The reunion of your family can be a building block or a stumbling block. There are things you can do as a parent and as a family to prepare for your return. Use the checklist below as a guide to help prepare you and your family for your return.

As a Parent, I:

___ Write a letter to each child to plan a special event.

___ Remind each child how much I have missed him or her and that I look forward to coming home.

___ Reassure my children that my love for them is constant, even if other things have changed.

___ Talk about my feelings about returning home with others.

___ Think about the mixed emotions I have about coming home.

___ Think about my children and how each might react to my return.

___ Realize that a new child born during my deployment will need time to know and adjust to me.

___ Think about how I'll make the transition from soldier to parent again, and that I need to treat my family as a family and not as a military unit.

___ Think about the problems I left behind and how I will cope with them when I return.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan a reunion celebration.

___ Talk about not expecting a perfect reunion.

___ Talk about everyone in the family changing in some way while I've been away.

___ Talk about how stressful change is for everyone.

___ Recognize that it might take time for all of us to readjust.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

The reunion of your family can be a building block or a stumbling block. There are things you can do as a parent and as a family to prepare for your return. Use the checklist below as a guide to help prepare you and your family for your return.

As a Parent, I:

___ Write a letter to each child to plan a special event.

___ Remind each child how much I have missed him or her and that I look forward to coming home.

___ Reassure my children that my love for them is constant, even if other things have changed.

___ Talk about my feelings about returning home with others.

___ Think about the mixed emotions I have about coming home.

___ Think about my children and how each might react to my return.

___ Realize that a new child born during my deployment will need time to know and adjust to me.

___ Think about how I'll make the transition from soldier to parent again, and that I need to treat my family as a family and not as a military unit.

___ Think about the problems I left behind and how I will cope with them when I return.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan a reunion celebration.

___ Talk about not expecting a perfect reunion.

___ Talk about everyone in the family changing in some way while I've been away.

___ Talk about how stressful change is for everyone.

___ Recognize that it might take time for all of us to readjust.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

When you return from your assignment, it will take time to get to know your children again because everyone-including you-has changed while you have been away. Use the checklist below as a guide while you get to know your children again.

As a Parent, I:

___ Plan to make a smooth transition from service member to parent again and remember that my family is a family and not a military unit.

___ Let things happen naturally and do not force my children to interact with me.

___ Give each child time to "warm up" to me, especially new family members born while I was deployed.

___ Listen sensitively to each child.

___ Answer my children's questions openly and honestly.

___ Plan a special outing with each child.

___ Give each child a "bravery medal" for courage.

___ Show an interest in my children's everyday lives.

___ Find out about new interests my children have developed while I have been away.

___ Spend time looking at my children's artwork, schoolwork, etc.

___ Discipline my children with care and love.

___ Give lots of reassuring hugs.

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

When you return from your assignment, it will take time to get to know your children again because everyone-including you-has changed while you have been away. Use the checklist below as a guide while you get to know your children again.

As a Parent, I:

___ Plan to make a smooth transition from service member to parent again and remember that my family is a family and not a military unit.

___ Let things happen naturally and do not force my children to interact with me.

___ Give each child time to "warm up" to me, especially new family members born while I was deployed.

___ Listen sensitively to each child.

___ Answer my children's questions openly and honestly.

___ Plan a special outing with each child.

___ Give each child a "bravery medal" for courage.

___ Show an interest in my children's everyday lives.

___ Find out about new interests my children have developed while I have been away.

___ Spend time looking at my children's artwork, schoolwork, etc.

___ Discipline my children with care and love.

___ Give lots of reassuring hugs.

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.