Daploying Husband

I am a photographer and belong to an awesome organization called Operation Love ReUnited. We donate our time to military families by offering up to two free photo sessions a year and sending a free photo book to the deployed military member. You can then purchase any photos you want but are under no obligation to do so. Anything in addition to this is up to the individual photographer. I have given kids photo dog tags that they can wear like daddy or their own books for free as well. Just depends on the family and your individual photographer. If you are interested to see if there is a photographer in your area just check www.oplove.org and enter your zip code. I am a former military wife and can totally relate. That's why this is such a passion for me to give back! Tell your husband THANK YOU!

Here is the PBS link that has a lot of stuff
http://www.pbs.org/parents/cominghome/resources.html
and here
http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/index.php
Here is the link for getting the whole video through military one source. I am not sure the link will work so here is the phone 1-800-342-9647 just ask about the elmo deyployment video.

https://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/mos/display.aspx?...
www.militaryonesource.com was a great place for me to get started when my husband deployed.

Here is the daddy doll
http://www.hugahero.com/index.php

please let me know if any of these links don't work or you need any thing else. Good luck. Make sure you also have your support lined up!!

Hello D.-
Welcome to the "deployed husband club"- my hubby has been gone about 6 months (2nd tour) and we have a little one (h'e just a toddler though). But as far as your questions, the Elmo dvd you should be able to get on post- I am not sure if the USMC is the same as the Army, but if you have some type of "Family Readiness Group (FRG)" they should be able to give it to you for Free, or I know you can contact Military OneSourse (800-342-9647 or www.militaryonesource.com), They will have a ton of deployment prep stuff for you and your son. It is amazing how much stuff is out there, you just need to know how to find it. I dont know about the daddy doll, but my husband made me and my son a Build-a-Bear with a voice chip, so we can her his voice all the time when you squeeze the bear- my son loves that and its nice for me too.
Hope some of this helps, let me know if you have anymore questions.
Take care and good luck, spend as much time with your husband now and enjoy it all!!!

my husband was deployed when our son was a baby, but he was 2 and 1/2 when my husband returned. The best thing I did was take videos of his dad before he left, and then my husband also sent some homemade videos of himself. make sure they talk a lot on the phone and that you get a web cam as well. Take lots of pictures of them together and put them in your sons room and all around the house. oh yah and when he comes home on leave make it a really big deal and take lots of videos and pictures of that too. talk to your family readiness leader about the elmo video or call military one source. if you need anything else you can reply back to me and I'll give you my email address. good luck!

You have gotten some good suggestions. My husband is in the Navy and we have one more deployment before he gets out. The fourth in four years. We have a 5 year old and a one year old. Make sure you talk to your son and explain that daddy will be gone for a long time. We like the dvds of daddy reading to the kids. Make sure you have a good support system. Make sure you have someone who can take your son when you need some time for yourself. I know that I get WAY more stressed when my husband is gone and that isn't good for the mom or the kids. You need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your kid. Good luck! I feel your pain!

Here is the websiote for the Daddy Doll, they also have other items as well. http://www.hugahero.com/dollOrder.php

There is also something called Flat Daddies, they are lifesize photos of your hubby. Here is the link for that.
http://flatdaddies.com/

I know how hard it can be to be a part of a military family, my hubby is in the USAF. I haven't had a deloyment since before my girls were born, but my husband is away a lot for training. What really helps my daughter, 3 y/o, is to have a picture of daddy in her room. I also have him record a message and send it to my phone so that she can see it whenever she wants. Sometimes when he is unable to talk we record messages for him. A lot of bases oversees have webcams so that your husband can chat with you online, sights like yahoo, and you can see him as well. They also have headsets with microphones so sometimes you can hear them over the computer. I would suggest getting a webcam for yourself so hubby can see you guys. The best advice I can give is to stay busy, it helps the time pass fastly. I hope this helps, good luck.

You can go to the Family Support Center on base or FRG if you guys are army and they can get the DVD for you. They also have many programs to help kids deal with deployment as well as spouses. Our last base even had give parents a break where you would get a saturday that you could drop off your kids at the CDC and have some down time. That would be a good start. Also there is a website Military.com that has links to the DVD and other great ideas for military families. Those resources helped our family hope it helps yours. Good luck to you all and may your husband be safe and go with God.

We are not military, but I found these books. One for deployment and one for returning home for kids. Looks interesting.

http://www.completebook.com/cbmsi/viewItem.do?isbn=WESERV...

This was actually written by a family friend.

Why not make a video of your husband. He can read stories for bedtime, give fatherly advice and stay close in a far away land. Your son will not forget what he looks like and be anxious to reattach when your husband returns.

Let me email my friend about the daddy doll...Reply back to me to remind give me a reminder to email you with the info..

R.