I had the most difficult time for the first 2 months and then my husband seemed to catch up. My son is our one and only so it was a rapid change. Are your older kids male or female. He might need some extra attention from the others. A special dinner or movie.

Funny you should post this now Vivian - just last week my hubby and I were sitting there watching tv - either football or baseball (always sports!) and I was on my kindle (on N4M) and hubby was on the laptop (probably EBay!) and he stopped and said "I really miss B and every time I think about him lately I just get so emotional, I just want to see him and hug him". I reminded him that we just saw him in July (he came home for 3 days leave) and we will be seeing him in December for power school graduation.....I think it had to do with his one year anniversary in the navy coming up (which is now today!).  I told him I feel like that most days - although it's a good feeling of missing him - not so much sad anymore but happy for what he is accomplishing.....Plus I talk about it more than hubby does - I'm on N4M every day and communicate with other moms.  Hubby doesn't really have anyone else that he talks to about our son being gone - I truly believe that N4M has helped me get through this - we can all relate to each other.  We have a son at college too but it's not the same.

Take time to acknowledge your feelings of missing your son - it's great that you can be distracted by taking care of your hubby but you need to allow time for yourself to process the change.....keep coming on N4M and know that we are all here for you too!  And tell your hubby there is also www.navydads.com.  It's the same type of thing as N4M but all the guys get together & talk.  I'm on there too - my hubby doesn't really do much with the computer (except Ebay) but I read up on Navy Dads & fill hubby in on what's going on over there too....and of course I pass on all the info I have learned here too.

Hang in there - it does get easier over time!