Silver Linings

My husband has only been gone for four days, but I've already come up with a few silver linings that I'm focusing on.  There are some things that I've decided I like about deployment.

1) I sleep better when he's gone.
I've heard some wives say that they don't sleep as well when they're alone in the house or the only one responsible for the kids, but for me, I have had some great sleep these past few days.  I go to bed when I want to, when I'm tired, so there's less tossing and turning.  I don't wake up in the middle of the night when my husband gets up, and then again when he slams a door, and then again when he drops something.  And there's no Alarm Clock Hell, as Sis B and CaliValleyGirl so lovingly described.  I sleep so soundly now that the covers have barely moved when I get up in the morning.

2) I eat less when he's gone.
I've been on a sort of diet over the past four days too, the Nothing To Compare It To diet.  Usually, when I put food on my husband's plate, I don't think it's fair that he gets to eat so much.  His plate looks full and mine looks sparse, which means I put another spoonful on my plate to even things out.  Often this means I am eating nearly as much as he is, and he weighs 50 lbs more than I do and exercises a whole lot more often.  But now that I don't have his plate to look at, I am not eating as much.  Also, cooking dinner is typcially our socializing; we make a big dinner together and enjoy taking our time cooking.  But with him gone, eating just isn't as much fun.  I am still cooking for myself, but I don't savor it like I do when he's home.  Sitting alone at the table is lame, so I eat less to make the meal go faster.  It's a pretty good diet so far.

3) I watch the movies I like when he's gone.
And no, it's not what you think.  I am a weird girl: my idea of guilty pleasure is crappy action movies.  I like to watch things blow up and go boom.  My husband doesn't like those movies as much as I do, so I try not to bore him with my low-budget explosions.  But now that he's gone, I've taken over the Netflix.  Tonight I'm watching Rambo.  Also on the list: all the Die Hards and several martial arts flicks.

It's nice to find these silver linings to keep me happy while my husband is gone.  What are your deployment silver linings?

Comments

[MO]

I got to watch all the Bollywood I wanted. I watched all the Miami Ink I wanted. Yes there is a bit of a silver lining.

[Army Blogger Wife]

Without his daily use of PTs, ACUs and civilian clothes, my laundry load is cut in half!

We can buy a box of tangerines and it lasts longer than 24 hours.

Letters. I love to get letters from Gunner.

No one complains when I squeeze the toothpaste in the middle of the tube.

I sure do miss him though. :)

[Kati]

"Usually, when I put food on my husband's plate, I don't think it's fair that he gets to eat so much. His plate looks full and mine looks sparse, which means I put another spoonful on my plate to even things out. Often this means I am eating nearly as much as he is, and he weighs 50 lbs more than I do and exercises a whole lot more often. "

OMG i never realized i did this too until you just said that. i eat ALOT less now that DH is gone.

[Elisa]

TV is free whenever I want to watch Gilmore Girls or Friends. Which, honestly, is quite often!

Laundry is definitely lighter!

Cranberry juice lasts a month instead of a week (the really big bottle, too).

[sweetestsass]

I knew I wasn't the only one making a "deployment perks" list! Here are mine:

1- I buy my Cinnamon flavored toothpaste, which he hates.

2- I don't have to adjust the car seat/mirror/seat belt/radio every time I get in.

3- I don't have to clean up the bathroom behind him. He always leaves a mess in the sink after he shaves in the mornings - eewww.

4- I can sleep diagonally in bed, and at whatever temperature I find comfortable.

And I can't wait to give all these back up when he comes home!

[HomefrontSix]

The house stays clean for more than 30 seconds after I clean it.

There are no splatters of coffee on the counters/cabinets/floors (I swear the man has seizures in the AM while holding a cup of coffee).

After I put the kids to bed, it's QUIET. No one fiddling, slamming cabinets, watching television. Just quiet.

If I want to eat pretzels and peanut butter for dinner, it's ok. No one is here to chastize me!

[Erin]

I eat whenever and whatever, without worrying if he's hungry or if he won't like that meal (like potstickers).

I hog our bed (we have a full-sized bed).

I watch all of the lame reality tv that he can't stand.

I don't worry about anyone feeling neglected because I'm farting around on the computer.

I can sleep in without feeling guilty because he's antsy and wants to get up.

[Erin]

My Deployment Silver Lining? Sex and the City, baby! I watched all six seasons in the first few weeks he was gone...and I do it every time he leaves (even if it's just for a couple of months).

