We attended a Family Prep course this weekend to help us prepare for our upcoming deployment. Some things weren't new, but I did come out with a lot of info. regarding our boys. We haven't mentioned anything about the deployment even though it's just a few months out and after this weekend I think we'll be breaking the news this week. I guess it's never too early to start talking about it. We'll let the boys know that they can always come to us (or myself after he leaves) to ask us any questions. It's nice that they're not old enough to understand what's going on when we watch the news. We received the Elmo dvd along with several books that will help us explain what's going to happen. (Once I go through them I'll let you know which ones I think are better than the others.) We were told we shouldn't use the term "deployment" when we talk to the boys and that we should come up with our own term. Some people said daddy is "helping people" or "playing army." I will be updating the "Fun Ideas" page with other suggestions people shared with us.
Now the question is...what term do we use when we talk about daddy going away?
Thanks for following my blog!
ReplyDeletehttp://madeofsnails.blogspot.com/
Following back now!
Don’t forget to check out my AWESOME giveaways!
This is a hard question to answer! I don't know what term I would use...good luck. I will be praying for you and your family :)
Keep it simple!!! the less they know the better. When Dan was gone I kept the kids busy and on their routine, and it wasn't until a few weeks went by that they asked...wheres dad? I simply told them that daddy was working and they never mentioned it again, and the reunion between the kids and Dan was no simpler than hi daddy, did you have fun?
ReplyDelete-Cassie
DAWN, TELL THEM...DADDY'S GOING TO A DIFFERENT WORK SO HE CAN HELP. THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO SAY. ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE AS VAGLLY AS POSSIBLE. NO SPECIFICS!!!!! YOU GUYS ARE WORKING YOUR SELFS UP MORE THEN THEY WILL BE. LIKE CASSIE'S SAID...THE LESS THEY KNOW THE BETTER, AND ROUTINE IS EVERYTHING!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating in the Good Friends Just Click Blog Hop! New follower! I have lots of giveaways ending Thursday, hope you'll stop by!
ReplyDeleteJanel
http://www.amomstake.com
I can't imagine how hard this would be!! I've never been an Army wife and I know it has to be a different type of marriage because of the leaving and coming home. God bless your family. Can't wait to keep up. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Staying Home and Staying sane
Thanks for following my blog.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I can't imagine how hard it would be to have to get the family ready for daddy to be gone. Good luck doesn't quite seem like the appropriate thing to say - may God bless you and your family at this time.
Following from the GF Just Click Tuesday hop.
Would love a visit back at Mom Always Finds Out.
http://momalwaysfindsout.com
Have a great day! Thanks!
Nicole
With my younger kids, I told them that Daddy had to go to work far away for a while. The older ones knew and understood.
ReplyDeleteI strongly suggest getting some Daddy Dolls if you don't have them already. (www.hugahero.com)
These were the single best thing we did during the deployment. We paid the extra money for the voice button and my husband left each kid a message that they could listen to at any time by pressing on the doll. They also each had their own name on their doll (there were 5 of them and we wouldn't want to get them confused!)
No one warned me about the Elmo video! I cried here and I cried there...wow! I have to admit that it was a very good video and I highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteJennifer-we'll be ordering our dolls soon. I like the idea of the voice button.
We're going to tell the boys that dad is going away "to help people." It's positive and it sums it all up! Thanks everyone!
Thanks for joining Good Friends Just Click. I'm following you via GFC! Hope to see you next week- www.mamalovesherbargains.com
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn! Thanks for participating this last week in the Good Friends Just Click Blog hop! You have been selected by random.org for participating to be the guest host! You will automatically be added to the list next week! Contact me if you'd like to have the code to host the linky on your website as well - amomstake at gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Janel
http://www.amomstake.com
Military families really deserve everyones admiration because this is beyond what any of us civilians can comprehend. I had no idea there were so many ways to prep and comfort your children during deployment, that is wonderful. I would totally do the dolls with the voice box.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting One Busy Chick, I am your newest follower and I will be praying for all the military families missing their loved ones as well as the loved ones missing home.
My husband just left about a month and a half ago. We waited until the last minute to tell our girls. Our oldest is going to be 3 in May so we didn't see any point in getting her worked up over something she couldn't change or control. We kept it simple and told her that Daddy "has to take a trip for work to help other people." She asked her daddy if she could go with him, and he said it was the hardest thing he's ever done telling her she couldn't. Her daddy doll had been her best friend. We also bought one of the Hallmark recordable storybooks so that she and her younger sister (13 months) could hear daddy read them a bedtime story every night just like he did while he was home.
ReplyDeletewe always say daddy is working and helpin other people. my daughter was with me when my husband left after r&r(which i thought would be a disaster to have her there) but on the contrary she loved having daddy tell her he was going on the airplane back to work and would be home real soon. You do what works best for you.
ReplyDelete