Keep in touch during holidays

 By: Sarah Steward, MS*

It’s hard enough to feel connected to your Military Service Member when you’re separated by a PCS, deployment, training, or other TDY. And it’s especially tough during the holidays, birthdays, or anniversaries when being with loved ones is important to many people. The good news is that there are lots of things you can do to help make those days a little easier for your Warfighter.

Plan ahead!

• Mail cards and gifts early, so there’s plenty of time for them to get there close to the holiday or special event.
•  Try scheduling a series of emails and e-cards to go out on the day(s) you want them to be received, so if you’re busy or something comes up at the last minute, you know your Warfighter will still get your messages.

Be flexible.

• There are many different ways to stay connected. Be patient until you figure out which one works best. Or use them all!
• It’s great to schedule a call or video chat in real time to help you feel like you’re all together on a special day. But remember schedules change and technology might not always be reliable, so be prepared to adjust the time or communication method as needed.

Share the moment.

• Even if you can’t be together in person, try emailing pictures of important holiday traditions and events to your Warfighter. Though it can be a tough reminder of what’s happening back home, it’s still a nice way to share the love and help him or her feel included.
•  Ask friends and extended family members to send texts or well wishes to your Military Service Member. Even if those particular people aren’t usually part of the festivities, their warm greetings can give your Warfighter that extra special feeling.

It can take a lot of effort to keep your family members close to your heart, even if they’re far away. So for extra inspiration, HPRC asked some military families to share what made getting through those special days a bit easier. Check out what they had to say in the video below.

                                                                  ---------- About the Author ----------
Sarah Steward, of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, is a Social Health Scientist for the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Disclosures: The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of USUHS or DoD. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. Mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The author has no financial interests or relationships to disclose.

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