You Know You're an Army Mom When...

My thoughts for the day ~Kim (Mom)

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ARMY MOM WHEN:

Your cell phone is never more than an arm's length away...and even closer in the middle of the night.

Not having any contact whatsoever with your soldier for a few days is enough to drive you crazy (and you can SWEAR you're REALLY going crazy!)

A green dot next to their name makes you do the happy dance!

Hearing "Hey Mom" on the other end of the phone brings you to tears EVERY time.

You spend each day trying to be tough.

Just when you think you're tough as nails, you melt into a puddle.

You didn't ask for this job, but you accepted it just the same.  And you're PROUD to do so.

Sometimes you find yourself crying in the oddest places:  WallMart, sitting at church, or just walking into the other room.

Your last good night's sleep was before they left for bootcamp.

You tear up when you see anyone in uniform.

You have finally resigned to the fact that Army Mail is delivered seasonally rather than daily.

Your soldier's version of pneumonia is, "I'm fine, it's just a cold."

You've learned the Army cure all is Ibuprofen.

Your solider starts saying Afghanistan reminds him of home and your feelings are hurt.  (Hell looks like home?  Really??)  Then you realize it's because he's learned to find the beauty in everything...and you cry all over again.

You realize the only thing that's quick in the Army is a Sergeant's temper!

You've seen first hand that the only thing quicker than a Sergeant's temper is Mom's temper when someone messes with the mail delivery!!!

You have a pair of his combat boots sitting in the living room and refuse to move them.

Deployment became a new swear word.

You can't understand why your soldier WANTS to deploy!  (You can, but you really can't!)

You try to smile when people make STUPID comments about your son deploying.  (ie, is that scary, aren't you worried, what war, just have faith, didn't you try to stop him, has he gotten shot at?)  Tsk tsk...come on people.  Be caring, yet sensitive.  We want and need your support, but please think before you speak.  Yes, it's scary, it sucks, it's his job, I'm proud, yes he's in God's hands but leaving it in God's hands is easier said than done, how can you possibly think I WANT to know if he's been shot at, and yes there IS a gosh dang war going on!)

You know Uncle Sam is NOTHING without his Captain America nephews and nieces!!!

You turn around every time you hear the words army, military, deployment, Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia (the list goes on....you're pretty much ALWAYS turning around!)

One day you look around and realize you've been decorating in the colors red, white, and blue and never even noticed.

You know all of your soldier's friend's last names, but you have no idea what their first names are.

Your FaceBook friends have grown by the dozens and they're all military family.

The first people to check on you,  like your posts, or comment on your photos are your military family because they know exactly what you're going through....and though others love you just as much if not more so, they can't possibly know what it's like.

You can't understand why other moms cry about their child moving 20 minutes away or leaving for a college that's just a couple hours away and are pouting because they only get a DAILY phone call and they come home on weekends.  Seriously???  I have some big girl panties you can borrow.

You text your son to tell him it's raining cats and dogs (he LOVES the rain).  He answers back, "It's raining rockets here"...and he literally means it.  Then he quickly texts, "Don't worry, they're horrible shots!"

Your day begins and ends with a prayer for your boy.

Your son is your hero...and you KNOW the Army didn't make him that way, he's always been one of your greatest heroes!!!

Be Safe - Be Good - Be Strong