War may be hell…but home ain’t exactly heaven, either.

When a Soldier comes home from When a Soldier comes home from war, they find it hardwar, they find it hard……

……to listen to his son whine about being bored.to listen to his son whine about being bored.

……to keep a straight face when to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.people complain about potholes.

……to be tolerant of people who complain to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.about the hassle of getting ready for work.

……to be understanding when a coto be understanding when a co--worker worker complains about a bad nightcomplains about a bad night’’s sleeps sleep.

……to control his panic when his wife to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.tells him he needs to drive slower.

……to be grateful that he fights to be grateful that he fights for the freedom of speech.for the freedom of speech.

……to be silent when people pray to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.to God for a new car.

……to be compassionate to be compassionate when a businessman when a businessman

expresses a fear of flying.expresses a fear of flying.

……to not laugh when anxious to not laugh when anxious parents say theyparents say they’’re afraid to send re afraid to send

their kids off to summer camp.their kids off to summer camp.

……to not ridicule someoneto not ridicule someonewho complains about hot weather.who complains about hot weather.

……to control his rage when a to control his rage when a colleague gripes about his colleague gripes about his

coffee being cold.coffee being cold.

……to remain calm when his to remain calm when his daughter complains about having daughter complains about having

to walk the dog.to walk the dog.

……to be civil to people to be civil to people who complain about who complain about

their jobs.their jobs.

……to just walk away when to just walk away when someone says they only get someone says they only get

two weeks of vacation a year.two weeks of vacation a year.

……to be happy for a to be happy for a friendfriend’’s new hot tubs new hot tub

……to be forgiving when someone to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.a new baby in the house.

……to not punch a wall to not punch a wall when someone says when someone says we should pull out we should pull out

immediately.immediately.

The only thing harder than The only thing harder than

being a Soldierbeing a Soldier……By: Danielle

“A Proud Army Wife”

is loving oneis loving one.

A gentle reminder to A gentle reminder to keep your life in perspective.keep your life in perspective.

And when you meet one of ourAnd when you meet one of ourreturning Soldiers,returning Soldiers,

please remember what they have been please remember what they have been through and show themthrough and show them

compassion and tolerancecompassion and tolerance..Thank you.

CPT Alison L. Crane, RN, MSMental Health Nurse Observer-Trainer

7302nd Medical Training Support Battalion