HOME AWAY | 2012 - 2017
HOME AWAY is a visual narrative that delves into the emotions and experiences that military families endure when constantly interrupted and displaced. As an Active Duty Nurse and military spouse for 25 years, I have personally witnessed the struggles of military families who are often misunderstood as a subculture. These families encounter unique hardships, stressors, and challenges that are difficult to comprehend for most outsiders. One of the most significant challenges is recurrent relocation.
Military families move every two to three years, leaving behind their homes, schools, and communities to start afresh. Although reactions vary from family to family, the emotions that surface during this time are consistent: sadness, loneliness, worry, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety about making new friends, concern about added responsibilities, and the fear of not finding a community and support. However, this journey of transition is also a journey of strength, acceptance, and the redefinition of what constitutes a home away from home.
THE MILITARY CHILD
As the orders come in,
the familiar routine begins again.
It's a paradoxical mix of nothing new
yet everything new.
The urgency to hurry up
is soon followed by the familiar wait.
As you unravel the threads
that bind you to a place,
the sense the disorientation
is overwhelming.
Loss for what you leave behind.
Hope of what lies ahead.
I know how hard you have worked,
and your fear is quiet but palpable.
I sense the tears that you bravely hold back.
My heart aches for you,
but I want you to know
you are stronger than you realize.
And I am prouder of you than you know.
Trust me, please.
I've
got
you.
We have each other.
Let's embrace this journey
and get going.
- Deb Schwedhelm