Dear Rosie & Sherry,
I'm a 31-year-old woman on active military duty stationed in Southeast Asia. When I came here I hadn't planned on dating anyone, because of the low probability of finding a 'nice Jewish boy' during my one-year rotation. I was pleasantly surprised when I met a terrific Jewish man at a Passover Seder. I wasn't really attracted to him at first (and was reluctant to start a courtship here where we have a deadline), but we hung out together out of a mutual desire for Jewish company.
After a while, I became aware of his good character and positive qualities, and we began dating. Due to our work schedules and being at different bases, we only see each other on weekends and have short phone conversations during the week. We both have similar values and goals.
One dilemma here is that I'm in the Air Force (committed for 5 more years at minimum) and he's in the Army (for 5 more years minimum). Many military members get married quickly so they can get a joint spouse assignment. If we don't get married we will probably be stationed far apart (in different states, or different countries). Even if we do get married there is no guarantee we'll get the same next base.
I have seen too many military marriages where people got married quickly and regretted it later. I understand we are in an artificial environment, away from home, family, friends etc. He has met my mother and I will meet his this fall, but I feel that nine months of dating in a foreign country isn't enough. I would like to see him with his friends and family, and on a regular basis. How do I know what I feel for him is real?
Another issue is that we both love our jobs and want to keep doing them. However, I strongly feel that one parent should stay at home, or work only part time, while the kids are young. He feels there is no problem with putting the kids in daycare. I don't want to be the one to give up working, because my dad left my mom for another woman after they were married for 31 years. I am afraid of being financially dependent on a man -- and then being abandoned, having to start a career after staying home for many years. He doesn't want to be a stay at home dad. How can I give my future kids (with anyone) the stay-at-home parent they deserve, without feeling completely vulnerable to the fortunes of a man who may not always be there for me (through death, divorce, etc)? Or is it just too old fashioned to think that kids need a stay at home parent?
Shelly
Dear Shelly,
Your letter raises a number of points that we feel you must address at this point in your life, not later.
Point # 1 - Before you even consider whether this man is right for you, please clarify if you really want to get married at this point in your life. If the answers are yes, then consider the fact that in modern times it is extremely difficult for most people to find someone with whom they can envision building a life. It becomes particularly harder as a person gets older.
At 31, you are at a prime age for marriage, and you are also fortunate to have met someone who has the qualities you are looking for in a mate. Although we believe that there is more than one potential life partner in this world for most people, through the years we have seen that meeting and developing a courtship can prove elusive. That's why when you find someone who increasingly appears to be right, you should focus your energies into moving the courtship forward in a direct manner.
At the same time that you date and enjoy each other's company, you should also make your dates purposeful by discussing your hopes and dreams for the future, the type of home you want to have, how you want to raise your children, what values are important to you, how each of you handles challenge and stress, people you would like to emulate, etc. By adding purpose to your dates, as the emotional connection between you grows, you will also develop a good sense of whether your values, goals, and outlook in life are compatible.
While we do not recommend that anyone rush into marriage before reaching a level of trust, understanding, and emotional intimacy, there are certain factors in your situation that encourage you to accelerate the focus so that you can come to a decision more quickly. We work with many singles who are able to decide on marriage in a shorter time than the nine months you've been dating. The fact that most of these people have very good marriages has demonstrated to us that couples can decide on marriage relatively quickly, as long as they have compatible goals and values, and understand what marriage entails.
Regarding your concern that the circumstances under which you are both living are somewhat "artificial": In actuality, when the two of you spend an extended time together on a weekend, you have the opportunity to learn a great deal about each other -- how you act each when you are tired, happy, bored or frustrated; the way each relates to people you live with and interact with on a daily basis; each other's level of patience; whether you perform acts of kindness for others; and even something about each other's daily rhythms. You probably know a lot more about each other than you think.
