When your spouse is about to be deployed, it’s normal to feel a whole range of emotions. You may feel anxious for their safety, sad about their departure, and worried about how you will stay close. Being thousands of miles away from someone makes it difficult to keep in contact, and the more time that passes, the tougher it gets. Fortunately, with the technology of today, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with someone overseas, and Sapphire is proud to offer our portable WiFi device as one solution. With our wireless internet hotspot, your military loved one is able to reach you from even remote locations. Investing in this MiFi device is one way to enhance your communication during deployment. In this blog, we will also go over other ways you can stay in contact with your deployed partner.
Make a Communication Plan
Before your loved one is deployed, make a plan for how you are going to communicate during your time apart. Make sure they have a laptop and phone along with their Sapphire MiFi device so that you have more options. If you can Skype or FaceTime with your spouse, it can make the separation feel a lot more manageable and give you something to look forward to. Keep in mind that your loved one’s availability will likely change often, so make certain you have some kind of plan in place if your Skype time is interrupted for some reason. For example, you could use that time to write them a thoughtful email instead. This is particularly important if you have children, who may have a difficult time understanding why they can’t reach their parent.
Make Mementos
When you are far away from your loved one, a treasured memento can give you comfort in low moments. Before they depart, set aside some time to make mementos for each other. For example, your spouse might record a bedtime story for your children to play before bed. There are also recordable picture frames in which you can record messages of love paired with a beloved photograph. Even something like a well-loved sweatshirt or blanket that smells like them can be a great comfort, especially to your children. Take time to think about how you can recreate the sense of a loved one while you are apart.
Send Care Packages
A care package is called such for a reason: it shows that you care. Make a point to send your partner care packages on a regular basis, and get the whole family involved. Children can make cards or draw pictures, as well as help you pick out what to include. This can help keep their relationship strong despite the time and space. You can also add a photo album to the package so your loved one can see how you have been spending time, keep track of your children’s development, and encourage that feeling of closeness.
Maintain Rituals and Traditions (While Creating New Ones)
When significant events come up, such as holidays or birthdays, it can be particularly painful for military families. You have certain traditions that have always included your spouse, so their absence can feel glaringly obvious in these moments. However, this doesn’t mean you should abandon your traditions altogether. In fact, keeping these in tact will be grounding during difficult moments. At the same time, if things have changed, traditions can change too. Incorporating new rituals into these traditions can help you celebrate the good, new things that have come into your life. For example, if you’ve had to relocate, incorporate some of the new people in your community into your traditions so you can feel connected to your current location.
Stay Busy in Your Routine
This is especially important if you have children. Children thrive off of routine, and when they are facing something as big as their parent being deployed, keeping things consistent will do a lot to help keep them grounded during this tough time. This will help you too, as will keeping busy. Sitting around and worrying about your deployed spouse will do you no good. If you can’t help but worry, do it in a group of other military spouses or people you trust. Make sure you are participating in your life and not just waiting for your loved one to return.
Ask for Help
When your spouse is deployed, you may feel hesitant to ask others for help. After all, you might think that they are off putting their life at risk, so why can’t you handle things here at home? The truth is, having a deployed family member is difficult, whether its figuring out household chores or child care or coping with the many emotions that come with being apart and concerned for their safety. When you are having difficult feelings, voice them to someone you trust. You may find support in other people going through the same thing by reaching out to other military spouses or the liaison officer and asking for resources. Visit the Department of Defense’s website for an abundance of resources, including community therapists that can be reached at any time of day. When things are getting challenging, don’t keep it to yourself; this will only make it harder on both you and your spouse.
Don’t Forget Self-Care
As they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup. When your partner is deployed, your family needs you to be strong, and you can’t do that if you are burning the candle at both ends. You cannot be everything to everyone without replenishing your resources. Whatever works best for you will vary depending on what gives you energy, but in general, make sure you have a good balance of social support and time alone to recharge. Set aside time in your schedule for activities that are just for you.
When you are looking for a way to stay in better touch during deployment, our portable WiFi device can go a long way towards keeping you connected. Learn why our military clients love this handy device by visiting our Military page.