• Home
  • Categories
    • Pregnancy
    • Parenting
      • Baby
    • Fashion
    • Reviews
    • Lifestyle
    • Beauty
    • Deployment Diaries
    • Blog Tips
    • Travel
  • WHAT MY KID WORE
    • What My Kid Wore
  • CONTACT
A UK Pregnancy, Parenting and Lifestyle Blog
September 13, 2016

Deployment: Tips On How To Cope

deployment-tips

1. KEEP BUSY!!

This has to be the biggest and best tip out there. It seems like such an obvious one but it’s easy to find yourself staring at the walls sometimes and letting sad and lonely thoughts creep back in. Fill up that diary. Say yes to as many offers to go out and meet up with people as possible. And when you don’t have anything on, go out and fill your days up yourself. I’ve been on quite a few coffee and lunch dates with just the toddler and it’s fine! It’s always better to get out of the house for a bit.

2. Make time for yourself

Regardless of whether your days are filled up with looking after the kids, work, or anything else, always make sure to make time for yourself. Whether it’s going and getting your hair or nails done, getting into a really good book you’ve been meaning to read for ages, starting a home DIY project or just starting a really good box set, everyone needs an outlet and a bit of me time.

3. Plan fun things for when your deployed partner is back home

I find that having things to look forward to once the husband is back is such a motivation and drive to get through all the rubbish days you have whilst you’re in the middle of a deployment. Make lists of new pubs and cafes to try out, places to visit or if you’re feeling super adventurous, start planning future holidays. We’re hoping to go on a ‘re-do’ of our honeymoon next year when the husband is back (our first involved food poisoning, dodgy weather and half the all inclusive hotel being closed due it being the first week of ‘off season’).

4. Use your friends

That sounds bad and worded wrong! What I mean is when they offer to help out, take them up on the offer if you need it. They are your friends for a reason and will genuinely want to help out where they can. If they want to take you out for dinner, go! If they’re happy to babysit the kids to give you a bit of time to yourself, let them! If they want to come round and keep you company with a take away, say yes!

5. Talk to others in the same (excuse the pun if you are a Navy ‘WAG’ like me…) boat

The internet is a wonderful thing and if you are not on a marriage patch or don’t have friends who are military WAGs as well, then use Facebook etc to connect with other people going through the same thing. You never know, you might even find someone who’s partner is deployed in the same place as yours. As much as non military friends try to help, they’re lucky enough to not ever be able to ‘get it’ fully, so it’s good to have some contact with others who really do know, and understand, the feelings and experience you’re going through.

If you’re going through or have been through a deployment, then feel free to add your tips below!

SHARE:

You Might Also Like

The last week of deployment

It’s Midnight : Deployment Diaries

The Pre Deployment Leave Conundrum

What not to to say to someone going through a deployment


14 comments so far.

Welcome

Welcome

A twenty-something, full time working, mum of two, with a love for all things cat, cacti and scandi related.

“BiBs
BritMums

YOUTUBE

Archives

SEARCH

Categories

NETWORKS

TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100

ASSOCIATIONS

SnuzMomma _Blogger stamp medela-mum-badge-2016-2
  • ABOUT
  • DISCLAIMER
  • Categories
    • Pregnancy
    • Parenting
    • Reviews
    • Weekend Tot Style
  • WORK WITH US
  • SHOP

thismamalife

Working mum to 2 👦🏼👧🏼
Wanderer/Military Wife 🌍
💌 sarah@thismamalife.com
💻 thismamalife.com
📽 YT: thismamalife
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Find me here!👇🏻

Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫 Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫
‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in c ‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in creating a better world for our children.’ - Nelson Mandela ❤️
It’s not enough though, is it? We’ve always h It’s not enough though, is it?

We’ve always had diverse toys in our house (not enough, but I’m working on it ❤️), but when questioned ‘why do you buy your kids Black dolls?’, I’ve faltered and answered incorrectly. I would respond saying ‘because that’s the doll Isla liked the best. What does it matter? We’re all human’, rather than questioning why that person is questioning it in the first place.

In a massive learning curve this week, where I am actively trying to become an anti-racist ally, not just anti-racist/non racist in general, I have found so many shortcomings in my effort to educate my kids and in my own attitudes towards race. But this isn’t about me. So here are some resources I’d like to share on top of the ones shared in my stories.

