Imagine...

If only others could understand the conflicting emotions homecomings bring. The last homecoming our SBG was only 2 1/2 so she was a little hesitant, unsure, and shy when her daddy, who had been MIA from home, scooped her up in his big, lovable arms the first time. Understandable? Yes. Expected even. How long did it take for her to get right back in the groove of their "old" father-daughter routine? About an hour. Now the same little girl is 4 and we are about to have another homecoming. Will she react the same as the last one? I expect some distance in the first few minutes, some changes in behavior, and some great moments as well. Since her daddy has been gone this time, my SBG has been doing well. However, when Daddy calls and wants to talk to her on Facetime or even just have a regular phone conversation, she is often not interested and even refuses to talk. I encourage her to talk, but never force it. I completely understand her feelings. I feel the same way. I have moments when I dream of our happy reunion day and moments when I dread the day he comes home. Sounds horrible doesn't it? Well, let's see if I can give you some perspective. Imagine living a life you never wanted. Imagine your husband going against your wishes and signing up for a career that requires ALL of us to make sacrifices. Imagine how hard it is to say good-bye to your husband several times a year, sometimes for periods of 6 months to a year. Imagine how it feels to see your husband leave your baby, or your 2-year old or your 3-year old knowing when he returns he will have missed out on so many firsts, so many holidays, birthdays, life lessons, good-night kisses and warm, feel-good hugs, not to mention, the moments like deaths in the family that you now have to handle all on your own. Imagine knowing your husband is putting himself in harm's way, willing to leave you and your child, not knowing if he will return. Not knowing if he will be the same man even when he does return. Now imagine how your life continues during his absence. Imagine the daily household chores that now all fall on your shoulders. Imagine the scheduling conflicts, the doctor appointments, the sicknesses, that you are solely responsible for, even though you are also working a full-time job that requires you to not only work your regular "40 hours a week", but also requires time spent in the evenings to conduct home visits, parent-teacher conferences, lesson planning, and preparation. Imagine how it feels to never feel that you are enough because when you are spending time with your child, you are thinking about the 50 things that need to be done before 8AM. And when you are spending hours and hours working, you are feeling guilty that you just let your 4-year old watch "Tangled" for the 15th time in the past 3 months, so you could have some peace and quiet and finish what needs to be done. And then imagine how it feels every morning seeing your beautiful child and her huge smile that covers her angelic, sleepy face when you smother her with kisses and "good mornings" to start your day. Imagine how rewarding it is to see nearly 40 preschoolers show you how much they have learned while in your care. Imagine how it feels to be the one who has successfully managed all the household chores, be both mommy and daddy to your child, and succeed as a teacher. Imagine how much pride, happiness and joy you have had even in your husband's absence. Now imagine your feelings when you are reuniting as a family. Imagine how you must feel? Joy, relief, excitement, anxiety, guilt, doubt, worry. Homecomings are like honeymoons they last a brief period of time, then real life sets in and the emotions that were bottled up for several months while he was gone, all come rising to the surface. All those things you didn't get to talk about daily, now get spewed out in one day. All the frustrations all the resentments all the sadness and hurt and anger, it all comes out. Even when you don't want it to. Even when you know it is probably not the best thing to do. But it happens. So when you ask me when my husband is coming home and then follow it with something like "I bet you are so excited!" Or "I bet you can't wait!" Know that I will politely smile and say something like "yes." or "we are ready for him to be home". But in my head, I am thinking "I am glad he is coming home, but I can't believe he is willing to stay gone from us for so long". Or "yes I am excited. I am also frustrated, angry, and sad that he just missed out on several months of our lives where he was given the freedom of evening and weekends off while I was home working 24/7 as a parent to our daughter.". Can you imagine??