Father’s Day during a deployment can be particularly emotional and challenging for families. Here are some ways to celebrate Father’s Day together when he is miles away.
Celebrating holidays during deployments can be difficult and emotional. Feelings of happiness are often replaced with sadness and loneliness.
Missed birthdays, Christmases, graduations, and other important events are all felt differently. Watching the world celebrate on social media is another reminder that your loved one is away.
Father’s Day is no different. As a military spouse, it can be heartbreaking to see how much the kids miss their daddy.
Equally, it’s just as sad knowing my husband is missing out.
Deep down, I just want to celebrate all of the holidays and special occasions with our own traditions. At times, this can make it difficult to enjoy these special days fully.
As a person who has lost their daddy, I want to help my children celebrate theirs.
Even though it is an expected part of military life, missing holidays and special occasions is one of the hardest facets, especially when you have kids.
So, how do you celebrate your spouse, the father of your children, when he is deployed overseas?
You have to get creative and ultimately make the best of the situation.
These are some great ideas to help your spouse feel loved and your children celebrate their hero while they are miles apart.
Send a Father’s Day Care Package
I love sending care packages; it makes me feel like I am sending my husband a little taste of home.
Go shopping with your kids, and let them pick out a Father’s Day gift and their dad’s favorite snacks.
Get creative and decorate the box. This can be a great activity for younger children! Let them personalize it how they wish. Come up with some themed ideas!
Coordinate with your husband. If it works out, it could be really sweet for the children to watch him open the care package!
Related Post:
A Complete Guide for Sending Military Care Packages
Make Homemade Gifts
Celebrating Father’s Day during deployment is a great idea with homemade gifts, especially if you have younger children!
Plan an afternoon for arts and crafts dedicated to their father. Print out a couple of photos, and make some picture frames. Get creative with those popsicle sticks!
This can get your children prepared and excited for Father’s Day.
Tip: Plan this at least a month ahead of time so you have time to send the gifts in a care package.
Write Letters
Have each of your children write a thoughtful letter. Let them personalize it any way they wish.
You can give them the option of sending it in a care package or mailing it.
If they are younger, they may enjoy the entire process of mailing it. Let them seal the envelope, stamp it, and travel to the post office to send it.
Visiting the post office and allowing them to participate in each step may make the experience memorable and carry more weight. As a parent, handmade cards can be the perfect gift.
Tip: Send some letters leading up to Father’s Day. The surprise mail may light him up!
Create a Digital Scrapbook
Think of a paper scrapbook, but digital! This idea can be so much fun, especially if your family has a creative side!
You can easily make a scrapbook at home through a variety of apps. Look into using the Canva app; I use it for so many things.
With the digital scrapbook, you can include special family photos and even drawings done by the kids. Print out a copy of the photo album for the kids!
Schedule a Phone or Video Call
Try your best to schedule a call for Father’s Day. If he is unavailable, be sure to have a backup date and time…
We all know that deployments work on their own schedule, and video calls often get rescheduled.
Send some prerecorded messages to their father. This message could be super sweet to start his day.
It is okay not to celebrate Father’s Day on the actual day.
Plan an Activity During the Call
This can be a sweet activity to celebrate Father’s Day during deployment. It will require some planning on your part.
Talk to your children a few months out. Start developing ideas for an activity they want to share with their deployed dad.
If you have little kids, it may be just as simple as coloring together.
Tip: You will need to have enough time to send your husband the materials so he will have them by Father’s Day
Surprise him with a Man Crate
Many online companies ship man crates. Although less personal, these could be a great option if your children want to pamper their father with a sweet gift.
Make Father’s Day During Deployment Special at Home
Make a special afternoon of it. Bake some cookies or something that reminds them of their daddy.
Pull out some photos, and have story time. Talk about their father and some of their favorite things about him.
Try to get the entire family involved.
Tip: If you’re planning on sending a care package or letters, you can have this special day weeks before.
Support your children
Your children are going to miss their daddy. Acknowledge this and encourage them to express their feelings.
Remember to validate their emotions with positive reinforcement and affirmations.
If you’re living on post, look into military support groups that will be hosting Father’s Day events.
Consider planning an event with other military families and planning special activities for the kids. Getting the kids together can be such a good idea.
Being around other military solo moms during deployments can be a great support network
Related Post: Living Abroad over the Holidays
My thoughts on celebrating Father’s Day During Deployment
I love the idea of Father’s Day because I have so many special memories with my dad. Because of this, I want my children also to experience special memories.
The military requires many sacrifices from service members and their families. Finding ways to celebrate the holidays together while they are gone makes the effort so much sweeter.
Finding a way for the children to celebrate their daddy is important. I think, in a way, this day can be just as important to them as it is to the father.
I would love to hear from you! Has your husband been deployed over Father’s Day? How did your family celebrate it? Do you have any other Happy Father’s Day gift ideas?
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