Some books to read:
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge.
How to argue with a racist - Adam Rutherford.
Brit(ish) - Afua Hirsch.
White Fragility - Robin Diangelo.
I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Brathwaite.
So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo.

Diverse kids books:
Anti Racist Baby - X. Kendi.
Riley Can Be Anything -Davina Hamilton.
Look Up - Nathan Bryon.
Mae Among The Stars - Roda Ahmed.
The Mega Magic Hair Swap - Rochelle Humes.
Let’s Talk About Race - Julius Lester.
Welcome To Our World - Moira Butterfield and Harriet Lynas.
This Book Is Antiracist - Tiffany Jewell.
The Extraordinary Gardener - Sam Boughton.
Let The Children March - Monica Clark-Robinson.
Ruby’s Worry - Tom Percival.
A Kids Book About Racism - Jelani Memory.

Some things to watch:
When They See Us.
13th.
Who Killed Malcom X.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story.
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap.
Dear White People.
I am Not Your Negro.

My to do list:
- Sign more petitions.
- Donate to more causes.
- Listen to podcasts and share.
- Encourage changes in the school curriculum so that my children, and their classmates, get a better, much more rounded and diverse education.
- Call things out.
- Have honest/open conversations.
- Share content.
- To keep educating myself, whilst never expecting others to do it for me.

It’s just a starting point.

Thanks for listening x
Black Lives Matter. I can never pretend to unders Black Lives Matter.

I can never pretend to understand, but I will always stand.

I’ve been on a huge learning curve this week and have, shamefully, come to the realisation, which I should have a long time ago, that it’s not enough to just not be racist. We must also be actively anti-racist and do everything in our power to ensure our children are too.

Today is a day to stop, listen, support, educate ourselves, donate, sign petitions, take action in any way we can, big and small, to make sure that everyone knows we stand with our fellow humans, family and friends. But we can’t just do this today. We must do it each and every day going forward ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻
And breathe! First day without both my babies for And breathe! First day without both my babies for the first time in 10 weeks today and it couldn’t have gone better. Both had wonderful days and were full of stories when they got home. I said over on stories last night, which got an incredible response so thank you to everyone who reached out, that I am completely comfortable with my choice to send the kids back to school and nursery but would never, ever judge anyone who felt different. We are all in different boats in this storm we’ve found ourselves in and what works for my family, might not work for yours. I have deliberately stayed out of the ‘are you sending your kids back or not?’ debate as it started to feel like another toxic discussion, in the media and on social media, that was resulting in yet another parenting divide.
I could have had the kids in this whole time, under key worker provision, but tried my best to hang on till the phased reopenings that I hoped would happen when they did. They were what I was aiming towards. Don’t get me wrong, I have LOVED having the kids at home together for such a sustained period, we have made lots of memories and learnt so much more about each other, but mixed in with the nature of my job and the fact that @thisdadalife is deployed and so I’m on my own with minimal support, I couldn’t have gone on much longer.
When I got in from dropping them off today, and as I went upstairs to work at my desk, I literally collapsed on the stairs and almost cried in relief. Relief that we made it through, as dramatic as that sounds. I don’t think I realised the toll it was taking mentally as I was constantly running on adrenaline.
I am so happy to get a bit more balance back and to, most importantly, feel like a better mum again. Not a snappy trying to juggle it all 24/7 with no break mum.
If you sent your kids back today, whether you wanted to or not, I’m with you and support you.
If you have kept them home in your bubble for longer, I’m with you and support you.
If you’re still unsure what to do and are undecided, I am with you and support you.
Nobody knows the full extent of someone else’s circumstances and we have to stop and realise that before we judge anyone else ❤️
Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅 Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅
This is the first year in YEARS that I have felt ok wearing a bikini. And I feel like it’s more down to how strong I feel, rather than how I look. Whatever it is, I hope it continues ❤️
On another note, how tanned does the @filterbymollymae fake tan make you look! 🙌🏻
(Both bikini and cover up are from last year).
#losingmyboobstho #youwinsomeyoulosesomehaha
Load More... Follow
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

COPYRIGHT @THISMAMALIFE | Blog Design by KotrynaBassDesign
Just a little message to say we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok cool!Disable third party non functional cookiesPrivacy policy