Deployment Tip # 2 – Home Music Videos

This is the second deployment my boys are going through. Like the first time, dad missed all 3 of their birthdays. So, the boys and I get together and make daddy a goodie bag with an invitation to a recap birthday when he gets home. Every week we do a movie/game night to celebrate another week down. Since music is a great way to help cope with hard times, I let my boys pick out songs they like and we make home made music videos to send to daddy. Our biggest treat so far was the time we sat down and thought of care package themes, then made a calendar of it. My favorite was the “You dropped Your Pocket” care package thought up by my middle son who will be 5 soon. Him and his dad would always joke and say “you dropped your pocket” so, the boys drew up a design and then helped me sew a pocket pillow for daddy. Now he takes it on every convoy and sleeps with it at night. All this is an alternative to the traditional but, it makes them feel good to do things for daddy and then see the pictures or hear a simple thank you from daddy over the phone. They have pride in what they do and it brings out creativity. So far this has helped them better than anything from the 1st deployment. I have an open suggestion box for them to let me know what they want to do plus, I let them use my IM and web cam to let daddy know what to expect for R&R and home coming. Kids are often forced to grow up faster during times like this but, if it’s done in a positive way such as letting them make choices like this, it’s a better memory for them.

Karrie

Grafenwoehr, Germany

Deployment Tip #1 – Read Books with Daddy

My husband’s first deployment was 15 months and I wanted our little girl to know his voice. She loves books so I had him read all of her books on a tape recorder and every night before she went to bed she would play the tape and “read” books with Daddy. It really seemed to help.

Amanda, Ft Riley