Deployment Day #8

It’s been one week.

We’re fine.

My new definition of “fine”

Teeth brushing: Optional. Try to find your own toothbrush, if you can’t use your siblings, if you can’t find any toothbrush get a drink of water, swish it around your mouth, and go to bed.

Hair brushing: Optional for everyone including me.

Homeschool: Not optional. Please be up and at the school table before lunch. Getting dressed is optional.

Chores: Semi-optional. Will be completed randomly when mom freaks about about the mess level rising.

Meals: Who said cereal wasn’t for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? I also discovered we live 5 minutes from a Little Caesers pizza, I’ll probably end up on their Christmas card list for frequent visits.

Grocery Shopping: Who knew convenience stores had such a large selection?

I’m only half kidding, but I’m learning to be okay with a little something I’m calling “transition time.”

In other exciting deployment news, I had to take the dog to get his nails trimmed. He’s a nail trimming flunky and we’ve already had four unsuccessful attempts to get them trimmed. On the advice of a friend I took him to a different place.

He flipped out as soon as we got in the door. My eighty pound normally very well behaved dog was dragging me around the office like a rag doll. He was barking, growling, and generally scaring the heck out of anyone who came in the office.

I attempted to fill out the paperwork while losing all feeling and blood flow to my arm from the leash.

I was mad. I’m always irritated by people who cannot control their dogs, especially big ones. I was now one of those people.

I was mad I had to take the dog, that I wasn’t strong enough to control the dog, that I even let my kids talk me into getting a dog. I was mad this was now my responsibility.

I wish I could say I learned something in all this- but I haven’t yet. I’m sure I will, but I’m still nursing rope burns on my arms from the leash.

My husband has been deployed to the Middle East for 274 days.  These are my real thoughts expressing my heart during his absence.  I appreciate your prayers and kind words as we cope, adapt, and carry on without him until August 2014.  To read from the beginning, click here.