Military families face stressful times that are unique to the military lifestyle. One of the most challenging situations, both for children and parents, is when a father, mother, or sibling is deployed for military service and must be away from the home. Children often experience sadness, anger, fear, anxiety, and loneliness, and they do not understand their own feelings or know how to express them. This book is designed to help children especially, but also their parents, during such difficult times. Based on many years of experience as a social worker, who has assisted military families experiencing stress, author Beth Andrews has created an excellent tool for allowing children and their loved ones to deal with the many emotions caused by deployment. The text and illustrations encourage children to discuss their feelings and to draw their own pictures to express themselves. The accompanying parents'' guide is designed to validate parents'' feelings and give them ways to help their children cope. Guided by this approach, a parent or caregiver can help their children understand why one of their parents or a sibling had to leave home, identify their reactions, cope with their feelings in a positive way, be assured that they are not alone, and try new activities to help themselves adjust. At a time when military families are asked to make many sacrifices in the service of their country, this reassuring book will be a welcome resource.

Created especially for military kids, this popular journal offers comforting words and a special place to express feelings during the deployment of a parent or any loved one from any service branch. Young journal keepers will find encouragement for difficult days, ideas for healthy activities, and plenty of journaling pages to express their feelings and record experiences through words and pictures. New and updated edition! Fun new design Enhanced writing prompts Ideas for keeping in touch New goal-setting pages New feelings pages Glossary and fun facts about military life

Personal stories, practical ideas, and checklists help readers know what to expect, how to prepare, and how to personally grow as individuals and families. Updated second edition includes new information about longer repeat and multiple deployments, self-care and wellness, and stories and examples from recent conflicts.

A personal journal for anyone who has a loved one deployed with the military. Gentle journal writing prompts and encouraging sayings guide you through deployment and homecoming. Keeping Track section in the back helps you log milestones, communication, and special moments. Textured warm yellow Pellaq cover with yellow ribbon.

Military families are especially vulnerable to tough separations. Now there's an easy-to-follow, practical guide to fun and inexpensive ways for keeping service men and women connected to their families while they're on assignment or deployment. I'm Already Home...Again is an essential tool for military personnel preparing for active duty. The first edition of this work, I'm Already Home, is widely used by over 21,000 families. Now, expanded and updated, this second edition includes special features that make it even more useful and relevant to the unique demands of the military family. I'm Already Home...Again brings you: 152 new ideas along with 62 of your favorites, 75+ new resource websites, Expanded Reunion & Reintegration section, Added chapters for: your extended family, schools, spiritual protection, community and neighborhood services, New and original stories, Same original inspiration! This valuable guide will help lessen the impact of being apart from those you love. Book jacket.

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation â€" their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.