When a parent is fighting overseas, the parent who is at home with the children can take some steps to make sure the atmosphere at home is helping them to cope emotionally. Having a parent overseas is troubling to any child, but giving them the right environment can make a big difference in helping them to cope with stress and feel comfortable talking about how they feel. Negative triggers can be everywhere, but protecting children from upsetting things can help them to stay positive while they are away from a parent.
Avoid Common Negative Triggers
Many things can trigger emotional trouble for children with a parent overseas. Be careful about what you say when you talk to a close friend or family member in person or on the phone. When you are having a tough time, talk it out with a friend outside of the home or through private emails. Children often overhear conversations. Knowing that a parent is unhappy can be a huge weight on a young child, especially one who already is carrying added stress.
Provide Information
If a parent is fighting in a conflict zone that is frequently in the news, you will want to give children some basic information to help them navigate everything they hear. Show them where the country is on the map so that they can attach an actual location to where there parent is currently living. Avoid keeping the news on all the time, overexposure can be upsetting. Gauge how much information is appropriate for your children.
Be Careful with Entertainment
Avoid situations where your child may see violent scenes in films, especially those depicting wars. Even films that are rated appropriately for children may be upsetting to a child who currently has a parent fighting in a war. Try to pre-screen movies whenever possible and avoid things that could cause a child to have nightmares or to worry more about the parent who is overseas.
