After Deployment:
Allow Time For Change
1. Give each other time to get back to normal.
2. Take it slow with friends and extended family.
3. Support your spouse in reconnecting with the kids. 4. Review your financial situation as a couple.
5. Update deployment plan for next time.
While you and your spouse likely counted the days and minutes until your reunion, the homecoming itself may be a new source of stress.
During your months, or even years, apart, you each had new roles and responsibilities, learned new skills and perhaps made new friends. Your kids grew and your routines changed. Getting back to the life you knew before deployment, or adjusting to a new one, will take time.
Exercise patience. If your spouse was accustomed to being in charge at home, he or she may be surprised to find you're running a tight ship. Psychologists and family advisors say patience is the best way to ease back into a new routine. Give yourself and your partner time to get back into the rhythm of being a family again.
The same advice applies to friends. It's best to take it slow when introducing new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
Give children time. Returning fathers or mothers may be hurt when young children turn away or seem to be afraid. Even older kids may act distant to a "new" authority figure in the house. Give your spouse and kids time alone together, and encourage your children to be open and honest about their feelings.
Get back to business. Discuss what has happened with your finances, as well as the new roles you assumed. You may consider talking with a financial adviser to develop a plan and get any problem areas back on track. Some financial services companies offer a free financial assessment to get you started.
If you made changes to any insurance policies, you may need to reinstate or update your coverage.
Prepare for the next time. As long as your spouse serves in the military, there could be another deployment in your family's future. Once the dust has settled, talk about what went smoothly during the deployment and what could have been handled better. By updating your deployment plan while the experience is still fresh in your minds, you and your spouse can avoid making the same mistakes twice.
Armed with knowledge and experience, you'll be ready the next time duty calls.
2. Take it slow with friends and extended family.
3. Support your spouse in reconnecting with the kids. 4. Review your financial situation as a couple.
5. Update deployment plan for next time.
While you and your spouse likely counted the days and minutes until your reunion, the homecoming itself may be a new source of stress.
During your months, or even years, apart, you each had new roles and responsibilities, learned new skills and perhaps made new friends. Your kids grew and your routines changed. Getting back to the life you knew before deployment, or adjusting to a new one, will take time.
Exercise patience. If your spouse was accustomed to being in charge at home, he or she may be surprised to find you're running a tight ship. Psychologists and family advisors say patience is the best way to ease back into a new routine. Give yourself and your partner time to get back into the rhythm of being a family again.
The same advice applies to friends. It's best to take it slow when introducing new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
Give children time. Returning fathers or mothers may be hurt when young children turn away or seem to be afraid. Even older kids may act distant to a "new" authority figure in the house. Give your spouse and kids time alone together, and encourage your children to be open and honest about their feelings.
Get back to business. Discuss what has happened with your finances, as well as the new roles you assumed. You may consider talking with a financial adviser to develop a plan and get any problem areas back on track. Some financial services companies offer a free financial assessment to get you started.
If you made changes to any insurance policies, you may need to reinstate or update your coverage.
Prepare for the next time. As long as your spouse serves in the military, there could be another deployment in your family's future. Once the dust has settled, talk about what went smoothly during the deployment and what could have been handled better. By updating your deployment plan while the experience is still fresh in your minds, you and your spouse can avoid making the same mistakes twice.
Armed with knowledge and experience, you'll be ready the next time duty calls.