Deployment TipsterWhile They're Away

Deployment: Celebrating In Advance | Tip #22

Photo of Megan Egerton ><span class=Megan Egerton Send an email July 17, 2014
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If you have the luxury of knowing when your family member is going to be away do special things in advance. Today we are carving our pumpkins as my husband is going to be away for Halloween. It will not matter to our kids if our pumpkins rot in the meantime, they just want to continue the tradition of the seasons as a family.

Prioritizing Family Time

There are a million other things that both my husband and I should be doing today but out of those million, there is only one thing that is of the utmost importance – time with family. If there is some sort of anniversary, birthday, holiday or celebration do your best to squeeze it in before they leave.

It is not the date that is important but the traditions and time you spend together as a family.

Separated on Valentine’s Day? Why not celebrate before the deployment. Maybe it is going out for a romantic dinner, ordering in a take away dinner or lunch or making a meal – the choice is up to you on how you would like to celebrate the occasion.

Occasions to Celebrate

Here are some things that you could organize before the deployment:

  • Pumpkin carving
  • Thanksgiving dinner
  • Christmas gift exchange or dinner
  • A birthday
  • An anniversary
  • An Easter egg hunt
  • If your family usually has a Christmas party in December and they are leaving in October have it anyway! Then you can go to other people’s and relax and eat their food during the busy Christmas season!
  • Valentine’s Day – plan a romantic dinner, or evening in. Write each other a Valentine card.

Whatever the special time for your family, celebrate it in advance so that you remind each other of what is important – family.

Photo of Megan Egerton ><span class=Megan Egerton Send an email July 17, 2014
0 1 minute read
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Photo of Megan Egerton

Megan Egerton

Megan Egerton Graham is the author and creator of the While You Were Away www.whileyouwereaway.org series of books and programs. She has taught every grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. Her specialists are in Guidance (Deployment) and Special Education (Behaviour). She has been a guidance counselor for several years and now works as a Principal for the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. Megan has taught on military base schools and is a military wife and mother of two. Her husband continues to be an active member of the Canadian forces. She has also written a Deployment Handbook and Reunion Handbook for the Canadian Forces and continues to work with Military Resource and Readiness Centers, social workers, deployment support co-ordinators and school liasions both in Canada and the US. She travels around North America providing support to schools, military bases and personnel working with Military families. She is continuing to write books to strengthen and develop resilency within military families. For more information about her blogs, books and resources go to: www.whileyouwereaway.org To submit a tip write to [email protected].

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