Deployment, the good, the bad, and the unexpected…
Our family goes through a deployment just about every couple of years. Each time, I wonder what crazy things will happen and what I will learn this time. What surprises me most every single time, are my children. They are the most amazing, resilient little humans.
Slow Down…
Before your significant other leaves for deployment, there are items that you are going to want to get done and documents that need to be set aside. It is important to remember, NOT to overwhelm your service member. This is going to be a crazy time for them too. Some items you will want to put focus on, sooner rather than later are listed below.
- Power of Attorney
- Copy of Orders
- House and car maintenance
- Gather emergency numbers
- Address for letters and packages
- Review important paperwork (life insurance, will, passwords, home insurances, etc)
- Prepare children for deployment
- Spend time together as a family!!!
Have fun & try new things!
Each time my spouse was deployed the kids and I sat down and planned out what we wanted to accomplish while he was gone. This could be as simple as crafts the kids want to do to scheduling a trip. Here are some of the ones that showed up on our lists throughout the years.
- Make slime
- Go to the zoo*
- Beach day trip*
- Visit family in another state
- Learn to knit or crochet
- Repaint the bedrooms
- Reorganize the furniture in the house (that’s mine!)
- Visit the Aquarium*
- Set a walking or running goal
- Learn to bake or cook something new
- Go back to school or get training on something you always wanted to learn
- Write letters to Dad
- Create care packages for Dad
Expect the unexpected!
Everything will be going smoothly until it isn’t. Remember to expect the unexpected. Our last deployment, my daughter accidentally dropped a weight on her foot. To say I do not like blood is an understatement. With my husband gone, I put my big girl pants on and wrapped her wound, piled all 3 of my little humans into the car and drove to the emergency room. I did not stop to email or call my husband.
It wasn’t a situation that would warrant a level of worry. She was okay, no broken bones, one less toenail, and a popsicle from some amazing nurses! We sent the pictures above with what happened and her status so he knew not to worry.
Homecoming! (Before COVID-19)!
The day of homecoming will be exiciting! The last one we did, was prior to Covid, so we were able to wait on the pier for the ship to arrive. There were a lot of hugs and tears! Just remember when you get home that everything may not be all rainbows and butterflies. I don’t say this to scare you. I just think it important to understand.
While your significant other is away, your routines will have inevitably have changed, as I know mine do. Often the big ones for me are the processes and structure around getting my 3 humans fed, showered and to bed each night. Everyone including the children are all part of the routines. When my significant other comes home, things are different for both of us. For me, I have to let go and let him back into the process that I have structured so well for the last year and he has accept that things went on without being here. I am not going to lie, it may not be easy, but it is worth it.
Come at things with an open mind. Remember they have been gone. I hope this helps!!
Our House to Home 