Day 243: Keeping promises

I have always been big on keeping promises. I think it is an important trait for everyone to have. When my kids were younger they would forget about some of the things I told them they could have later, and to be honest, I forgot most of the time too. Eventually, they would remember and I would fulfill that promise to them. Now as they are older, they don't forget... and they don't let me forget. The only problem is that with this deployment, I am forgetting more and do not have my partner here to help me fulfill the promises.

So, it is something I am working on. I want to make sure that I keep my promises to my kids, even if they may be a day or two later, I will keep them. Natalie wanted me to take her to get her hair cut on Wednesday of this week and I ended up having to help out my friend and watch her kids. She understood that. She knows how important it is that we help out friends, especially since my friends help us out so much as well. Thursday we didn't have time simply because the girls had their own extra things to do. So, I told her we would go Friday. I ended up having a friend's kid that afternoon, but decided to take him with us to get Natalie's hair cut. So, I was able to keep my promise, even with an extra kid in tow.

I have realized though that I have to try harder with keeping promises during this deployment, much like I have to try harder at almost everything else. Had my husband been home, he could have watched the kids on Wednesday for a while and I could have taken her to get her hair cut. Or Ian could have taken her while I watched kids. Either way, we could have divided and conquered and gotten everything done. My kids are also realizing that I am only one person and am doing the best I can to do everything I can for them. Every once in a while, we will have to have a talk about what they want, what I want, and what we can do and handle together.

Today was a day of keeping my promise to my kids. I really wanted to stay at the house and get it cleaned up and ready for the work week. Instead, I am spending the day at an indoor bounce house. I have been trying to find a good weekend where money and time met up and we could go to the play place. This weekend seemed to be a good one. I had no real plans for the weekend so I told the kids we would go today. I had to really fight the urge to tell them that mommy really needed to clean, but the kids are more important. Laundry and floors can wait. My house is not going to fall apart if I wait until tonight to mop and fold laundry. My kids needed this time to get out and play and enjoy their day off school. Let me tell you, it was worth it. They were so grateful to be able to go and had such a great time. Now, I am off to catch up on housework.

Another day done. Another day closer to seeing my husband again. I just talked to him today and we are both so excited about the day we are reunited as a family again. We are getting closer!