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Home › Articles › Holiday: Winter › Deployed During the Holidays

Deployed During the Holidays

Surviving the Holiday Season When a Loved One Is Away

By Gwen Morrison

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Having celebrated holidays in many different states, Counts-Jenkins tries to get together with extended family when possible. "If we don't have family locally, we gather our friends together and celebrate the holidays," she says. "This year, we are having neighbors in for Thanksgiving, along with our son's friend, another Midshipman from the U.S. Naval Academy."

Getting it All Done Alone
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be overwhelming for military spouses to find themselves doing it all alone. Though it isn't always easy, realistic expectations with reachable goals may be the key to keeping it all under control.

The Navy's Lifelines Service Network offered these tips, as provided to them by military spouses, on how to minimize the stress of being a single parent during the holiday season:

  • Avoid Over-spending – The temptation to compensate for an absent parent may be to overindulge your children. Don't! A reasonable number of gifts and a special letter from the absent parent are worth so much more.
  • Avoid Over-scheduling – Plan activities at home that are simple and fun – making ornaments, cookies or cards together. Play festive music, cuddle together in front of a favorite holiday video and take time to reminisce about holiday traditions when you were your children's ages.
  • Avoid Isolation – It's important to remember that you're not alone. You may be lucky enough to have extended family nearby, but it's more likely that you don't. Reach out to other families in your situation. Invite them to join you for a holiday meal, and make it potluck, so you don't feel pressured to do it all.
  • Stay in Touch With the Deployed Parent
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