At this point, my kids were teenagers, and I made the conscious decision to put my wants and needs aside to allow them the space to flourish. What I didn’t realize, though, was that my second eldest needed me in ways I hadn’t seen. My mental health started to deteriorate even further, and once again, I found myself at a command where talking openly about mental struggles wasn’t an option. I constantly overheard conversations where others’ vulnerabilities were mocked or judged, and it made me afraid to speak up. This chapter of my life is a story of silent struggles, balancing the roles of a parent and a service member, and the weight of carrying it all without a safe place to unload.