Bobbie O'Brien
Dorie Griggs
Liisa Hyvarinen Temple
Michelle VanHuss
Tracie Ciambotti
Jackie Dorr
Dorie Griggs with her son and daughter during Family Day at Ft. Stewart. Photo by Stanley Leary.
I am the mom of a member of the U.S. Army. My son is deployed right now. Which means I experience a wide array of emotions any given day, sometimes within the span of a few minutes.
Mother’s Day is approaching quickly. Holidays have a way of bringing up the emotions we can hide the rest of the year. Having a child deployed this year I anticipate a few down moments as I approach that day.
I’d like to offer a few suggestions to readers who would like to show support for a military mom this Mother’s Day.
4 Ways to Help a Military Mom
Offer to send a care package to the deployed soldier. Knowing my son receives packages from a variety of friends makes me smile.
If you don’t have the time or money to send a package, offer to contribute to the postage costs, or supplies. Military families spend a lot on postage during the deployment.
Do let the mom of a deployed soldier know you appreciate their service.
Treat the mom of a deployed soldier to a lunch or dinner out, just to chat. Enjoying positive company is a great stress reliever.
3 Things to Avoid with a Military Mom
I love surprises, but not while my son is deployed. If you would like to visit the mom of a deployed soldier call first to let her know you are coming over. An unexpected knock on the door can bring visions of uniformed officers coming to let you know your soldier has been killed. Please don’t put the family of a deployed soldier through that scenario.
Having a deployed son or daughter is stressful. We get through it one day at a time. Making statements like, “I don’t know how you do it.” Is not helpful. We don’t know how we do it either.
Avoid overtly political discussions, unless the parent starts the conversation. Whether you agree or disagree with what is going on does not change the fact that my son is deployed and I worry.
I hope to spend this Mother’s Day with my husband and two children who are still home. Hearing from my deployed son would be a huge bonus.
Filed under: Deployment, Military families, U.S. Army | Tagged: Army Mom Dorie Griggs, deployment, Mothers Day, U.S. Army |
Off The Base 
I understand this mother and his emotions, thougths, timors, as mothers are so ever. When a son is deployed all is enhanced and emotions arrive to be a chronic stress. She, they have all my simpathy and my partecipation. I embrasse them, assuring my prayers and thoughts are for them claudio alpaca
Thank you, Claudio!
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