With so many in the military deployed around the world including Iraq and Afghanistan, many military spouses are left waiting for the day their deployed soldier makes it home. It can be great for both partners for the spouse to come home, but it can also generate problems in your marriage. So for those of you looking forward to going home or waiting expectantly for them to come home, here are some tips to help you make the homecoming a good event and not a troubling one.
- Accept that you have been apart for a long time and that things may be different for the two of you
- Treat the first night home like a first date, take the time to become reacquainted with each other
- Avoid rushing it, you can’t make up for the time you spent apart all in one go
- Recognize that you may have both changed
- Intimacy may be a little difficult at first
- Make sure to schedule quality time with your children, together and individually
- Be ready to help younger children make the adjustment to having their other parent return
- Expect your extended family to visit
- Don’t try to arrange and schedule everything for your spouse, part of adjustment is letting them set the tone
How do you cope with your military spouse coming home from a deployment?
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