One of my favorite books for deployments is a book made by the Channing Bete Company called Write from the Heart. The book is an amazing deployment correspondence book where kids write about their days, tear out the page, fold it in thirds, write the mailing and return address, slap on a stamp and mail it to dad. It is so simple yet so genius at the same time.
Each page has a template where kids can write about how they are feeling, what they did for the day, how big they’re getting, what they want to be when they grow up, what the weather is like at home and much more. The book has emotion stickers, holiday stickers, and postcards that let dad know that he is truly missed at home. The book even has little rounded American flag stickers at the bottom of the sticker page to seal the folded letters. There are also post cards for a quick written “I miss you” and room for a stamp.
The front cover has a small frame to put dads picture in and the back cover has a map of the world where kids can mark where their dad is on the big green and blue plant. It is an amazing book. Many Family Readiness Groups have these books available. More can be ordered at Channing-Bete Website or by calling 1-800-628-7733. There are two versions of the Write from the Heart series. One for Kids, and one for Big Kids.
Creating a Homemade Deployment Mural
In addition to sending dad letters from the Write from the Heart Book, kids can make their own daily murals at home. Every week, start by taping seven pages on the walls, or seven pages for each child. Have the kids write something every day of the week, draw a picture, slap on some stickers, or whatever they would like to do. At the end of the week, take the papers down, put them in a box and mail them to dad.
Creating a Homemade Deployment Book Online
Another thing you could do, since those papers might not make it back home, is to take pictures of the most memorable ones, and upload them onto your computer to compile a deployment memory book. Shutterfly.com, Costco.com, and Apple iPhoto all have great platforms for creating memorable books.
Staying Connected Throughout Deployment
The best thing about doing activities like these is that dad can stay connected to his kids when he’s gone. Doing the best we can as military wives to ensure our children keep that bond with their dad is one of the toughest things in our world. It would be easy to just take over the house, welcome dad home every six month to a year, and get numb to the little things that he is never around for. But that will only create distance and anymosity between the kids, even if it something that works in your marriage, as it does in mine. Your marriage is one thing, and everything should be done to ensure you and your husband are happy and comfortable with it. The kids are anther, and as they can’t communicate as well, every step should be taken to make sure they dont feel left out and forgotten.
Remembering deployments means that the next one wont be as bad as it seems. These deployment books will mean the world to the kids, and to their dads overseas.
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Carmen Grant is a proud Navy EOD wife and mother of two boys, ages 3 and 4. She spends her time blogging about military life, volunteering at the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society as a financial caseworker and taking care of her family. She is owner of two new military life websites, www.spousesprite.com and www.militaryfinancefairy.com. Two off base places for military wives!
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