Leadership

I have no idea how I do it but I somehow always manage to insert myself into leadership positions. I'm not sure if its because leadership is something that I enjoy or if it's just something that I am kinda good at and end up naturally falling into those spots.

In 2002, when my then boyfriend, Mike went off to the US Military Academy at West Point, I joined USMA Girlfriends. 6 months later, I was a moderator, and one year later I was the owner. I taught myself  HTML and learned to let people rant at me without taking it personally. We had well over 150 members when I left that group.

Then in 2005 I co-founded  Army Officer Girls. I loved that group!! It was super low key, but still allowed me to assert myself when I needed too.

When Mike graduated from college and entered the big Army, I was the treasurer for his very first unit's FRG. That FRG only consisted of myself and 2 other wives, but we were a force to be reckoned with. We made a MEAN chili dog at fund raisers.

I have always had my hand in something. So when Mike got out of the Army, I felt like I lost a little bit of myself. In the civilian world there are no FRG's. There are no websites available for wives of Mike's new company. What was I supposed to do?

Well I did what any other woman would do... I joined a playgroup and 3 months later became an assistant organizer. What?!?!?

Yep, that's right, you are looking (OK, more like reading) at the new Assistant Organizer for...

I am really excited about this position. This group has really helped me out in the friend department. I've met some awesome ladies since I joined this group and now I feel like I can somehow help the group and other moms.

Remember that post all about Friends? 

I think I got it now!! ;-)

Who I've Become.

Very few things have changed since Mike got out of the Army. He is still up and out of the house by 5:30 in the morning and he still gets home around 6:00 or 7:00 every night. He still comes home exhausted, plays with London, eats dinner, and then falls asleep on the couch. It's life as usual around here. Yes, some of the bigger stuff has changed. I don't have all of the worry anymore. I know he won't have to deploy and we don't have to plan our life around his training schedule. Things have changed, I have changed.

Mike was gone last week. He left on Monday morning to go to TN for business. No big deal, nothing crazy, nothing dangerous, but he was still gone. I remember when I was an Army wife, I always wanted to cause physical harm when one of my civilian friends complained about their husband being gone for a few days. I wanted to shake them and scream, "It's a freaking week! It's also probably the only week this year that he will be gone! Toughen up, put on your big girl panties, and quit complaining to ME!"  To an Army wife, it's like the ultimate sin for a civilian to complain about their husband leaving for a few days. It's right up there with telling a infertile "Just relax". You.Just.Don't.Do.It.

It wasn't until Friday morning, that I realized I am officially THAT GIRL now. I woke up that morning and all but squealed in delight at the idea of Mike's "homecoming". Yes ladies, I said it. "HOMECOMING!?!?!" I started to think about a cute outfit that I wanted to wear and about getting my hair cut and nails done.  WTF is wrong with me? Back in the day his return from such a short time away wouldn't even warrant me shaving my legs. This time though, I wanted to make signs for the door. Seriously, that thought really crossed my mind. How did I change this much in only a few months? I actually sat in my car as I drove home from dropping him off at the airport and almost broke into tears when I realized I had to watch Glee alone...for one week, not the entire season...just ONE WEEK! I wanted to tweet about it but I quickly decided it was in my best interest to keep that to myself. I felt/feel some serious guilt for having these emotions. I just can't help it.  I guess being a civilian again has changed more than just Mike. I know, I suck!

I feel the need to apologize to all of my Army wife readers. I know I didn't write a whole "Woe is me, my husband has been gone for 36 hours" post but I thought it. That in itself is bad enough.

I promise I will try to be better. I promise I will try not to be That Girl again. This is my life now though. I feel like I turned in more than just my ID Card when Mike got out. Bear with me as I try to figure all of this out.

P.S. Don't forget to go enter to win 250 Die Cut Business Cards. Only 2 days left to enter.