3| Keep the Service Member Involved
It’s not always possible, but whenever you can, try to set it up so your kids have the chance to Skype with or talk with their deployed parent on or near their birthday. My daughter was thrilled when her dad used FaceTime to call her this year when she was having her birthday sleepover party. I would’ve thought she would’ve been a bit embarrassed to have to talk with her dad in front of her friends, but she carried my iPad around for about an hour telling him all the details about everything they had done so far that night.
Then at her family birthday party the next weekend, we coordinated times so he was able to watch when we sang to her and she blew out her candles. I’ve got more pictures of family members holding a FaceTime version of my husband for family events and photos than I care to count, but at least the kids get to still feel as though he’s part of their everyday lives and special celebrations.
My husband and I also always shop “together” via Amazon and FaceTime/Skype. This way we can tell the kids that, yes, their dad did help pick the gift out. It helps remind them that their dad is still thinking about them even though he’s thousands of miles away.
