My Supports

My Supports

Daily Supports

·        My friends and family are amazing support factors in my life. Whenever I have questions or concerns or need to talk through some things or just relieve stress, I know that I can make a phone call or send a text message and any one of them are there for me. When I was a military spouse, one of the hardest things was the distance from family, close friends and the individuals I had known and grown to rely on for most of my life. Being a part of the military community eases the transition because you meet like-minded individuals who are going through the same instances and can help you through it. However, it is inevitable that those individuals (and you) will move away. Although I have kept in touch with those who I really bonded with, it is hard when I just want to meet a good friend for dinner or a day of relaxation or just a good face-to-face chat.

·        My work family is also an amazing unit. They hold me accountable, help to alleviate some of my workload when I am swamped with last-minute ‘taskers’. As time progresses, they become more of a family unit to me as well. When I moved to Ohio, I knew no one! I only had my colleagues and as time progressed, they became some of my dearest friends (family). Without them, I would not be able to get a lot of the things done that I do get done on a daily basis. Moving to Florida was a brand new experience as well. I had to start all over with getting to know (and trust) people. Choosing who to work with is never an option and it is imperative that the relationships are solid and open. The relationships that I have with my colleagues are symbiotic. As much as they help me stay accountable, I help them as well.

·        My co-parenting partner/friend/ex is also a great support. Because he is in the military and travels often for his job, the majority of the responsibilities of raising our daughter fall on me. Add to that the fact that I am still away from close family and friends (or at least the people that I consider My Village) and life can be stressful. However, I am still able to rely on him when I need to vent (we do have a preteen after all J), when I cannot figure things out and when I need to hear and see things from a different perspective.

If all of these relationships were gone, it would be a huge (difficult) adjustment. However, with most difficult situations, we all find ways to cope and grow from those experiences. Usually, the tougher experiences help us to become stronger.

Whether we realize it or not, we all need a great support system. I firmly believe that “no man is an island” and to succeed, it is important to depend on friends, family and colleagues. Just as we find that we need support systems in our daily lives as adults, children need support as well to grow in each domain. From supporting their play to inclusion of the families, we should really take time to know and understand each child as an individual and with their families, seek out those things that will support their needs.