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Your significant other has just come back from a long period of deployment. This can be an exciting time for both you and your spouse. A military reunion can be one of the most joyful situations for the family. However, there are also difficulties involved in having a reuniting with your loved one. For the family member who stayed at home, life has gone on and they’ve done their best to keep the family moving forward after a parent’s deployment. The family member returning from the combat zone may have a different perspective on life compared to before they left. Though children are happy, they may be stressed out about the change. How can you best handle a military reunion?
Take it one step at a time
Accept the positive feelings, but have no real expectations about what life will be. The most stressful aspect is when a situation does not live up to your expectations.
Make time to celebrate
Everyone wants to celebrate. Focus completely on the joy of having your spouse back. Plan something special for your spouse and your family.
Offer support
Being deployed is rough. Stay poised and calm within and you’ll be able to offer the strength that your partner may need. Accept your partner with open arms. If your partner is having a difficult time transitioning, don’t take it personally. Accept the situation as it is.
Help your partner into daily rituals
Have breakfast, lunch and dinner during the same time in the day. Offer a firm, but flexible schedule. Be open to talking with your partner whenever he or she feels like it. Just be open and accepting of the situation and go with the flow.
Talk with your children
Ask your children how they are feeling about mommy or daddy being home from deployment. Work out any solutions to the problems that they might be experiencing.
