Why didn’t you tell me that (except for the flowers) spouses are not really recognized at retirement ceremonies? My husband of 25 years calmly told me that there is not really a place for spouse … [Read more...]
About Why Didn't You Tell Me
Why Didn’t You Tell Me is a weekly feature that gives our readers a space to tell their own story. If you have a story for us, please submit using the contact button above. All stories must be original and unpublished.
YDU: Remind Me That I’m Not Alone
Why didn't you tell me that I would need my friends more than ever? As much as the Leo in me would like to believe my wonderful friends think about me every day, I am a realist. It just doesn’t … [Read more...]
Why Didn’t You Tell Me To Shoot The Smoke Alarm?
If there is one thing this milspouse is great at, it’s problem solving. So when the only smoke alarm mounted on our freakishly tall ceiling starts beeping for no reason, I spring into action. … [Read more...]
YDU: It’s Not ‘Our’ Deployment?
Everyone seems to have an opinion lately about how military wives should act -- what they should say, what they should wear, and what they should put on their cars. Most of the time I ignore it … [Read more...]
YDU: I Could Help Homeless Veterans, Too?
Do you have a passion for helping those in need? Has your servicemember's dedicated service inspired you to try and make a difference? After watching my husband deploy four times to the Middle … [Read more...]
YDU: Where Are They Hiding The Peanut Butter?
Why Didn’t You Tell Me... I’d never be able to find the peanut butter? Inevitably after each new PCS -- of which there have been many -- I would find myself wandering the aisles of a new … [Read more...]
YDU: Can’t Be A MilSpouse If You Don’t Drive
Why did you tell me that you can't be a military spouse if you can't drive? I’m a new Air Force spouse, a college student in my mid 20s. In June, I started to experience symptoms that have … [Read more...]
YDU: Why Didn’t You Tell Me You Signed Up Again??
My fiancee signed up for the Reserves in March without asking my thoughts on it first. “It’s only once a month," he told me. "I have a waiver that will prevent me from deploying for two years. … [Read more...]
All Military Housing Is NOT Created Equal? YDU
Why didn't you tell me that some of our military housing would be a bit ... sub-par? I mean, I don't want to gripe too much because it is, after all, a roof over my family. But our current housing … [Read more...]
YDU: I’d be Sad When the Uninjured Soldiers Came Home?
The flight that my husband’s friends come home on is this weekend. This would be my husband’s flight if he hadn’t been hurt during his unit’s deployment to Afghanistan over last year. He … [Read more...]
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YDU: Give Up The Planner!
I like to know things. I like to be prepared. I like to have a plan. In college, my planner was my Bible. Everything was written down followed by little check boxes, so I could track my progress. … [Read more...]
YDU: Being a Spouse Makes me Invisible
This last deployment I realized I was invisible. Servicemembers sit through trainings and briefings on the signs and symptoms of depression they need to be aware of so they can help themselves and … [Read more...]
YDU: Men Are Like Waffles
Men are like waffles. As a Marine for 24 years, and now a husband for 36 years, I wish someone had told me that, like waffles, men compartmentalize relationships. We military men seem to separate … [Read more...]
YDU: I’d Miss The Little Things About A Big Man?
Why didn’t you tell me I’d miss the little things so much? We all know we will miss our deployed spouse. That’s why we cry when we drop them off in front of the bus station, airport or … [Read more...]
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YDU: Good Mom = Exhausted Overwhelmed Mom??
Why didn't you tell me that to be a good mom, you have to be overwhelmed and exhausted? Not only are you required to give your heart and soul to your kids, but you also need to turn over all … [Read more...]
Why are They Surprised I’m an Enlisted Spouse?
Why didn't you tell me everyone would be so surprised that I am an enlisted spouse? I’m a reporter, so I meet people often and strike up conversations. On top of that, I happen to cover the … [Read more...]
YDU: Being a Stay at Home Wife is a Job
Being a stay at home wife is a job. It is a job without pay, and sometimes a job without thanks, but it is a job. From dusting to laundry to grocery shopping, there is always something to be done. … [Read more...]
YDU: MilSpouses Like A Slice Of Pizza
Picture a whole pizza with the toppings distributed evenly over the entire pizza. Now take a slice and you will see that the slice has a piece of every type of topping that was on the entire … [Read more...]
