Courtesy Photo | Human resource specialist, Spc. Tonya Robertson, 27th Brigade Support Battalion,...... read more read more
By Pfc. Heather Welsh
27th Brigade Support Battalion
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq— Every May a day is set aside to celebrate and recognize mothers and thank them for the job they did in raising their children to be who they are today. This holiday can also remind us of how important, challenging, and yet so rewarding being a mother is.
Some deployed mothers have the responsibility of a child and face the challenge of not physically being there for their children. Spc. Tonya Robertson, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, is one of those women.
Robertson, 28, has a 16-month-old daughter named Charise Nicole, whom she lovingly refers to as her 'midget Nikki'. She was able to see her daughter turn 1 year-old before she deployed to Iraq, but missed seeing her take her first steps on her own, as well as watching her grow and change in the past four months of deployment.
As Robertson talked about her daughter, there was sadness in her eyes, yet a quiet strength in her voice.
"I know my baby is in good hands. My parents and my sister love taking care of her, but it was so hard to leave her because she is so little."
Robertson has been in the Army on active duty for nine years as a human resource specialist. She explained her reasons for joining were to travel the world and for college money. She was previously stationed in Germany and in Italy before being stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and this is her first deployment to Iraq.
"I probably would not deploy again. I've been around the world, but now that I have someone else to take care of, it's no longer any fun to travel if she can't come with me," she said. "I call home all the time, but my parents aren't too Internet savvy, so the hardest part is that I haven't seen any new pictures of her since I left."
Robertson's grandmother, Mami Collins, writes often and talks about what a joy her granddaughter is to her.
"I love taking care of Nikki; she keeps me going, like all babies do. I'm sad Tonya has to be away, but I'm so proud of her."
Robertson explains the busier she is, the easier it is to keep her mind off of missing her daughter.
"I recently picked up a deployment hobby of crocheting, and I'm enrolling in school, so on the bad days, I always have something to do to keep my mind busy," she said. "I also have my friends, and I know I'll be okay. My advice to other single mothers that are deployed is to make sure to send your child(ren) updated pictures and let them hear your voice on the phone as much as you can," she suggested.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2007 11:16 |
| Story ID: | 10414 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 56 |
This work, Deployed Army mom celebrates Mother's Day from 8,000 miles away, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
