Post-Deployment: Returning to Routine
What to Expect
As time passes, military families become accustomed to their new routines and learn to cope with the separation. After a few bumps along the way - missed phone calls, family emergencies, and long-distance challenges - eventually, the time comes for the service member to come home.
Returning home can present a whole new set of challenges for a military family. Established routines are disrupted. The service member may have difficulty reconnecting with the family, and the spouse may not want to give up the responsibilities he or she has taken on.
What to Do
During this stage, it is important for families to take it slowly and become reacquainted with each other. For spouses, communication is extremely important during this period. It's vital to clearly communicate what role changes have occurred during deployment and discuss what changes should be made now that the service member is home.
The post-deployment phase may pose special challenges for children. Younger children may not remember the service member as their parent. Older children may require a lot of attention, while teenagers may appear to not even care that the parent has returned home. Let children set their own pace. In time, the comfort of having mom or dad back home will return.
Last Modified:January 25, 2010
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