My husband is on deployment, how do i deal with the upcoming holidays?

Me and my 3 young children will be spending the holidays without my husband this year. This will be the first year without him. The children are upset that daddy will not be home for christmas. Please can someone give me some ideas on how to make their christmas a little better for them?My husband is on deployment, how do i deal with the upcoming holidays?
when my husband was deployed last year and missed the holidays the kids and i had a deployment tree put up along with our other tree...i had the kids decorate it with yellow ribbons, yellow lights and a big yellow bow on top for the toppers...we kept it up until he got home...also the kids went out and bought him christmas presents and helped wrapped them and they sat under the deployment tree...i also had them make cookies for all the guys in my husbands company....





we were also very involved in our frg and that helped having someone to talk to during the holiday times...if it's possible you can go home and be with family for the holidays that would help take the kids minds off the sad fact that dad isn't there..





also another idea is to make a ';daddy chain'; from paper and everyday have the kids pull a link off the chain that way they can see that the time is getting shorter til daddy comes home...





good luck and remember you're not alone...we've all gone thru this one time or another and we as military wives will always help each other out....My husband is on deployment, how do i deal with the upcoming holidays?
Have the family (all that can make it) come to your house and have a party. Get a video camera, film everyone having a good time and wrapping Dad's gifts, saying ';I Love You'; on the tape, everyone leave him a personal message on it and them make a copy and mail him one!





This will help get the kids minds off of it as they will be talking to Dad via the camera. Do some arts/crafts with the kids for presents for Dad to.
Involve them in sending gifts to their dad. Let them help you bake cookies to send to him. Do arts and crafts projects they can make to send to him.
if you can spend time with other families who are also in the same boat as yourself. there are strength in numbers. a pot luck will work because no one has to do too much work. and you won't be alone which is the most important thing. and if you can try to take a drive home for x-mas so you can spend time with your family. good luck.
The holidays are the most stressful time for both the deployed Soldier and the family. Check with your FRG and see if there are any other families that will be spending the holidays alone. If so, set up a potluck dinner.





When your husband calls, try not to dwell on not being together. Sound upbeat, like, this is only one year we won't be together, we will have the rest of our lives together. It is a very hard thing to do, but they are just as sad at being away from the family as you are with them gone.





For the kids, some of our families bought a flat daddy and had him ';home'; for the holidays. http://flatdaddies.com/about


The kids can take him out to dinner, have a life size daddy at dinner, things like that.





Ask your husband if there is something special he would like to get each child, go out and buy it and be sure they know that daddy ';bought'; it just for them. Have each child buy something special for dad and if they are old enough, let them wrap it.





If you have a camcorder, video them giving him a special holiday message. He can do the same. Someone always has a camcorder that he can use.





If you live on base or near one, invite a few Soldiers over for Christmas dinner. The men and women that have no place to go or can't go because they have duty, will appreciate it.





There is a family in our area that when their son came home on leave, they did Thanksgiving one day, Christmas the next - tree and wrapped presents, Easter with an Easter egg hunt and 4th of July. They even bought fireworks.





It will be hard, but you and the kids will make it through the holidays. Try to keep you and the kids busy.
My husband has missed several holidays and birthdays over the last 15yrs. I understand how you feel but this is all part of it. If possible I would go spend the holidays with your family. Having other people around helps because you are distracted and busy. If spending time with family is not possible then it's up to you do follow the routine that you would follow if your husband were home. YOU can't let them see that you are upset.


Also you could take a fun trip if possible. Good luck. You can do it!
Wow never thought i would address a question like this. However i will try even if i fail miserably.


Dealing with the holidays as a spouse of Military is never easy and you will always get out of it at least what you put in and usually more. The Military spouse is a large portion of the Military family and a God send for all Soldiers.


As lame as it may sound hook up with other Familys with much the same situation and maybe some cell phone calls that kinda thing (never had them when i was in) Pictures as a reminder are always good and a talk and a prayer about what and where daddy is and what he is doing ( not the gory stuff but the defending innocent people might work) Cry at night be strong by day and lean on your friends and neighbors that understand.


I am sure this is not as much help as you wished but is a spot to start.


God bless you your Husband and your family !





When he comes home Thank him for all he does and thank you for all you do.


Rob
this is the best ? I have seen on y/a! My husband is also deployed but we do not have children it has to be horrible on your children. I really don't have an answer for you but I do wish you the best. I will keep your family in my prayers.
They do this thing at the MWR, it is when your husband could read a story and they would record it to a dvd and send it to you, he could put message in it, say whatever he wants, you could also do the same. But I think you said that you do not live by a base, maybe you could use a video camera? Or you could use a voice recorder and sing christmas songs to him? Good luck, I am sorry you guys will be alone, I know how that feels, but I am on the other side! Oh, also send lots of pictures!
Take them to disney world


Have a birthday Party for Jesus


Get them a puppy
strength in numbers! i feel very strong about the family support groups, they are wonderful, while the parents need support, the children also need support, and being with other kids who are going through the same thing at times like this help more than you know. find out about your husbands units support group, if there isnt one, talk to some other wives and see about starting one, no better time than the present! God bless your husband and your family, best wishes to all of you! thank you all for your service!





ASmiles, awesome answer !!! and thank you for your service.
Hopefully you are involved in one of the many organizations such as the Army's FRG (Family Readiness Group) all branches of service have these groups for all units. These groups help you and your family endure the separation by providing trips, babysitting, video conferences, just to name a few. These groups have also direct contact with the deployed personnel. The group is fully funded, and has, or can get just about anything possible that you and you kids may need while your spouse is deployed. The sad part about it, these groups are not being used mainly because lack of volunteers. Contact your FRG, get involved, you will find that it will make the time separated a lot easier, and use the benefits that Congress gave you and your family, instead of letting them go to waste.