I was just told again I am being deployed yet again. My wife is pregnant with our first child. I am struggling with leaving as I will miss the birth of our first child. How do you handle missing the birth of your children?

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It sucks, but you just have to move on and not dwell on things you cannot change. In 20 years, I missed births, deaths, holidays, graduation, and other key moments. It's what you do with the time you do get, that's important. Being present when you're there, not disconnected. Many SM's fail to be present in the moment and languish for what they missed. Just don't be that guy and you'll be fine.

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it can be very difficult to miss such an important moment in your life. It's completely normal to feel anxious, overwhelmed, and sad about leaving your wife during her pregnancy, and missing the birth of your first child.

One way to cope with this situation is to make sure you have a strong support system in place for your wife while you're away. This might include family, friends, or other loved ones who can provide emotional support and practical assistance during the pregnancy and after the birth. You might also consider working with a counselor or therapist who can help you manage your feelings and cope with the challenges of deployment.

It's also important to stay in touch with your wife as much as possible while you're away. With modern technology, there are many ways to stay connected, such as video calls, instant messaging, and email. This can help you feel more connected to your family and stay updated on the progress of your wife's pregnancy.

Finally, it's important to remember that your service to your country is important and valued. While it can be difficult to balance your duties with your personal life, it's important to take pride in your work and the sacrifices you're making for your country and your family.

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I also missed the birth of my child think of the sacrifice you’re making in order to ensure her safety and also it’ll be well worth the wait we’re never promised another day so worry on making it back to your family first brother

By being the best, in your case, marine you can be. Ensure that you’re something your child can be proud of and keep in constant contact with your wife as she goes through the phases of pregnancy.

Brother, it just comes with the life we chose. I was deployed for my first wedding anniversary, my first Father’s Day and my son’s first birthday. There was a year where my wife was deployed for three months and weeks after her return, I was deployed for three months. I even missed a year of my wife and son’s life due to a remote assignment to South Korea. There’s truly no convenient time to be deployed as we are always going to miss time and events in our family life. It’s just part of the job

It is one of the most difficult phases for us. It's normal to feel lonely and sad but think of it as your way of protecting them and ensuring their safety. Stay strong, OP!

Everyone speaks about acceptance of things we cannot control. In the Army during deployments as a leader I did my best to advocate for my soldiers for “one in a lifetime experiences” and provided mitigating options to see how I could either get a Soldier home in time or immediately following a birth. I also saw creative VTC options we created to put someone in the delivery remotely in real time,

The military is people taking care of people. Over communicate early and often about life changing opportunities in your personal life snd leaders will , if they can, find creative solutions or options. Maybe they delay your departure or let you catch up or they send you back early. We had VTC ordered guidance in OIF 2 to have all Soldiers with graduating seniors to watch the virtual graduation in real time. I made sure soldiers had R&R around the birth date. And they had induced delivery plans.

I missed two births of my children. What makes me anxious is my worry towards my wife not being able to be there to support her during those times. But I know she understands because she was in Military too before she gave birth to our first child.

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