When it comes to the U.S Armed forces, people tend to worry about the emotional stability of soldiers. However, people often forget to consider those loved ones that they leave behind while they advance in their careers.

For 47-year-old army mother and wife Sandra Durant, long distance love is no problem. Sandra describes an Army wife as, “someone who is supportive, non-selfish, and is willing to go the extra mile.” Over time Sandra became immune to loving from a distance. Furthermore, Sandra believes she’s now more patriotic since she has become an Army wife. “Being an Army mother and wife helped me to understand and really appreciate our country as a whole,” she said.

 

Mrs. Durant has never traveled outside of Virginia when her spouse has been sent to new duty stations, but stayed home, close to her immediate family, where she stayed and raised her kids. Mrs. Durant’s now older sons are in the military, and they and her husband have been shipped overseas to multiple foreign war zone: places such as Iraq, Kuwait, Bagdad, Germany, Syria, and Afghanistan. Sandra said, “To help with the emotional part of sending loved ones overseas, I kept myself busy attending church, working, traveling and taking vacations with the kids.” Keeping occupied during times of deployment seems to have been the best prescription for staving off depression for her.

 

In conclusion, Mrs. Durant reflected, “Being an army mother and wife takes a lot of courage and strength and you can either make it a fun and a learning experience or a long and depressing time period; but we should know that’s all for a good cause.”