical is my knack for not blaming the Army whenever something goes awry.  I have a tendency to complain to my hubs because some days I log online and everyone is complaining about some curve ball the Army threw their way.  It sucks.  I am in no way shape or form saying that it doesn't.  But at the end of the day... the Army puts a roof over my head, food in the fridge (for hubby to cook!) and a job to entertain my husband.  Yes, it often makes him a cranky pants and he usually doesn't get home when he says he will.  But you will never find me saying I hate the Army for that... (I recognize that everybody handles their frustrations differently.  I am not judging any of you that do..)

Some of you are probably thinking.. you aren't that special Amanda.  And you are right.. maybe we are all "un-typical" and my sense of the norm when it comes to military wives is all sorts of messed up.  I've always called it as I see it though.  We all have that special part that makes us a unique individual, I have no doubt about that.

One thing I do know is that no matter how late we sleep, how good we cook, how we vent our frustrations, we are all proud wives.  Proud that each and everyday we wake up with the same last name as that one special person that defends the freedoms of every single American.  Proud to know that when someone says the word hero, your husband qualifies.  Proud of this country, the people in it and those who sacrifice so much.  I am proud to be a military wife.. each and everyday.

I'd love to hear what your thoughts on being "un-typical" are.. :)

Also if you'd be interested in guest posting for me while hubs is home on R&R can you please send me an e-mail at somewhereoverthecamo@hotmail.com?  Thanks y'all!

Always,
Amanda

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10 comments:

  1. Don't worry about the cooking. I don't cook and don't like to cook. Although I set a goal to learn to cook better while the husband is deployed, but now having the second baby I'm not sure how well that will work out :) I also did not choose to stay home with my kids. I am not cut out being a SAHM. I love my job and I love my kids, so I go to work each week day and my kids go to daycare. It's the perfect situation for our family. :)I give major credit to those who do stay at home with their kids. Nothing wrong with not being "typical" :)

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  2. I swear, the 'you need to have babies' poking stick is at every command and every age bracket. I think that those with kids forget how awesome being just yourself can be - there's traveling, sleeping in, and all the glory that comes with not procreating.

    I always feel like my reasoning falls on deaf ears, but who am I to care...really? They're the one with a melting down 2-year-old, and I just get to cringe and drink my wine while I go home to my quiet house and pooch.

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  3. I may not be married, but I know how you feel as far as being atypical. As a girlfriend, I get the "Oh he's in the army? When are you getting married?!?!" question from people all. the. time. annoying.

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  4. Girl, there is nothing wrong with being YOU! :) I don't know many people who actually enjoy cooking (but wish they would come live with me if they do), and getting up early- blech. I am not a fan. Just today, the small person decided that 4am was a good wakeup time. REALLY?! I do not share his enthusiasm for such dark hours of the day. ;)

    Oh, and I've had a Pinterest craft (with all of the materials already purchased!) just sitting in the corner of the living room for WEEKS now, probably months. Cannot find the motivation to just DO IT already. Sad, but like you, I would much rather plop on the couch and chill out at the end of the day. :)

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  5. I enjoyed reading this and knowing more about you! I wish I was hitting the snooze button every day! haha.

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  6. This is a really great post - I feel the same way! It's not that it is a bad or negative thing, but every single military wife blog I've found thusfar is always full of baby/kid talk. Yes, I can't wait to have a family, but I really want to enjoy this chapter of my husband & I's life as well. I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts! :)

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  7. AMEN! I am almost point for pont the same person. We have dogs and that's it. I can get up, let them out, and go right back to sleep... and if I could it would be until about 10am everyday. Don't ever let anyone tell you you are not good enough, or aren't a good enough wife because you're not June Cleaver! It's something that took me a while to figure out (being a housewife who doesn't particularly craft, or clean, or bake, or do much other than watch The Chew and Anderson Cooper!). All the different types of wives out there make this milspouse community so great though! So glad I bounced upon your blog!

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  8. I loved you post on not being a typical military wife. My husband was in the Marine Corps and let me tell you I was the oddball in our crowd. I don't cook either! Especially not since he left and started culinary school. As far as kids, we decided to have one for more personal reasons. I was the only one with a baby! yikes!

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  9. So glad I found you (through the BBN 20-somethings group!). I am a Navy wife, and I can really relate to a lot of this. I have definitely found myself being the odd one out when I am with a group of other Navy wives - no kids here, no desire to live overseas either, and I have trouble finding others who can relate to my goals that come before having children right now. I love your attitude in this post - being different in all these ways doesn't make us any less proud or any less amazing wives. I have really enjoyed poking around your blog!

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  10. Love this post! :)

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