Mother’s Day. In our quest for normalcy, it is easy to forget that there are fathers and mothers in Iraq, and in the almost forgotten war in Afghanistan, who would prefer to be with their children at home than where they are. If you know a mother or father who won’t be home for the holiday, send them a card or an email.
Stories are now emerging of the problems returning veterans encounter when returning to home to children they have never met. In my personal case, I returned from Vietnam to a three-month old son. I recently heard of a soldier who came home to an eighteen-month old child who would have nothing to do with him. Coming home to friends and family is jarring in itself: coming home to young children, or children of any age, amplifies the re-entry issues.
If you know a veteran with children–whether that veteran is a mother or father, send a card or make a call to let him or her know that you are glad they are home. If you suspect there are issues at home, let them know they have a friendly, non-judgmental, person they can talk to. Believe me, they will need to talk to someone outside of their family circle.