Point # 2 - While we don't know what went on in your parents' marriage, we can see that the fact that it ended after 31 years, with your mother being left by your father, has scared you to the point that it is hard for you to trust your instincts about the man you are seeing. Your mother has met this man -- that's a good start, and you are right that it is a good idea to see him with friends and family. But it isn't absolutely necessary when geography stands in the way. What's important is for you to work through your fears about marriage so that they don't stand in the way of your moving forward at the right time. You may be able to use a self-help book, or have some conversations with the base chaplain or a therapist, but we urge you to address these concerns.
We also recommend a book by Judith Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee, The Good Marriage, which explains how hundreds of couples have made their marriages succeed.
Point # 3 - You are jumping far ahead by trying to foresee what life will be like when you have children, and think that there are only a limited number of options available. It is a mistake that many non-parents make. Marriage and parent-hood are much more fluid than you envision them to be. You may not have a child for a few years, you may be able to work part-time, you may have excellent child care options available, or you may be able to return to the workforce after a self-chosen period of time at home.
There are innumerable ways to ensure that if you stay at home for a while, you will have marketable skills when you re-enter the job market. Modern women reinvent their careers all the time and it is perfectly acceptable for them to do so in most fields. This flexibility is as important in parenthood as it is in marriage.
Point # 4 - The logistics of where the two of you will be stationed in the future are indeed a problem for you, especially as the military cannot give you any guarantees. That's why it's important for you to accelerate the focus of your courtship so that the two of you can soon decide if you are right for each other. If you decide that you are, and can work out viable options for future work assignments, you should consider yourselves blessed to have found each other, and can begin building a beautiful life together.
Rosie & Sherry
(8) Anonymous, January 9, 2013 9:10 PM
Update from original LW- Divorce?
Well we have been married for 6 years and due to health reasons are both out of the military. The first years we were often separated by his deployments and our different bases. When we finally moved in together, I discovered that he has severe depression. I have had to get him committed to prevent him from killing himself. I have decided not to have children b/c right now I taking care of him and do not feel it would be right to bring kids into a marriage where the father is essentially non-functional. He recently flunked out of college. Despite many therapists, psychiatrists and marriage counselors over the past 3 years, I am thinking of divorce. While he is willing to take more or different medications, there are many things he could do (like exercise, eat healthfully, get a hobby, leave the house) to improve his condition. I am exhausted and sad. It's like being married to a diabetic who won't take insulin, or a zombie. He feels he is doing everything he can because no longer spends all day sleeping, but on TV/internet instead. I've threatened to leave before and it gets better for a few months, but as soon as I stop talking about separation it goes back to no effort, no life. I went away for 10 days to visit my father and was not sure if the cats were fed regularly while I was gone. I also found out he's a Cohen and I'm a (conservative) convert. Was our marriage even kosher in the first place?
(7) Shelly, August 26, 2006 12:00 AM
Update from Shelly
We are both stationed in the US now, only 150 miles away from each other. We are getting married in my hometown in October. At first we will have a commuter marriage, and be able to be together at lest 3 weekends a month. Hopefully I'll be out of the military soon (due to health reasons). He's only been in 4 years and I've been in almost 8, so we have plenty of time to figure out whats next in our careers. My major goal after getting out is fnding a job where I can be home with my husband every night! He would love to be a stay at home dad if I can get a job with the money to support that. Thanks to Rosie
(6) chana, September 30, 2005 12:00 AM
stay at home dad
From my understanding, Shelly is looking for a stay at home dad due to her history of her parent's divorced. She doesnt want daycare but she wants to work. I like how Sherry & Rosie addressed this but just to add, most men are not "stay at home". Not to get into womens rights or anything, I really think you need to sort this out before going forward. It's also a matter of trusting that your husband won't walk off.
(5) Charlie Brown, September 11, 2005 12:00 AM
military to military marriage
As a woman who completed a 22 year military career, married to a man who did his 23 year career, I can say it is possible to do it and raise healthy children. If she has only five years to go until retirement eligible and she wants to be a stay at home parent, she can certainly do that. Alternatively, several of my contemporaries had au pairs or a nanny or a grandparent live with them until their child or children were old enough for school. There are a lot of options but as you said, the first question is, does she want to be married?
