Staying Healthy When Your Partner is Serving Their Country

GUEST POST

Whether it is the husband or wife, girlfriend or boyfriend, or some other relationship, having one of the two parties away in the military can create many hardships, among which can include taking care of a family’s medical needs at home.

 

For many individuals who end up staying home to raise a family while their partner is off serving his or her country, the tasks can be numerous. With rising medical costs, being able to cover all of life’s medical necessities can prove quite challenging.

 

Among the ways to lower such medical expenses is by practicing preventative health care, meaning you try your best to get out in front of any potential illnesses or injuries.

 

As the individual who is left to care for the children while their partner serves elsewhere nationwide or halfway around the globe, making sure you are healthy for starters is critical.

 

What is Your Plan for Staying Healthy?

 

One way to go about this is by putting together a personalized healthcare plan, a plan that allows you to be as best prepared as possible for life’s little surprises.

 

The plan should start with sitting down with your family doctor and discussing each and every health question and/or concern you may have.

 

Areas to cover include:

 

* Diet

* Family health history

* Exercise or lack thereof

* Stress

* Nutritional goals

 

For many partners that remain behind, it isn’t just the physical toll of being both the mom and dad at times that can become overbearing, but also the mental toll that is extracted from the body. Your doctor should be made aware of any such issues in order to treat them before they become a major problem.

 

When it comes to your kids, make sure they also are as healthy as possible.

 

Look at the mental stress they may be under from having a parent and/or guardian away for a lengthy amount of time.

 

Your child or children should never be afraid to talk to you about what it feels like to have one of their parents or guardians away for months at a time serving their country. Whether it impacts their school work, time spent with friends or just life in general at home, talk to them about what they’re feeling and experiencing.

 

Finally, don’t try to be a hero when it comes to running the ship while your partner is away.

 

Take some time for yourself in order to not be run down. If that means hiring a babysitter so you can go out for a night, do it. If it requires asking family members to watch your kids while you get a weekend for yourself and your girlfriends or buddies, do it.

 

Being the other half of a military partnership can be challenging; the health and security of the nation quite frankly means both parents or guardians serve in one way or another.

 

 Author Abby Evans is a mother and freelance journalist currently reviewing health options for her family. 

 

Photo credit: militaryministry.org