my husband is ANG out of mass. and deploys in August. I know that the baby wont notice but right now he's at AT and our 2 year old Kaidan is throwing fits on a daily basis ( I think partly because it's just me and he feels like he gets less attention ) have any of you faced telling your toddler something like this? I have no idea if we should even say anything or how to do it...and this is my first deployment and I don't even know how to handle it myself. needless to say I'm losing it a little
advice pleaseeee
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Re: deployment advice
You should try going to Militaryonesource.com and see if there any other advice or tools that could help.
but theres also this... Sesame Street : Talk, Listen, Connect
https://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/Topic/Issue/Material.aspx?MaterialTypeID=1&MaterialID=15854
DS was 15 months old when DH left. He didn't really understand that DH was leaving, but he understood that DH wasn't there. For a good 2 weeks, DS would watch the door around the time DH was supposed to be home looking for him. After a little while, he adjusted.
He deployed again when DS was around 2.5. We told him that daddy had to go away for a little while, but we could talk on the phone and webcam. It was another adjustment, but DS did okay. When DH came home, DS was really excited and kept asking, "Hey daddy. Do you want to come to our house and stay with us?" It was too cute.
This is always my go to answer, but do you have a routine?
If you do make sure there is some one on one Mommy/ Toddler time. I noticed a big difference with my 3 when I started giving them each just 15 minutes of their own time. It isn't easy to work it, but its worth it.
Also, its a pretty normal age for your kid to go from little baby wonderful to raging PITA (sad but true). Its a tough age especially when you go it alone.
Good Luck.
you can also check out FOCUS
and MOPS
You also titled it ANG (are you talking Army or Air national guard?) If its Army I have some more information I can give you.
GL!
OH - and if you have family near by that can take your LO for an hour or so DO IT! It will make such a difference in your ability to continually handle the stress during the deployment and it will give your LO some ME time with family/ friends.
I dont know if this will help, but some ladies in my FRG were talking about ''daddy dolls" its a little doll almost like a stuffed animal that they screen print a picture of daddy on. That way the child can bring daddy everywhere.. to daycare, to play, and to bed.
https://www.hugahero.com/