Abilene Woman Explains Challenges of Being A Military Spouse
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: September 4, 2012
"I was convinced that I would be able to handle it pretty well," says Bekkah Fulmer.
After all, Fulmer grew up as an army brat and figured marrying an airman couldn't be much different.
Fulmer says, "I would be able to handle it, I knew what to expect..."
But when her husband left, it was a different story.
"...I was so depressed. It was just so so hard. You don't know what to expect until it happens," she continues.
In the three years Fulmer has been married, she has seen her husband deploy to Kuwait for five months and go on several temporary duty assignments.
"When you get to talk to them, you want to tell them, 'oh i miss you so bad, I'm having such a hard time' but at the same time, you know they're going through a lot and that they need to talk to you about how they're feeling and the stress and stuff like that," she explains.
Having a child does not make it any easier.
Now a mother, Fulmer understands how difficult it can be to manage, while your spouse is away.
"I've had friends call me before and say I need you to come over and help me with the kids because they're just crying and upset," says Fulmer.
So she does anything she can to lend a helping hand.
She explains, "Go over their house and sit with their kids so they can just mail a package at the post office without having to drag all their kids along."
Many say unless you live the life as a military spouse, you will never really understand what it is like; just know that it takes a tough person to live it.
Fulmer says, "It's going to happen, it's going to happen often, and there's nothing you can do to keep it from happening. You just kind of have to make the best of it."
If you are in the military or have a spouse in the military, there are services available to you, to help with the deployment transition.
Click here to go to the website of Dyess Air Force Base.
Once there you can click on the 7th Force Support Squadron to get information on pre-deployment briefings and family child care.
After all, Fulmer grew up as an army brat and figured marrying an airman couldn't be much different.
Fulmer says, "I would be able to handle it, I knew what to expect..."
But when her husband left, it was a different story.
"...I was so depressed. It was just so so hard. You don't know what to expect until it happens," she continues.
In the three years Fulmer has been married, she has seen her husband deploy to Kuwait for five months and go on several temporary duty assignments.
"When you get to talk to them, you want to tell them, 'oh i miss you so bad, I'm having such a hard time' but at the same time, you know they're going through a lot and that they need to talk to you about how they're feeling and the stress and stuff like that," she explains.
Having a child does not make it any easier.
Now a mother, Fulmer understands how difficult it can be to manage, while your spouse is away.
"I've had friends call me before and say I need you to come over and help me with the kids because they're just crying and upset," says Fulmer.
So she does anything she can to lend a helping hand.
She explains, "Go over their house and sit with their kids so they can just mail a package at the post office without having to drag all their kids along."
Many say unless you live the life as a military spouse, you will never really understand what it is like; just know that it takes a tough person to live it.
Fulmer says, "It's going to happen, it's going to happen often, and there's nothing you can do to keep it from happening. You just kind of have to make the best of it."
If you are in the military or have a spouse in the military, there are services available to you, to help with the deployment transition.
Click here to go to the website of Dyess Air Force Base.
Once there you can click on the 7th Force Support Squadron to get information on pre-deployment briefings and family child care.
