Last week, just two nights before my partner returned from a four-month deployment (after also spending eight months on two-week trips), I found myself awake at 2 a.m. My daughter was sprawled out in my bed, with pillows positioned to keep her from falling off, while my son slept soundly in his sleeping bag on the floor, our dog curled up beside him. The room felt warm and peaceful, yet I was struck by the realization that we had been managing life on our own for nearly a year, with only brief visits from my husband. We had built friendships, explored our community, and established a routine. At that moment, I understood that our little family felt complete—physically, there was simply no more space.