Hell Week

Urban Dictionary defines "hell week" in this way:

"Usually found around mid-terms and finals.  In Hell Week, many students' imaginations run wild in an attempt to rationalize 'why this is happening to them.'; The inaugural week of all Greek organizations in which the new members are rigorously abused and tortured as an endurance test."

For a military family, especially for a wife, this is Hell Week.  The entire week feels like a slow, painful form of torture.  Watching Ben pack bags is gut-wrenching.  Prepping documents that no one this age should fill out is torture.  Talking to the kids about the reality of our world is painful.  Lots and lots of tears talking about how much we are going to miss each other and the experiences throughout the year that we won't celebrate and enjoy as a family is just sad.

You will find one of two kinds of military spouses (which directly correlates to a military family).  You will find the wives that curl up and can't function and you will find the strong ones.  We are strong.  This doesn't mean that we are never sad.  In fact, I always allow the first 24-hours as a "grieving day," for lack of a better term.  We will sit around all day and watch movies, cry as much as we want and need to, and I not ashamed to say that we may or may not enjoy ice cream and cheerios for dinner.  It is a day that we are allowed to be whatever we want to feel because no matter which way you cut it up, what we are dealing with sucks.  But we don't feel sorry for ourselves.  It is good lesson for the kids- we are permitted to be sad when Daddy is gone because it is, in fact sad but we don't let "sad" dictate how we live our lives.  As soon as Monday hits, it is back to business as our new "normal" allows.