http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100124/NEWS01/1240301/Montana-model-for-PTSD-detection-to-face-first-major-test
My son just left on another deployment. Great difficulties await his family and all the other families that are facing the same situation. The spouse now has the sole responsibility of caring for the children, taking care of the finances, and maintaining the home. All emergencies are now her sole responsibility. Single parents manage, but the situation is not the same. (Not to make light of single parenting...that is a tough job and I commend all those girls that get it together and make it work!) When husband and wife work together, make decisions on the family together, and with each maintaining their responsibility in the home...there is now a void -- one is missing. The support and strength they received from each other...is now only found in a fleeting phone call at times. Add to that the stress of caring about the safety of the spouse. Add to that the loss the children feel when they know Dad is not going to be home for a long time.
Tim and Huimin prepared for the separation: A dependable car, finances up-to-date, plans for the future made, and things that needed fixing - maintained.
Huimin, just like all the other wives, has already set in motion her plans to keep those home fires burning. In other deployments she got the kids involved in planning for Dad's return. And, she worked on preparing for the future. She then made plans to make it possible to have a time away for rest and relaxation when he returned. They also sent letters. Just those little special letters from Mom and the kids with drawings of the family with (now also the cat) and dog and the heart-felt "I love you" messages are his greatest treasurers. All things aren't perfect, but prayer and Trust in God will get everyone through the days until our loved ones return.
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