Image by The National Guard via Flickr
When a parent is fighting overseas, it is important for them to remain a key part of their childrens daily lives back home. There are many simple ways that the parent who is still at home can help to make the time easier on the children.
Keep Communication Open
Especially in the early weeks, it is important for the parent who is at home to make time to talk to each child about how they are feeling. Don’t push them to talk, but make sure that they know that they can always talk to you about their feelings during this time. It’s okay to let them know that it’s hard for you too, but their parent has a job to do and can’t be home right now.
Plan Special Activities
Involve children in writing letters or emails to the parent who is overseas. Encourage them to share the highlights of their day or week and help young children to include their own message when you are able to communicate. Knowing that they can still talk to both of their parents, even if one cannot be there in person, is important. If there were activities that children did with that parent when they were at home, like going to a certain restaurant or going fishing, plan to continue these activities in their absence. Let them tell you about the fun times they had with the parent who is overseas and remind them that they will do all of these things again once he or she comes home.
Have Reminders in the Home
Display family photos that show everyone and be sure that each child has a picture in their room of the parent who is overseas. Older children can keep track of time on a calendar and count down the weeks or months until they will get to see the parent who is overseas.