(4) sima, September 11, 2005 12:00 AM
military marriage
it was pleasing to read your advice about military marriage, not to discourage the courtship and not to let the couple being carried away with worries about an unpredictable future. Orthodox circels often view religious military families with suspiccion and disregard due to their short membership in various jewish communities and difficulties to lead an obsevant life. Unfortunatelly also their political views get in the way of chesed and the old jewish tradition of helping out passing through fellow jews. The freedom of the jews in america is granted by a country sustaining a strong military defending this freedom, jews are not everywhere so free to display their affiliation publically and not fear consequences, even today.
I'd like to participate in spiritual support for jewish military families.
(3) Laurence Jaffe, September 11, 2005 12:00 AM
Military Marriage
I have to comment after reading this story. I retired from the Air Force in 1987, I am Jewish and practice my faith. I met my wife of 31 years while stationed at Griffiss AFB, NY. I went to the JCC in Utica and said I wanted to meet some Jewish "girls". Right after we had our first date, I went TDY to Thule Greenland for a period. Needless to say, 31 years later we are still at it. The military does present certain challenges to Jewish personnel, but if you love your spouse and vice versa, you can do it. My wife joined the Air Force Reserve when I retired and she out ranks me, but big deal,I still shine her combat boots for inspection. All three kids are finished college, two are married, one living with his wife in Jerusalem, and life is great. Just the two of us now and a quite house (really great). While there are too few Jewish military members, its a life time experience that most people never get to do. Yes, you can raise a family in the service, a few challenges, but with a can do attitude, anything is possible. I joined the Air Force in 1963, two weeks after college, and have never looked back. I really enjoyed reading this story as it brought back some good memories of when I was her age, I'm 62 now but feel like 40.
(2) Art Haykin, September 11, 2005 12:00 AM
The only thing that never changes is change itself
Shelly seems to want an ideal marriage and life in a less than perfect world. NO ONE is the person now he or she will be in 20 years or so...no one. You must take life as it comes, warts and all, and know that your school girl idealism is just that...idealistic. Look about, young woman, look at the state of marriage and relationships....they're trying to tell you something! All the sage advice in the world is for nought in light of reality. Relationships have a life of their own, and NONE are predictable. The only thing you can do is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. If this sounds cynical, so be it.
(1) Anonymous, September 11, 2005 12:00 AM
Set your goals, follow through, then be happy!
As an active duty Army officer, mother, and wife of a civilian professional, I offer that Shelly needs to take some time to clarify her long-term goals and to write out what's really important to her. It is possible to have so very much in life -- marriage, children, homelife, job, community involvement -- but it is simply not possible to do it ALL at the highest levels, or to have it all at the same time. I myself was loathe to have only plaques to snuggle up with at the inevitable end of my military career, so I married, became a mother, and shaped my military career to support these choices. (FYI -- these new roles helped me grow so that now I am actually a much better officer!) But in plain English, I have occasionally chosen less prestigious jobs or jobs in less than ideal locations, but I remind my competitive self to be happy because I do a good job and I am living in accordance with what I believe is truly important. Regarding working when your children are young, it is wrenchingly difficult but possible -- breastfeeding and lunchtimes at my baby's daycare helped us both -- and it is infinitely less painful than waiting until your military obligation is finished only to find you suffer from infertility exacerbated by starting your family at a late age. Since you have a strong need to protect your financial independence, which seems to mean that you personally must remain in the workforce throughout your childbearing years, you need to take the next step of understanding that this need/choice has repercussions regarding your ultimate use of childcare. Regarding marrying a fellow military member/professional, you both need to be prepared to compromise in terms of jobs and postings -- and worst case, occasionally have a commuter marriage (it's not the greatest, but fully doable). In any case, I would gather that you are both at a stage in your careers where you can "homestead" in DC. Lastly, the military is a wonderful, short-term career and family -- I can't recommend it highly enough! But a 20 or 25 year career is, in fact, short-term. Recommend that you wait to marry until you have some time together stateside -- a few months is enough. Then seize happiness and take the plunge. When a mature military couple makes the commitment, my experience is that the military will follow with postings -- but it won't if you're still dating. Be happy, and thank you both for your service on behalf of our great nation.