It’s National Military Spouse Appreciation Day!
It’s also my last year as an official MilSpouse. I felt the strong need to blog bc the title Military Spouse means so much to me, my Family, and my fellow Military sisters and brothers. Being a Military Spouse equates to wearing many different hats throughout your Servicemember’s career. There are plenty of people in the world who wear multiple hats…and do so well. We all know someone who’s About section on their Facebook profile lists “Mom, wife, cab driver, chef, tutor, volunteer, and finance manager”. Applause applause, because the struggle will always be real for me and my fellow multitaskers! It’s those other hats that only a MilSpouse can wear I reference here.
You know, the pillbox one…to help you recognize Military customs and courtesies so that when you walk into a formal function or your SM’s office, you don’t embarrass your SM, their ‘unit’ or yourself. Nobody wants to be the one who breaks OPSEC (operation security) or the one caught walking in the commissary parking lot while retreat is playing.
The coach’s hat…for when your SM is gone and your kids’ sports league has no coach due to deployments and you must step up and teach something you’ve never actually done in order to give Military kids the same opportunities as civilian kids. It takes a village.
The newsboy cap…where you take it upon yourself to become part of the community and help teach new Military Spouses how to handle Military life and it’s curve balls. When you know better you do better right?
The tourist trucker hat…I am a bonafide travel guru! Moving every few years and the places the Military lifestyle can take you, forces a MilSpouse to become a promo packer, a travel agent, frugal tourist and a master of itineraries. My passport stamps are legit! And MilSpouses are some of the best to ask when it comes to travel tips!
The Photog fedora…there are more MilSpouse photographers than I could ever count. Some hobbyists, some educated and some with just a ‘good camera’. Either way, being a MilSpouse means it’s your job to make sure there is documented proof of what is going on while living so far away from Family and friends. They want to know…they want to see…they want to share in the experience. So it’s up to us…camera in hand.
Supporting sun visor…we’ve never had to get close with complete strangers like we have as MilSpouses. I’ve given many baby showers, birthday parties, held hands with, been a shoulder to lean on, an advocate for and a sister to Spouses I just met. It’s like nothing I’ve ever dealt with before the Military because we all know there’s a risk factor every.single.time. Hence the sun visor, to keep the shade in check.
The hats are plenty and the memories are endless. Each one of my MilSpouse sisters has brought something to the table and it’s something I will carry with me for eternity.
These are just some of my MilSpouse sisters:
I commend all MilSpouses for their dedication, their support, their patriotism, their selflessness and of course…their hats! I tip mine to all of you and hang up a couple also as I end this part of the Military journey. Thank a MilSpouse and/or a Military Child whenever you can…they deserve it and so much more.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Xoxo, Di
Di on Display 