Posted on Apr 17, 2015
When veterans return, their children also deal with the invisible wounds of war
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When veterans return, their children also deal with invisible wounds of war ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/when-veterans-return-their-children-also-deal-with-invisible-wounds-of-war/2015/04/16/df161026-cd7a-11e4-a2a7-9517a3a70506_story.html?hpid=z2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/when-veterans-return-their-children-also-deal-with-invisible-wounds-of-war/2015/04/16/df161026-cd7a-11e4-a2a7-9517a3a70506_story.html?hpid=z2
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Children
Children
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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No question GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad they do, and that we have the easier job. While deploying is main effort, and the focus, it is also easier from my point of view. I don't think I could do what my wife (of 32 years) and my kids have done; stay home, drive on, keep a stiff upper lip, wait, and worry. Clearly, it takes a toll on us service members, but our families bear huge burden as well, for which we can never repay.
They have their own issues too, and then they have to deal with us. They try to act like nothing changes, or they aren't affected, but they are. My daughter had anxiety attacks routinely when I was in Somalia, and although they were older the next 5-6 times... I know it still was a huge burden on all of them.
They have their own issues too, and then they have to deal with us. They try to act like nothing changes, or they aren't affected, but they are. My daughter had anxiety attacks routinely when I was in Somalia, and although they were older the next 5-6 times... I know it still was a huge burden on all of them.
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My organization, Project Sanctuary, fully understands how war / the military lifestyle / deployments / etc. affect children. That's why our programming is for the entire family - not just the service member or veteran. When one person in a family serves - the whole family serves and cannot escape the impact and unintended consequences.
To learn more about Project Sanctuary, visit http://www.projectsanctuary.us and contact me if you have any questions.
To learn more about Project Sanctuary, visit http://www.projectsanctuary.us and contact me if you have any questions.
Home page for the Project Sanctuary website
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Leaving loved ones behind is always hard. When your child is too young to even too young to understand where you are going and why you are leaving, it is rough.
Everybody brings baggage back from overseas. Some is harder to deal with than others. However, children are more resilient than most give them credit for. Speaking from experience, my oldest daughter dealt with my return from Afghanistan on my first tour rather well. My wife tells me I was a little easier to set off than normal, but we adjusted. But, I didn't deal with many of the factors that cause the issues addressed in this article.
Children will eventually come to understand some of these factors, and a strong family front will go a long way. Some people have a hard time talking with their spouse about these issues, and I strongly encourage those people to start talking. You don't have to go it alone.
Great article, by the way.
Everybody brings baggage back from overseas. Some is harder to deal with than others. However, children are more resilient than most give them credit for. Speaking from experience, my oldest daughter dealt with my return from Afghanistan on my first tour rather well. My wife tells me I was a little easier to set off than normal, but we adjusted. But, I didn't deal with many of the factors that cause the issues addressed in this article.
Children will eventually come to understand some of these factors, and a strong family front will go a long way. Some people have a hard time talking with their spouse about these issues, and I strongly encourage those people to start talking. You don't have to go it alone.
Great article, by the way.
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