I think my sanity is still intact, but sometimes I wonder how I would know if it wasn't

1. Exercise, exercise, exercise. Sweat your fears and frustrations out.
2. Do not watch the cable news networks. They will drive you crazy with their endless loop of doom & gloom flavored by political spin, or they will drive you crazy by ignoring the fact that our soldiers are dying every day and focus instead on the latest celebrity scandal.
3. Don't believe anything you hear unless it comes through official channels of communication. Rumors will fly throughout the deployment. Rely only upon the information you receive from the Rear Detachment.
4. Expect to have some really stupid fights right before your husband ships out. This is common and normal. The tension has to find an outlet somewhere.
5. Stock your medicine cabinet before your husband leaves. Murphy's Law demands that you and the kids will all come down with a stomach flu two days after your husband departs. Pepto, Gatorade, ginger ale, pedialyte, motrin, etc - make sure you have it on hand, because when you need it, you won't be able to go and get it.
6. Have you taken any Army Family Team Building (AFTB) classes? They're all available online now. There's lots of good information in there.
7. Iron sharpens iron. Avoid the people who drag you down, and stick with the people who strengthen and support you. (Like us!! )