By using these tips and accessing the best resources, you and your family can ensure your Service member’s homecoming will be as smooth as possible.
When your Service member returns home from deployment, it can be an exciting, joyous time. Your family is back together, and your loved one has arrived home safely. But a reunion can also be challenging. You may be worried about how much your Service member has changed during the deployment or you may be unsure of how to reconnect after such a long time.
Check out these tips from Military OneSource and Military Wellness to learn how to ease the transition, navigate the adjustments, and make your Service member’s homecoming as smooth as possible.
- Expect mixed emotions. In addition to the joy and excitement, you may also experience several other emotions that come as a surprise. You may be nervous about reuniting with your loved one. You may worry about how your Service member’s homecoming will affect the new routines and independence you’ve established. Your Service member may be too overwhelmed to show the emotions you’d hoped for. If everyone expects to experience a wide range of emotions, they may be easier to manage.
- Set realistic expectations. It’s easy to get let down if you set your expectations too high. So much can affect your reunion – Your Service member’s flight might be late. Your young kids may act shy instead of full of joy as everyone imagined. Your Service member may be too exhausted to appreciate the signs you made. Don’t put too much pressure on the first few moments together.
- Communicate ahead of time. It’s important to communicate about what everyone is expecting for the homecoming. You and your family may be planning a big party with tons of people, but your Service member may need a quieter evening with fewer people instead. You and your friends may have several activities planned for the first few days, but your Service member may need time to rest. Communicate how you want to handle those first few days, so everyone is on the same page.
- Give yourselves time. It may take days, weeks, or even months to settle back into a routine. Life has gone on for everyone, routines and roles have changed, and everyone, including children, will need time and space to readjust. For example, you and your partner may feel out of sync romantically. Children may feel tense or shy. Your Service member may feel sad about what he or she has missed while away. Take your time and share your feelings throughout this readjustment period.
- Keep routines the same. A homecoming will mean more change for your family, so keeping established routines in place can provide everyone with stability and consistency. When your Service member returns home, discuss the routines you’ve put in place and figure out how to ease them back into your family’s day-to-day life.
- Watch your spending. When a deployment is over, many families like to celebrate and make up for lost time with parties, gifts, shopping, or vacations. Enjoy the reunion, but try to stay within a budget that works for your family. There are lots of inexpensive or free ways to celebrate together, like picnics, local activities, and more.
- Take care of yourselves. Between the emotional and physical toll the deployment has taken on all of you, it’s important to take care of your health and wellness. Your Service member may have trouble sleeping or connecting with others upon return. You may be exhausted and overstimulated by all the tasks you’ve had to take on during the deployment. Be sure to incorporate activities into your day that help support your mental and physical health during this adjustment period. Find time to exercise, give yourself enough rest, visit your health care provider for routine care, and limit your use of alcohol or other substances that may suppress your feelings.
- Seek support. Reintegration can be a difficult time, and you don’t have to go through it alone. Lean on other military families, trusted friends, or your religious community. In addition, consider accessing counseling or professional mental health support to get on track. Check out the resources below to get started.
Resources
TRICARE – Your TRICARE plan has several services that can help you stay balanced in both mind and body. Take advantage of preventative care, mental health services, and more.
Military Crisis Line – The Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource for all Service members, including members of the National Guard and Reserve, and Veterans. If you or a loved one is going through mental health-related distress, dial 988 and press 1. You can call, chat, or text with a trained counselor 24/7.
Military OneSource Confidential Counseling – Military OneSource counselors are available for free, short-term, confidential counseling for a wide range of issues, including managing deployments, coping with grief or loss, and more. Sessions take place in person, over the phone, or via secure video or online chat. Military OneSource also offers several resources related to returning from deployment, including guides, articles, and more.
By using these tips and accessing the best resources, you and your family can ensure your Service member’s homecoming will be as smooth as possible.