There’s something to be said about having a ring on the left hand as a spouse of a LEO. I know that special feeling, of the ring, symbolizing, “I am their chosen one.” Not to mention the security the piece of paper holds. Personally, it’s more than a piece of paper to me.
Over the last few months I have had the pleasure of meeting some amazing ladies. Some married to their LEO while others not yet. I see them all as the women behind the badge. The thought of differentiating one group from the other has never crossed my mind until I met Bridgette.
I learned that some wives hold themselves above other women who are not married and even then simply being married isn’t enough to get you an invite to the club much less a membership. For some wives, how long you’ve been married is just as important, as are you even married? It took me awhile to wrap my mind around the concept.
How disheartening it was for Bridgette when she was told being with her LE for two years was nothing for her to talk about. Come back when they’re together for 25 years. Or when someone else inferred that maybe she’s a badge bunny and that’s why she’s not yet engaged. Or even this, imagine the person you’re in love with had a rough day. You want to support them as much as possible but you are in uncharted territory. So you decide to reach out to veteran wives for advice only to be told your issue doesn’t count as having a rough day. Come back when he’s been shot at.
I have never cared what one blue line sister status was when she reached out for help. You stop and you help. Bridgette and her LEO are in a committed relationship and they are very much in love. He has bought them their dream home. He loves her eight year old daughter like she is his own. I really don’t believe there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her.
So imagine my surprise when I got a message from her saying her LEO said if they are ever close by me he’s going to make it a point for us to meet. He loves the influence I’ve had on her but most importantly, he appreciates how much I don’t make her feel like she’s just a girlfriend. I re-read that paragraph several times. I realize I was naive to the reality of this happening to women who are not yet wives or who have chosen not to become wives.
Here’s my take on it.
Once we become the woman behind the badge. Once we have declared we are in a serious and committed relationship with our LEO then that’s the only requirement that is need for an invite and membership to the club. None of us were born married to our spouses so therefore we were all a LEO GF at one point but how quickly we soon forget. As wives we should support our sisters as they now start the journey. We give the advice we wish we had gotten. We hold her hands the way we wish someone had held ours. We calm her fears using the tricks others used to help us. At the end of the day she’s the woman behind her SO’s badge and we are her support system. Let’s not waste time checking off a list before deciding if we’re going to reach out a hand or not. Just do it! This to me is what a Blue Line Sorority Sisterhood should do for each other regardless of each person’s marital status.
| Kerry-Ann |