Dear Stranger

Dear Stranger,

You may look at me with three small children on my own and wonder why I look so disheveled. I’m holding their little hands and trying to navigate them through a new activity in a new building that I’ve only seen once. I look and feel every bit clueless, but I’m trying so hard to be brave so my children know to follow suit.

You may notice me at the grocery store with a baby in the cart. I’ve circled the same aisle five times. I just can’t seem find what I’m looking for.

I’m the person who uses GPS to find the location of my new home. I can’t remember how to get there.

I’m the parent you see every single week at school dropoff, and you wonder why I constantly park on the wrong side of the lot.

I’m the spouse you never see with their partner, and you may wonder if I even have one.

I’m the person who engages in conversation longer than most, even when I have no clue who you are.

I’m the person who desperately needs a friend. I’ll ask you where the best Mexican restaurant is or where the best outdoor playground is. You may be annoyed with my questions and my bright-eyed look of wonder.

I’m self-doubting, hopeful, confused, and learning all at the same time.

I smile at you as you pass by or at the school dropoff, or I talk your ear off every week at cheer practice.

I’m the person, the military spouse, the parent of three who is starting my life all over in a brand new state, brand new town.

Be gentle with me.

Sincerely, the New Person

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Retired Blogger

Retired Blogger

Army Wife Network is blessed with many military spouses who share their journey through writing in our Experience blog category. As we PCS in our military journey, bloggers too sometimes move on. Their content and contributions are still valued and resourceful. Those posts are reassigned under "Retired Bloggers" in order to allow them to remain available as content for our AWN fans.

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