My heart is heavy as I read messages from Mom’s of deployed soldiers, and I offer support, thoughts, and prayers. I get weepy eyed knowing that in just a few short weeks, that will be me on the other end. I will be the Mom of a deployed soldier, wondering every minute of every day if my boy is safe from the violence that is rampant in a place so far away. These thoughts paralyze me at times and tears flow like a fountain that I can’t turn off.

My son is stationed 2,500 miles away from me and we don’t yet know the exact date of his deployment. My mind endlessly plays out the scenario – what if we don’t get enough notice of his departure and I can’t get there in time to say goodbye and give him a hug that needs to last at least a year – maybe a lifetime? What will happen then?

Thankfully, I visited my son recently and we had such a nice visit. It was great to hang out with him and the family. He is such a good Dad to his young children and seeing them together just melted my heart. He is silly, funny, and smart. He is also knows how to shoot a gun, drop bombs from a helicopter, and fight for our freedom.

I am a proud Mother of a strong, brave soldier. Although he and his fellow service men and women are doing the really hard work, it’s hard for the Moms, spouses, and kids they leave behind.

We all need to support each other so our soldiers can go do their job without worrying about home. We need to look out for one another and catch each other when we fall.

Stay Strong. Army Mom Strong.
We are all in this together.

So much is going on before your soldier’s deployment, including the stress of knowing that your son or daughter will be leaving soon. During predeployment, you try your best to prepare for what may be the most stressful time of your life.

This can be a frightening time for a Mom of a soldier about to be deployed. You don’t know what to expect except that your child is going to a dangerous place to fight for our freedom.

While our soldiers are preparing for their upcoming mission, we anticipate the worst and hope for the best. We get teary eyed at the mention of Army deployment while we learn how to cope as they prepare to leave for a danger zone 6,000 miles from home.

The reality set in for me as my son and his family went through their checklist of tasks to be completed before deployment, making it all that much more real. Everything from power of attorney and wills, to handling finances, Red Cross notifications, and how to stay in touch while deployed.

How do I cope? Sometimes I don’t do it well. The rest of the time, I talk frequently and openly with my daughter-in-law about deployment, reach out and connect with other Army Moms (we are all in this together), and stay busy. I talk to my soldier son about how we will stay in touch and make plans for the care packages I will send to him.

I started this Web site, Army Mom Strong as another way to communicate with other Moms of soldiers and share what I have learned so far. I hope you will share too.

Stay Strong. Army Mom Strong.

UPDATE: my son deployed to Afghanistan on Nov. 13, 2009.