”Daddy Dolls, Inc.”.  This is a pillow-like doll with a likeness of your deployed family member printed on the fabric. The “Hug a Hero” dolls have lessened the stress of separation. Children are able to hold a 17” doll or 12” doll to sleep with or use as a comfort.  Besides being a “Daddy” or “Mommy” doll, they also can be used as   “Grandparent” dolls.   You may see the items available at website: www.hugahero.com.
 

Photographs of your deployed family member in the children’s rooms and in the main living spaces.
 

Communicating with the family about the deployed family member constantly.  Around the holidays and special occasions, consider ways to have the deployed family remembered.
 

Made videos and send them to each other. Play them for the children often.
 

Keep the children on a schedule. It helps make their day more secure and also helps pass the time.
 

Have a point of contact, a friend or family member to “check in” each day to make sure everyone is doing well.  Also, have a point of contact for minor jobs around the house that may need a professional to complete, such as a fallen gutter, a broken window pane, a leaky sink, etc.
 

Plan a once a month outing with friends or family to just get out of the house for a while.  Hire a babysitter, and enjoy a shopping trip, a movie, or a nice lunch or dinner.  You need to care for yourself and have adult interaction just to lighten your spirits.
 

At the dinner table, light a candle and place it at the table where your deployed family member usually sits.  This represents them being with you each day.
 

Change a clock.  We know the deployed family member is definitely in another time zone! Change on of your prominent clocks in the hours to reflect the time it is wherever your loved one has been deployed.  Every time you look at the clock you can have a better idea of what they might be doing. (And you think of them each time you look at that clock!)
 

Share everyday activities with your loved one.  It helps to envision good things at home.
 

Take special pictures of the children, family, and pets and have them made into poster size pictures for the deployees to have in their rooms.  It’s nice to look at someone almost life size when you are away from home!
 

A local news station (News Channel 5) has a sign up for email news and weather.  They offer weather alerts and current local news for the deployed to see and stay in touch with events going on at home.  The site is www.newschannel5.com.  If you don’t live in the Nashville, Tennessee viewing area, check with your local television stations.
 

Keep a pocket journal. It is not unusual to speak with someone overseas several times weekly.  At the time you can feel rushed and often forget to mention many of the things you wanted to share.  Keeping a journal in your pocket to record the day-to-day events is a great tool to be efficient with your time and to share all the day-to-day news with your love one.
 

Set aside a private moment.  Next time you email or speak with your family member, choose a specific time, every day that the deployed person and the family will stop and think about one another for a few seconds.  It may sound cheesy, but knowing that each of you is thinking about the other at the same time can be amazingly comforting.
 

Take lot and lots of pictures.  This is particularly important when you have children.  Pictures are priceless.  Even if you don’t have the ability to mail them, they will be a great gift upon returning home.
 

Create a Legacy Letter.  Keep a pad or a piece of paper near you at all times.  Every time you have a thought about the deployed person, write it down.  Do this for up to a week and then mail it.  The person will feel like they are with you all day long.