During Deployment:
Seek Support, Stay Connected
1. Seek support from family, the military, other organizations.
2. Stay in touch with your spouse to keep spirits high for everyone.
3. Stick to household routines to maintain order.
4. Communicate with the kids and monitor behavior.
Getting ready for a deployment is one thing. Dealing with one is another.
Kruse notes said that "there's not necessarily one big challenge about having a deployed spouse. It's all the little things that add up."
Taking care of yourself and your family, while keeping the lines of communication open, can help bring balance to life's ups and downs.
Just say yes. Friends and family, support groups and the military itself always are ready to extend a helping hand. According to Kruse, part of the challenge is overcoming the reluctance to reach out.
"Most of us have people around who want to help, but for some reason we feel we have to do everything ourselves," she said. "My advice is to let your friends and family help you."
Find power in numbers. Organized support groups offer a great way to connect with others in similar situations. Most military installations have family centers that host events and recreational activities for spouses. And groups such as the USO and the National Military Family Association have spouse programs as well. Online communities, such as CinCHouse.com, also offer a haven of support, allowing military spouses to share concerns and find advice.
Crawford, who attended briefings hosted by her family readiness group, suggests learning more about your spouse's military unit. The groups bring the unit's family members together to provide support and assistance and help them to cope better with the stress of deployments.
"They provided updates on the unit's activities overseas and information about benefits, emergency contacts and more," Crawford said. "You learn about what they're doing over there and, most importantly, when they're coming home."
Keep in touch. Keeping in contact with a deployed spouse isn't easy, especially with limitations of time zones and poor phone connections. Double-check contact information and have an emergency contact plan in place. You can call your family assistance center, which can put you in touch with the American Red Cross or Rear Detachment Commander to have emergency messages delivered.
Avoid confusion with letters and e-mails that may not arrive in order by numbering them - 1, 2, 3, etc. Shop around for the best rates on phone cards for you and your spouse. While phone calls home may be short and infrequent, even a minute can make a big difference.
Bridge the separation. Keeping kids involved can help them feel less separated. Try hanging a map of the world with the deployment location marked, and encourage children to send their own letters or drawings to Mom or Dad. Talk about your spouse in everyday conversation and avoid using the past tense.
Stick to routines. Continuing to enforce the rules of the house also is important to maintain a sense of order, particularly with children. Letting bedtimes slip or allowing excessive junk food may score points now but can wreak havoc in the long run. Holding children responsible for household chores not only makes life easier for you, but it also gives them a sense of accomplishment in doing their part.
2. Stay in touch with your spouse to keep spirits high for everyone.
3. Stick to household routines to maintain order.
4. Communicate with the kids and monitor behavior.
Getting ready for a deployment is one thing. Dealing with one is another.
Kruse notes said that "there's not necessarily one big challenge about having a deployed spouse. It's all the little things that add up."
Taking care of yourself and your family, while keeping the lines of communication open, can help bring balance to life's ups and downs.
Just say yes. Friends and family, support groups and the military itself always are ready to extend a helping hand. According to Kruse, part of the challenge is overcoming the reluctance to reach out.
"Most of us have people around who want to help, but for some reason we feel we have to do everything ourselves," she said. "My advice is to let your friends and family help you."
Find power in numbers. Organized support groups offer a great way to connect with others in similar situations. Most military installations have family centers that host events and recreational activities for spouses. And groups such as the USO and the National Military Family Association have spouse programs as well. Online communities, such as CinCHouse.com, also offer a haven of support, allowing military spouses to share concerns and find advice.
Crawford, who attended briefings hosted by her family readiness group, suggests learning more about your spouse's military unit. The groups bring the unit's family members together to provide support and assistance and help them to cope better with the stress of deployments.
"They provided updates on the unit's activities overseas and information about benefits, emergency contacts and more," Crawford said. "You learn about what they're doing over there and, most importantly, when they're coming home."
Keep in touch. Keeping in contact with a deployed spouse isn't easy, especially with limitations of time zones and poor phone connections. Double-check contact information and have an emergency contact plan in place. You can call your family assistance center, which can put you in touch with the American Red Cross or Rear Detachment Commander to have emergency messages delivered.
Avoid confusion with letters and e-mails that may not arrive in order by numbering them - 1, 2, 3, etc. Shop around for the best rates on phone cards for you and your spouse. While phone calls home may be short and infrequent, even a minute can make a big difference.
Bridge the separation. Keeping kids involved can help them feel less separated. Try hanging a map of the world with the deployment location marked, and encourage children to send their own letters or drawings to Mom or Dad. Talk about your spouse in everyday conversation and avoid using the past tense.
Stick to routines. Continuing to enforce the rules of the house also is important to maintain a sense of order, particularly with children. Letting bedtimes slip or allowing excessive junk food may score points now but can wreak havoc in the long run. Holding children responsible for household chores not only makes life easier for you, but it also gives them a sense of accomplishment in doing their part.