Sarah Mashino is a mother of two and a wife. Being a military spouse is never easy. This wasn’t any different for Sarah Mashino, a mother of a single child at the time.
17 years ago, Sarah’s husband was deployed to Iraq. She had to work, socialize, and raise a child, and lots more, all by herself. “I lived day to day, waiting for him to come back.”
She got married just a few months before her husband was deployed. The adjustment to the deployment was tough. Her whole routine was messed up.
Sarah struggled with her mental battles while her husband was in Iraq.
Sarah battled balancing a normal life and struggling with separation. She felt like a piece of her was missing. Raising a kid by herself was a huge challenge. She explained that every day felt like a test of endurance and patience. Even small tasks, like shopping or attending a gathering, felt heavier without her husband’s support. Nights were the hardest, when the house was quiet, and the questioning of his safety filled her thoughts.
She felt she could handle the pressure at first. But the time consumed her. “I felt like I didn’t have a husband.”
Sarah had time to communicate with him rarely; every chance that he could talk, they did. “Sometimes, I felt worse after speaking to him… I was constantly reminded of his absence.”
Still, Sarah held strong, determined to give her child as normal a life as possible despite the circumstances.
Luckily, she had an amazing family and friends to support her. “My closest friend would actually come over and spend time with my kid. This meant so much to me. They still bond to this day.” Little actions like this meant the world to her. Even with this, she felt lonely.
Sarah reflected on this time; she doesn’t have any regrets and is forever grateful for the experience.
“I learned how much he meant to me. Though it was tough, I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.”
