“A family that serves together, stays together”
Military Family Life by Marcelina Hardy from “LovetoKnow”, Freburary 7, 2020 at 10:44 am https://family.lovetoknow.com/military-family-quotes
Make A Plan
It can be as simple as making a list of a few reminders to send each other pictures every week, or if your service member has a clear idea of what their primary modes of communication will be, you can get down into the specifics such as how, when, and what you would like to talk about each time. No matter the circumstances, it is important that you stick to what you know works best for you and your parents. For me and my dad, that was (and still is) weekly phone calls every Sunday afternoon after the CBS morning show that we traditionally watched together (but now watch separately, although simultaneously). Luckily, we could communicate by phone, but regardless of the way you communicate, speak: clearly, kindly, and considerately.
Care packages
Just like with a hand-written card (and if you can include one, that would be the cherry on top) , a care package with a personal touch are always a great idea if that’s possible.They are a visual reminder to your parent that they are loved and missed back home, constantly in your head and your heart. Here is an example list of what a care package would look like and good luck with making your own!
- reminder of home (stuffed animal, piece of artwork, hand-written card)
- candy (or other sweet treat)
- powdered drink mix-ins
- meal enhancers (i.e. hot sauce or ketch up)
- toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, eye drops, lotion)
- personal hygiene products (baby wipes, razors, feminine care products, etc.)
- words games and/or puzzles
- writing material
- a book to read (or several)
Click here for more information about what to send to someone who is deployed and the do’s and don’ts of care packages please use these two links and have fun.
How to Communicate
- Tango: free international calls to other Tango users AND doesn’t use phone plan or data. It can also be used to share photos, play games and listen to music.
- Postagram: transforms any pictures sent in to a postcard that can be sent starting at 99 cents to your service member who is unable to receive texts or calls (for a long time or just for a short while).
- Skype: the one-on-one free FaceTiming app can close the miles that separate you from your parent. From personal experience, shared smiles and laughter are worth the time taken to speak face-to-face. However, sometimes the connection can be spotty so you may need to have another form of communication as a backup such as calling or texting
- If your service member does not have access to technology, they may be operating on Defense Satellite Network (DSN).This limits calls to a minimum of 15 minutes and maximum of 30 minutes. With this compressed time and limited amount of phone calls, it is imperative to express messages of positivity to strengthen your fraying bond. Remember to focus on what you love about each other, now is not the time to bring up retractors in your relationship.
Also, it is just important to keep in touch with your friends, other family members, mentors, etc. as it is with your service member so make sure to reach out to them for support on the home front. Updating your parent’s other family members on how their loved one is doing is mutually beneficial for those all those involved so feel free to pick up the phone and give them a ring. However you communicate, it is imperative to maintain “operational and personal security” while staying connected!
For more information go to the RESOURCES tab and click on the post titled dependent communication.
OperationHomefront 
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