What better way to continue this series than with ME?
But not in the way you think.
One of the hardest things I have discovered since becoming an Army wife is trying to keep my identity. I mean I still am who I am, but I also am not.
At least not to the Army. To the Army, I am CPL Bocker’s wife. If I need to make an appointment with the doctor, my medical records are under B Daddy’s social security number. If I want to to talk to housing (or perhaps rant and rave at them), I have to show a power of attorney. If I call on post, they ask if I am the servicemember, or just the dependant. Really?
I even have to behave myself, because if I get in trouble, I can’t even get in my own trouble. It goes on B Daddy’s military record. He even gets credit for my shenanigans. That is total horsepuckey! Yes, I said horsepuckey. Blame my mother.
I am no longer just me. I am B Daddy’s dependant. It is as if I no longer exist on my own.
I love B Daddy. But why can’t I just be a person? Instead of just a person. I love being B Daddy’s wife. But must I be just CPL Bocker’s wife?
My name is Cassandra Lynn. It says it on my birth certificate. It doesn’t say Just Cassandra Lynn.
I struggle to keep a balance between being the spouse, the dependant and between still being me. By the way, I will let you know if I ever figure out how to do it.
In the meantime, I keep my job, I keep my BFF and hope for the best.
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I know it is tough, baby… I think you do a pretty good job of retaining your identity, though… you are certainly uniquely yourself and that is why I don’t mind putting “my wife” in parenthesis at the end of your name
LOL. Thanks so much baby. I am glad you acknowledge me! Besides, being “your wife” makes up for losing my identity…
Oh it’s not just in the army!! trust me on that one! Fun post on a rather serious topic.
I guess it is fair in some respects. There are certain situations that B Daddy is “Cass’s husband”.
LOL! Now you know how I felt in high school, always known as ‘that chick that hangs out with Cassie’.
Oh whatever! It was more like “Who is that plain Jane whats-her-face that Christine keeps hanging out with?”
Oh this goes for any military branch, my wife after 5 1/2 years of being a military spouse still has problems with it. She just has a problem with authority anyways, lol!