[airforcewife]

Can I second that "house stays clean" comment?

[mrssands]

I second all the household comments! But for us too, there's been a financial silver lining. With his spending so significantly reduced, I've been able to pay off all of our credit cards and start putting away savings for (hopefully) a down payment on a house or reeeeallly nice second honeymoon! I'd still rather have him home, but that is something positive to think about. :)

[JennH]

Let see .... Chick flicks galore!

Reduced laundry - I'll second that!

Cereal for dinner - Fruity Pebbles, here I come!

If the kids and I decide to spend an entire Sunday in our pajamas being total bums, there is no one to tell us how lazy we are :)

But it's also nice to have to think up creative ways to steal the remote and the covers on the bed. *Sigh*

[Andi]

Definitely, "me time." I enjoy the time alone. Obviously, I'd prefer a little less "me time" than deployments or long TDY's offer, but I do have to say that I enjoy the time to myself to do anything I want to do, or nothing at all...

[HH7]

Hooah to all of the above!

[Melissa]

1.Ok so I am going to agree with the cereal for dinner bit! my kids and I could live on cereal for dinner!!!
2.Having the bed to myself (after I get used to him being gone and not hogging the bed)
3.being able to watch what I want without hearing how boring it is!
4.no complaining about how long it takes me to get ready for Church on Sunday morning!

but as with all of you, I would rather have him home with me everyday always than gone. So I pray for their safe return to us

Blessings

[Tressa]

Yep, I would rather have him home, but I sleep so much better when I have the bed to myself.

[wendy's tiki hut]

I think of it as competitive eating. It really chaps my hide that he can eat so much more than me and never a pound.

Getting to use the 'puter at night is my big silver lining. We just have the one computer and when he's home, he's using it for work or school or editing photos or....maybe it's time to invest in a laptop...

[Nonnie48]

Not having to choose between the computer and TV...get to have both at the same time! Granted now that he's brought the new laptop back with him, I still get to enjoy this but not like when he's gone.

[bobby'sgirl]

well sounds like it can be okay. this will be my first deployment but a clean house less laundry i'm all for it. i should look at the bright side i suppose. i think its just the not knowing what to expect that bothers me, none the less i will deeply miss my man but it seems he has already left he has separated himself greatly over the last month we still have five weeks before he actually deploys. and i already miss him thanks for the cheering up i needed it.

[bobby'sgirl]

well sounds like it can be okay. this will be my first deployment but a clean house less laundry i'm all for it. i should look at the bright side i suppose. i think its just the not knowing what to expect that bothers me, none the less i will deeply miss my man but it seems he has already left he has separated himself greatly over the last month we still have five weeks before he actually deploys. and i already miss him thanks for the cheering up i needed it.

[bobby'sgirl]

well sounds like it can be okay. this will be my first deployment but a clean house less laundry i'm all for it. i should look at the bright side i suppose. i think its just the not knowing what to expect that bothers me, none the less i will deeply miss my man but it seems he has already left he has separated himself greatly over the last month we still have five weeks before he actually deploys. and i already miss him thanks for the cheering up i needed it.

[AFgirlfriend]

Am I the only one who enjoys not having to shave my legs as often?

[armyswife]

oh wow all these comments i have read are so TRUE! I am laughing lol...but heres mine.My silver lining is army talk.I hear it in the morning,eve,and nights,also when we are watching a movie together it always has a military something in it.I like being an armywife I really do and at the beginning it was interesting hearing about all of it but damn can he talk about something different for a change.Im going through a NTC right now and he has been gone for almost a week now and it feels so good just to sit and relax on my porch and have a cup of coffee wothout him asking me to do something.Going to my favorites stores and not being rushed out.All the comments about laundry and the kitchen is so true.I thought it was more my kids than my DH and since he has been gone my kitchen stays clean lol and I was screaming at the kids over it lol.Im a night owl so staying up at night till i get tired is awesome I dont get the are you coming to bed yet or going to bed at 8 pm.Im not for one going to bed at 8pm.My DH will be going this fall and it will be my first Deployment,Im terrified.I might like my time right now but its already getting old.I think id rather clean up the kitchen 50 times a day after him than him not being here.I hate him being gone and its only for a mth but i know that 1 year is coming very soon.To all our troops GOD BLESS THEM and to us military spouses for being strong for them and standing beside them and waiting for them to come home! "HOOAH"