Family who are away at war- how do you cope?

Australia
May 6, 2008 7:35am CST
How do you cope when your family members are away at war? Do you have any special rituals to help you cope? What about Christmas or birthdays? What do you tell your kids? How do you help the little ones remember their family member? Has having a family member on the front line changed your opinion on the war? The reason I ask these questions is here in Australia we see news reports about American political opinion, but I want to know how it affects families. I can't imagine how I would cope if my husband was away. I would miss him so much & the kids are so young I don't know how I would help them to understand.
1 response
• United States
29 Oct 08
My husband left for extra training four months ago. He has been out of country only a few weeks. He will not return until Sept 2009. I was fine until he left the country. I can't claim that I am coping. Every day is just a battle to make it through. He speaks differently over the phone now. There is very little information he is even allowed to tell me. We have two daughters, 5 and 10 months. The baby doesn't seem to be affected; however, the five year old is having problems in school and with her behavior. There is not a justifiable reason for the U.S. to be in Iraq. We initially went to Afganistan to retaliate on the people that attacked the World Trade Center and our Pentagon. The initial fight in Afganistan was over in a matter of weeks. Then our brilliant leader decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to settle a score with his pal Saddam. Since entering Iraq, Afganistan is worse than ever and our soldiers are having to return to fight in a much more dangerous Afganistan than before. I never agreed with the U.S. invading Iraq. Never. Obviously I have some anger over the issue. I always have, but it is now affecting me severely on a daily basis. Honestly, this morning I was wondering if I will make it through my husband's deployment without having a mental breakdown and ending up on medication.