Deployment is a stressful time for all family members. Preparing yourself for the return of the deployed parent can help ease the stress of this change in everyone's life. Use the checklist below to help you prepare yourself for the deployed parent's return.

As a Parent, I:

___ Realize that mixed feelings about the deployed parent's return are normal.

___ Share my feelings with friends and relatives.

___ Realize that our family might need time and patience to readjust.

___ Realize that our children need to readjust at their own pace and in their own way.

___ Realize that the reunion might not match my dreams.

___ Try to be realistic about my expectations for the homecoming.

___ Realize that everyone in the family, including me, has changed while the deployed parent has been gone.

___ Realize that I have grown in independence while the deployed parent has been away.

___ Realize that if a new family member was born during the deployment, it will take time for the whole family to readjust.

___ Realize that change is stressful for children and adults.

___ Try to make time for myself during this change.

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Deployment is a stressful time for all family members. Preparing yourself for the return of the deployed parent can help ease the stress of this change in everyone's life. Use the checklist below to help you prepare yourself for the deployed parent's return.

As a Parent, I:

___ Realize that mixed feelings about the deployed parent's return are normal.

___ Share my feelings with friends and relatives.

___ Realize that our family might need time and patience to readjust.

___ Realize that our children need to readjust at their own pace and in their own way.

___ Realize that the reunion might not match my dreams.

___ Try to be realistic about my expectations for the homecoming.

___ Realize that everyone in the family, including me, has changed while the deployed parent has been gone.

___ Realize that I have grown in independence while the deployed parent has been away.

___ Realize that if a new family member was born during the deployment, it will take time for the whole family to readjust.

___ Realize that change is stressful for children and adults.

___ Try to make time for myself during this change.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Preparing children for a parent's return during this time of uncertainty can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for preparing children for their deployed parent's return.

As a Parent, I:

___ Help my children count down the days.

___ Tell my children what I can about the deployed parent's return.

___ Allow my children to ask questions and give open and honest answers in words they can understand.

___ Show patience when my children ask the same questions and I repeat the same answers.

___ Encourage my children to share feelings through words, play, drawings, etc.

___ Remind my children that everyone has changed while the deployed parent has been away and that it might take time for everyone to adjust to being together again.

___ Realize that my children might feel and display a variety of emotions during this time.

___ Remind my children that some rules may change once the deployed parent returns.

___ Watch for signs of stress in my children (nightmares; excessive worry; anxiety about being away from home; anxiety about going to school or other activities; stomach aches, headaches; withdrawal; lack of interest; acting out; and sudden changes in eating or sleeping habits).

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Preparing children for a parent's return during this time of uncertainty can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for preparing children for their deployed parent's return.

As a Parent, I:

___ Help my children count down the days.

___ Tell my children what I can about the deployed parent's return.

___ Allow my children to ask questions and give open and honest answers in words they can understand.

___ Show patience when my children ask the same questions and I repeat the same answers.

___ Encourage my children to share feelings through words, play, drawings, etc.

___ Remind my children that everyone has changed while the deployed parent has been away and that it might take time for everyone to adjust to being together again.

___ Realize that my children might feel and display a variety of emotions during this time.

___ Remind my children that some rules may change once the deployed parent returns.

___ Watch for signs of stress in my children (nightmares; excessive worry; anxiety about being away from home; anxiety about going to school or other activities; stomach aches, headaches; withdrawal; lack of interest; acting out; and sudden changes in eating or sleeping habits).

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

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