Pre - Deployment

I'm sure everyone has heard of the dreaded two weeks before deployment. If you haven't, then I suppose it's my job to inform you - They truly do exist. The past 2 weeks have been ups and downs, crazy mood swings (from both of us!) and expectations being all over the place - him expecting things to remain normal (denial/tough guy act), me trying to soak up every single second with him (smothering/irritating). This could be different for some couples, but for the most part, this is how it is. The past two weeks, we've fought so hard that at times, one of us has taken the keys and left the house for a while. At times we almost fell asleep angry (But a big rule in our house is - no matter what, you NEVER fall asleep angry). Sometimes I'd think to myself "Damn, just deploy already!" And sometimes he would think "Damn, I'm ready to get outta here!" But in the end, it's because, realistically, those two weeks are full of emotions, expectations, stress and worry. Everytime he wouldn't want to do something that I wanted to do, I felt like he didn't care. Everytime I asked him to stop playing video games or pay attention to me, he felt like I wasn't allowing him to enjoy his time the way he wanted before he left. But as of yesterday, the day before deployment, there was nothing either of us could think besides how much we loved each other. We couldn't believe that the last 2 weeks had FLOWN past us and we felt like all the time we did have, was spent arguing over silly things. The time leading up to a deployment might just be the hardest part (I guess I'll find out) because it looms over you and everything you do saying "You only have -this many- days left til he's gone for -this many- days. Better fit everything in that you can!" That is what drives many people... Crazy. So in these two weeks, my advice is, try not to sweat all the small stuff. You probably will anyways, but just try to realize that as long as ya'll are together and in contact, no matter whether you're fighting, on opposite sides of the house, or texting because he's working overnight, that's gonna be something you wish you could have back soon enough. So ladies, tough these weeks out. Every once in a while, let your man spend the entire evening doing whatever he wants because this deployment will stink equally as bad for him as for you - if not worse. Hang in there, soak up all the time you can get but don't make the mistake of smothering your significant other to the point where they DON'T want to spend time with you. This time will fly, trust me.