After the Welcome Home: Tips for Military Families When Warriors Return

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Apr 24, 2013, 02:46 ET

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Although homecomings are a time of great joy, they are also a time of adjustment for military families. Reunions may be particularly confusing for children, who may be unsure of what to do or how to react.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130424/PH01072 )

Fortunately, military families don't have to face this transition alone. The Real Warriors Campaign (www.realwarriors.net) offers support for military families throughout the deployment cycle.

Campaign volunteer Sheri Hall, an Army wife who has supported her husband through a 20-year career and multiple deployments while raising two daughters, shares her experiences and offers advice for helping families through transitions.

"The whole family is feeling relief and excitement," Hall said. "Sometimes it can be hard to admit that there's a level of stress there too. Really, it all comes down to communication – create opportunities to talk, let your kids know that you are there for them, and find out what they want or need from you. Above all, be willing to listen to what they have to say."

Children may react differently, depending on their age, to a parent's homecoming and the feelings they experience. The tips below can help parents navigate homecomings and help their children cope with complex emotions.

Dos and Don'ts for Reconnecting with Children After Deployment

Younger Children (ages 1 to 5)
	DO	Give them time to warm up
		Sit or kneel at their level
		Listen to what they tell you
		Find out their new interests
		Play together when the time is right

	DON'T	Force hugs or playtime
		Rush them into trusting you

School-Age Children (ages 5 to 12)
	DO	Allow them to brag about you
		Spend time reviewing school work, pictures, scrapbooks, etc.
		Praise them for their accomplishments during your deployment

	DON'T	Criticize past negative behaviors

Teenagers (ages 12 to 18)
	DO	Listen with undivided attention
		Have respect for their privacy and friends
		Encourage them to share what has happened while you were deployed

	DON'T	Force them into spending time with you
		Encourage their disinterested and disrespectful behavior
		Criticize new interests or friends

For tools on how to communicate and respond to younger children during reintegration, visit the Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployment, Homecomings, Changes"
(http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/). To help ease the transition for older children, visit Military OneSource, "Helping School-Age Children Deal with Your Deployment"
(http://www.militaryonesource.mil/phases-family-life?content_id=266638).

Visit the Real Warriors Campaign online at www.realwarriors.net for more tools, tips and resources to help military families cope with transitions, or contact the DCoE Outreach Center by calling 866-966-1020 to talk with trained health resource consultants for assistance 24/7.

When warriors return: helping military families reconnect at realwarriors.net

SOURCE The Real Warriors Campaign