I'm being deployed. How do I tell my child?
– Deb
Parents who are being deployed walk a fine line. They know they have to prepare
their children for the challenges ahead, yet they don't want to worry them any more
than necessary.
The best thing to do is to tell kids the truth — that Mom or Dad has to go
away to do their job for our country — and to give explanations at a level they
can understand. For example, young children have a limited concept of time, so their
worries tend to focus on their daily routine (Who will take me to school in the morning?
Who will tuck me in at night?). They need to know who'll be caring for them and keeping
them safe in your absence.
Older kids, on the other hand, might have more concerns about the length of the
separation and your well-being. Reassure them as best you can that you are well trained
to do your job and that every effort will be made to keep you safe.
Let children know it's OK to miss you — you'll be missing them, too. Talk
about the ways you will keep your relationship strong — email, letters, photos,
videos, even promising to think of each other at the same time every day. And finally,
be sure to spend plenty of one-on-one time with your child in the days and weeks before
your departure. These are the memories your child will hold on to until you return.
