A military marriage is a unique one. It’s a situation that many typical marriages might not survive due to the sacrifices and compromises it involves. When one or both partners are in the military, there needs to be an agreement to ensure the family household functions as best as possible. Even if that means the sacrifices are substantial.
If you’re entering into a military marriage for the first time or you’re looking to ensure your military marriage lasts, here are some useful tips.
Always be honest and open about how you feel
A military marriage isn’t easy and there will be times when you struggle. Whether you’re the partner who is going away or the partner who is staying behind, having good, honest communication is key.
When you don’t communicate, that’s when problems will start to occur. With a lack of communication, assumptions are made and resentment rears its ugly head. It’s good to tackle any bumps in the journey by speaking to your partner about how you feel when you experience those tough times.
Plan for deployment
It’s important to make sure you’ve planned ahead when it comes to deployment. Have you considered how far away your location will be from your family? Have you made plans to see your family when you’re able to?
It’s also good to consider everything that will need to continue when it comes to home life. Has childcare been organized if the partner staying at home needs to go back to work? Is there a good support network set up for the partner who will suddenly find themselves alone?
Planning for deployment is a good way to get organized and set up those foundations that will be needed by both of you.
Create a routine
For the partner who is staying at home, it’s important that a routine is established. You don’t want to find yourself stuck in a rut and feeling hopeless once your partner has left for active duty. Instead, you want to almost distract yourself and create a routine.
A routine is a great way to keep things moving and it can provide solace for those who are missing the dad, mum, or sibling who has gone off into the military. Don’t underestimate the power that a routine can have when it comes to a military marriage in particular.
Try marriage counseling and programs when necessary
No marriage is easy and if you’re looking to address problems in the marriage, then taking part in marriage counselling is worthwhile. Otherwise, you might find yourself looking into Tucson Mediation Practice as an alternative.
Be sure to take advantage of programs and counseling that might help strengthen the marriage when it’s on the rocks or struggling with the situation that being in the military presents.
Making a military marriage last isn’t easy by any means, which is why you want to work hard on what you have as a couple. Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be one of the lucky ones that make it.
