Mother's Day from afar

  • Published
  • By Cassie Brown
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Card, check. Flowers, check. Chocolates, check. Dinner with mom . . . check? Wait, you don't live close enough to your mother to take her out to dinner.

How do you handle Mother's Day when the "military life" is involved?

With more than 300,000 active duty members in today's Air Force, this is a very common issue. For many Airmen, mothers are a sense of strength and being miles away from them can be wearing. So, on this special day, when we realize we haven't called our mothers in weeks, we make sure we go the extra mile.

But how do you show your appreciation to the woman who put up with your tantrums when you were two and sneaking out of the house at 15?

Common sense tells you that's easy, just call her. In reality it can be a little more complicated, but it still boils down to one thing; all she wants is recognition and an "I love you mom."

But what happens when the active duty member is a mother? Oh, and did I forget to mention she is deployed?

For new mother Master Sgt. Bonnie Morrow, 60th Mission Support Squadron, what helps during long deployments is, "making sure that you have a strong support system back home. You need to rely on someone you can trust who has a similar parenting style to yours."

In addition, the continual video messages and phone calls help ease the fears of missing too much of their children's lives. With these fears eased, they can focus on the importance of their jobs, and knowing they are protecting their country helps them take their tour one day at a time.

Another part of the Air Force family who make unseen sacrifices are those who made a different type of commitment: active duty spouses. It is stressful to leave your mothers, families and hometowns behind while following your spouse.

Moreover, during lengthy deployments the stress increases tenfold. Jacqui Allemeier, wife of Tech. Sgt. Willie Allemeier, 570th Global Mobility Squadron, says she handles it by doing "typical mom business." But when her husband is gone she "focuses on her kids because that is what a mother does, and being recognized for that is what Mother's Day is all about."

Relying on e-mail, phone calls and help from within the military family can help relieve spouses' stress, and it also reminds them that they are never truly alone in the Air Force.
Whatever you decide to give your mother for Mother's Day, keep in mind the emotional and physical stress she went through to get you where you are in life.

Remember, simply tell her you love her and wish her a Happy Mother's Day. In return, remember how proud your mother is of everything you give, and sometimes sacrifice for your country. That loving communication, that give and take of love, is what Mother's Day is about and no amount of miles will ever change a mother's love.