🧗 Ascent Begins – The Adjustment Stage (Finding Your Place)
Gaining Confidence and Learning to Climb
- You've started the climb and realized this is harder than expected—frequent moves, long separations, and career disruptions are your first real obstacles.
- Just like adjusting to high altitudes, you need to adapt quickly and find a rhythm in this lifestyle.
- You're building mental and emotional endurance as you figure out how to balance personal goals, marriage, and military commitments.
🎯 Challenges (Slippery Slopes & Unexpected Obstacles)
- Career instability due to PCS moves.
- Deployments leaving you as the primary caregiver or household manager.
- Feeling invisible in the military spouse community.
✅ What Helps (Strengthening Your Grip & Finding Footing)
- Exploring remote work & side businesses to stay financially independent.
- Setting personal goals so you don't feel like you're just "following along."
- Finding a small, supportive group of fellow climbers—other male military spouses.