Supoorting your spouse

Maybe this is old fashioned, but I grew up being taught that you go where your husband leads your family. 
My mother grew up her entire life in the same city.  College was her first experience living outside of the state she grew up in.  When she married my dad she was aware that he had an obligation to the US Army (through a college military scholarship).  Although he was only in the military for four years, that was the beginning of many moves for my parents. 
My dad grew up with a military father, was acustomed to moving and, I think, enjoyed it.

I was always impressed with how my mother supported my father in each endevor that led our family to another move. 

When my husband and I were dating, he asked me one night where my ideal place to live would be. I had never really thought about it because I had made up in my mind that where ever my husband was would be my ideal place to live.  You see, I had always dreamed of being a mother.  Staying home with my children and nurturing them.  In college I developed dreams of becoming a Marrige and Family Therapist or counselor, but my first dream was to be a mother.  I had many examples around me of great women who were mothers to their children and once they were grown, went on to develop careers and influence others around them.  Since my first dream was to be home with my children, I knew my husband would have to work hard in order to provide enough for me to not work.  Because this would require sacrifices on his part, I figured the least I could do is support him in whatever he did or where ever he worked in order to provide for us.

Towards the end of my husband's second year in dental school he began talking about having an interest in Oral Surgery.  He spoke very casually about the interest but I began to prepare myself for the possibility.  I knew it would be difficult and I knew it would take our family far from what we were used to (both of us being native to the west coast and the majority of OMS programs being located on the east coast).  But thanks to the great examples my parents were, it wasn't difficult for me.  Instead of deciding IF I would be willing to move across the country, I began making a mental list of all the good I could find from it. 

I've been thinking lately about individuals in my life.  I've been surprised by some of them and their seemingly unwillingness to support their spouse.  I have witnessed a couple where the husband suffered through a job he hated for over thirty years in order to provide a extremely comfortable life for his family in the present and in the future.  His one dream requires a time commitment and a temporary move for him and his spouse.  However, his spouse doesn't seem to be completey on board.  Instead she is worried about what SHE wants.  It baffles me...

I understand that every family situation is different, and the family dynamics my husband and I have are not the right thing for every family, but whatever our family situation is, we are here to love and care for one another.  Part of that means supporting each other and encouraging each other to do good things, even if it means sacrifice on our end.