6 Reasons Why It's Difficult To Facetime With A Deployed Soldier

When my husband was deployed, we tried to Facetime everyday, but it's not always easy. The connection can be pretty terrible. However, I know we're lucky. My Nana Jo talks about the letters she would write to my Grandpa, who was off fighting for his country during World War 2. She said it would take months to get a letter. You didn't know if your loved one was okay. Sometimes the letters would arrive with sentences marked off in black if it was deemed unsafe. That would have been difficult.

When my husband first deployed years ago, we only got one phone call a month, if that. So I am grateful Facetime and Skype exist. But still. It doesn't always make things easier. Let me explain...

1. The sound cuts out often. So your conversation goes like this, "How day?" And, "I you." (Translation: "How was your day?" and "I miss you.") Words are left out. This can be confusing when you hear, "I chow arms." (Translation: "I ate at the chow hall and worked out my arms.")

2. The picture freezes. The other person is sometimes frozen with a silly expression on their face. It's funny at first, but then you think, "Can I just have a normal conversation with MY HUSBAND?" You also worry you'll be frozen in an unflattering way. Suppose he shows his work buddies?


3. The call will be dropped in the middle of a conversation. You'll get the "reconnecting" message, but it's a lie. It won't reconnect. You have to call all over again.


4. Sometimes the call won't even connect at all. You'll try and try and try. You'll curse and curse and curse. You'll cry and cry and cry and wail, "I JUST WANT TO TALK TO MY HUSBAND!" all dramatic-like. Or maybe that's just me?


5. If you see a member of the opposite sex in the background, you might think, "Who's that ho? Why is she near you?" Not because you're a bad person, but because you're jealous someone else gets to be near your husband when you can't be.


6. You'll be told, "I can't talk right now," and you'll immediately think the worst. You'll say, "Are there bad guys coming? Are you okay?" and then you'll be DISCONNECTED and go into a panic. You'll think of all the scary scenes in war movies. You'll wonder if that's happening to your husband RIGHT AT THIS VERY SECOND. Then, when he finally calls, you'll be all, "Oh my GOSH, are you okay? Are you wounded?" and he'll go, "Jesus, we just had a meeting. Calm down."



Again, I am grateful Facetime and Skype exist. But there are some challenges you'll just have to deal with when your spouse is in a deployment zone.

And you just have to hope that when the screen freezes, you at least look flattering and not drugged.