Christmas Idea for Kids - Kids Coping with Deployment

BTrimm · 12-20-2008, 08:48 AM

Hello! I came up with a great Christmas gift for our kids this year while my DH is deployed and thought I would share. Deployments are sooo hard but having to deal with our own issues and keep the kids feeling safe & happy is definitely one of the hardest part. So we have 2 kids (1 at home and 1 that DH has from previous marriage). I bought 2 LARGE glass jars from Walmart (cheap like $5.00 each) and I am filling them up with Hershey's Hugs & Kisses. 1 for every night of DH's deployment. That way the kids get a hug and kiss from Daddy every night. I put an "average" amount of kisses in there. Will have to keep an eye on them once the time gets closer. But for the kids it gives them #1 a sweet treat

& #2 an actual visual reference. They will actually be able to "see" that the deployment is counting down. The gift will be from "daddy" this year - we are lucky because we actually get him home for Xmas - by a twist of fate - so he'll be able to give them to the kids and tell them what it means. But it's a great idea even if your SO is already gone!
Anyway Merry Christmas. Stay strong. Stay positive!!

eelo · 12-20-2008, 03:13 PM

That's an old Navy spouse method of counting deployment days; been around for about 30 years that I know of. Other similar countdowns include paper chains strung around the room.

Serpentine · 12-21-2008, 08:56 PM

heyyykooolaid · 12-22-2008, 05:13 PM

I had no idea what reindeer food was until the squadron had their Christmas party. Cute idea, but never even heard of it.

bailliesbags · 12-23-2008, 12:17 AM

Or M & M's.

M_Girlfriend · 12-23-2008, 06:50 AM

I'm so going to do that for me! Even though I'm not a kid, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that idea!

12-20-2008, 08:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
BTrimm Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 38 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 1% Longevity: 17%	Christmas Idea for Kids Hello! I came up with a great Christmas gift for our kids this year while my DH is deployed and thought I would share. Deployments are sooo hard but having to deal with our own issues and keep the kids feeling safe & happy is definitely one of the hardest part. So we have 2 kids (1 at home and 1 that DH has from previous marriage). I bought 2 LARGE glass jars from Walmart (cheap like $5.00 each) and I am filling them up with Hershey's Hugs & Kisses. 1 for every night of DH's deployment. That way the kids get a hug and kiss from Daddy every night. I put an "average" amount of kisses in there. Will have to keep an eye on them once the time gets closer. But for the kids it gives them #1 a sweet treat & #2 an actual visual reference. They will actually be able to "see" that the deployment is counting down. The gift will be from "daddy" this year - we are lucky because we actually get him home for Xmas - by a twist of fate - so he'll be able to give them to the kids and tell them what it means. But it's a great idea even if your SO is already gone! Anyway Merry Christmas. Stay strong. Stay positive!!

12-20-2008, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
eelo "Delightfully off course." Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Va Beach Posts: 25,109 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 98% Longevity: 27%	That's an old Navy spouse method of counting deployment days; been around for about 30 years that I know of. Other similar countdowns include paper chains strung around the room. __________________ I proudly make use of the IGNORE feature. If I don't answer your posts, it might just be that you're irrelevant. If you think your fingers are pink.... just wait till you see your poop tomorrow! (jennypage 9/27) Originally Posted by NikkNakk 11/18/09: wow...i cant believe she did that on her thingy

12-21-2008, 08:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Serpentine I know where you blog! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Coast Posts: 7,049 Blog Entries: 2 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 83% Longevity: 18%	__________________ Pssst... NO MORE TICKER Last edited by Serpentine; 03-10-2009 at 07:28 PM.

12-22-2008, 05:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
heyyykooolaid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hill AFB Posts: 1,119 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 23% Longevity: 22%	I had no idea what reindeer food was until the squadron had their Christmas party. Cute idea, but never even heard of it. __________________ "I love you so much baby, I keep thinking about you all day every day, you’re the last thing I think about before I go to sleep. I sleep with your pictures."~DH DH: knowing that you'll be there when I get home is the only thing that is really getting me through this deployment. I cant wait to see your face when I get off that plane. "I love you more than I can put into words Christine. Seriously I have tried and I cant think of anything. My mind draws a blank, there is no word or words to describe how much I really do love you. And I mean that with my whole heart and fiber of my being."~DH

12-23-2008, 12:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
bailliesbags Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: GA Posts: 2,857 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 0% Longevity: 24%	Or M & M's. __________________ [ I www.bailliesbags.com Military Fun Galore www.mymarkstore.com/astephens

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12-23-2008, 06:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
M_Girlfriend Impatiently waiting homecoming. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Me:[Florida] , DF: [Afghanistan] Posts: 3,698 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 85% Longevity: 15%	I'm so going to do that for me! Even though I'm not a kid, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that idea! __________________ DF: "Kinda like rearranging the alphabet and I'm gonna put U and I together" DF: "i got the F the C and the K all i need is U"