deployments and attachment disorder

Michelle, I have absolutly no advice for you but wanted to send you and your children hugs:grouphug: Hope someone can give you some adviceas I think that we would all benefit from it Maura.

Hi Michelle! My husband is not usually gone for long periods, but short, frequent trips. Fortunately I work with Family Services at our base and they have been a HUGE help with information. My kids are 6 (Carli) and 8 (Conor). It seems like they take turns on who gets to be upset when Dad is gone. We have had them since infants, so we don't usually see any attachment issues, but my husband and I recently went on vacation without them (first time EVER!) and it was rough on them. I have found that a "flat" daddy will work sometimes (big laminated picture of dad that they can take any where) and we always make "Daddy Pillows" out of a travel pillow and one of Dad's t-shirts. That really seems to help at night. Also, the last long trip, my husband wrote them letters and numbered them (as we don't usually have access to regular mail) for the days that he was gone. Worked for my daughter, but made my son more upset. If you have a Family Readiness Group, or something similar, CALL! They have HUGE amounts of resources available for you. Hope this helps! Tricia

We have been keeping busy with so many activities. From Sunday school to T-ball to pageants to gymnastics. Even with everyday, mundane activities, we involve Daddy. We also made a paperchain. Every day we wonder what he is doing. One thing that the little ones really like to hear is "When the sun is with us, the moon is with Daddy, but we're all still under the same sky.", I came up with this, and it makes it a little easier for them to imagine that Daddy is still real and here. My kids have the seperation anxiety too, as they are being adopted by my DH. It is hard on me realizing that I cannot make this better. For the first time in Motherhood, something is out of my control, and I cannot make it better. But I try, and I live my life to the fullest, because DH would want it that way. God Bless,Tiffany&Co. P.S. PM me if you want any suggestions for projects that we have done!

Thanks for the ideas. We do not have a very strong Family readiness group, but I have made friends with two of the other Army wives and that has been helpful to get information. I tend to shy away from the Army support groups, as the caretaker in me would probally end up with more on my plate than I have. I can honestly say that it actually has been easier than I thought it would be. The hardest part has been the tricare insurance. They really do not have a very good plan for kids with mental illness. I joke with my husband that when he gets home he is going to get a kisss and a hug and I am out of here. Cancun and fruity drinks on the beach sound good to me. Take Care, Michelle

Have you tried Military OneSource for assistance with mental illness treatment? PM me for the website, if you cannot find it through a google search.

Cancun, here we come! LOL! Our "hard" time is usually the 2nd or 3rd week hubby is back... then the "honeymoon" is over and I just want to HEAD OUT! Military One Source is awesome for ALL SORTS of things... ([url="http://www.militaryonesource.com"]www.militaryonesource.com[/url] or 1-800-342-9647). We use alot of their pamphlets in the office and I use them on-line alot at home. Good luck! Keep us updated! :-) Tricia