When my husband and I got married in December 2010, I had no idea the interesting path our lives would take us a year later. I knew he was getting out of the military and that we would move home to Missouri from Texas, but I didn’t exactly know the challenges we would face.
Fast forward eight months into our marriage as we packed up to head home. We had established a pretty solid routine, but as all things military, routines change quickly. As the move drew nearer in the fall, it dawned on me that we were essentially hitting “reset” on our lives.
The first few months were difficult. The pressure to spend around the holidays stressed me out constantly. I was on edge and moody. I worked many hours a day, sometimes into the night, and started developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
My husband was part of the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) after he ETS’ed, but began to miss the Army life. So he changed from IRR to the Ready Reserve and eventually found full-time work in security. I continued to find freelance clients while looking for full-time employment, but have since focused primarily on freelancing.
We’ve since started a new routine after moving out of our friends’ home and into our own apartment. He works full-time on weekdays and I work nearly every day, though on weekends I try to do less to avoid burnout.
We’re both in school – him for his bachelor’s and I for my Masters – and we frequently help my family on their farm. The Reserve isn’t a big part of our lives yet, as we’re waiting on my husband’s orders to train for a new MOS out of state.
Hitting “reset” derailed us for a while, but just like any other military family, we made the best of it and came out on top in the end.
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Great job Megan! I loved the “reset” – new beginnings, leaving the old/drama behind! Our transition back to civilian life was an adjustment as well. We had to get used no military perks and life in a small town!
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Thanks, Tammy! I enjoyed contributing to the blog!
The “reset” was hard because it was our first, but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it eventually.
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