05/08/2026
Mother’s Day has taken on a whole different meaning for me over the last five years. Being married to a Marine who has been deployed thankfully only once recently, but gone many others, has shaped not only our marriage, but the kind of mom I’ve become.
When Aaron leaves to go do what he does, serving, sacrificing, missing birthdays, holidays, bedtime routines, and the little moments most people take for granted, home changes. You learn quickly that life doesn’t pause just because your person is gone. The days keep moving, the kids keep growing, and somehow you find strength you didn’t know you had.
There were nights I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and honestly lonely. But there were also moments that became so incredibly special because of it. The extra cuddles, the late-night talks, the “mom, watch this!” moments, the traditions Gentry and I created while counting down the days until Aaron came home. Being the constant parent during deployments has made me slow down and treasure the time with my son in a way I probably never would have otherwise.
It’s hard to explain to people outside the military world how deeply deployment changes your family. It teaches resilience, patience, independence, and appreciation. But it also creates this unspoken bond with other military wives and moms who just get it without explanation.
That’s why I’m so thankful for the local Fellow Military Spouses Facebook groups. In a life where people are constantly coming and going, it becomes a second family– the people who answer questions at midnight, celebrate homecomings with you, encourage you through the hard days, and remind you that you’re never doing this alone.
This Mother’s Day, I’m especially grateful for my little boy, grateful for the strength this life has given me, grateful for the women beside me living the same reality, and grateful for everyone’s families who are serving alongside ours.
To all the military moms and wives holding it together while missing someone they love: I see you. Happy Mother’s Day. ❤️
-Jamie
