Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/711198
7. Look for your partner's strengths and tell her how much you appreciate those strengths. Chances are they will work hard to live up to their reputation. 8. Tell your children how great their mother or father is. Do this behind your partner's back and in their presence. 1. Before the deployment, write love notes and secretly tuck them away in various places in the service member's bags. Likewise, the service member can write several cards and label them "For When you're Lonely," "For When You're Overwhelmed," etc…, so they can open them when they needs to hear from you the most. 2. Handwrite an encouraging letter to your partner at least weekly, more often if possible. 3. Remind your partner of the things that attracted you to them the first time you met. 4. Share what you love, admire, or respect about your partner in a letter or during one of your phone or Internet calls. 5. Write and mail your own poem about your partner. 6. Express appreciation. Service members, tell your partner how much you appreciate all the things they do to keep the home front going. 7. Home front partner, be sure your service member still feels needed by your family, no matter how you feel you are managing without him. 8. If your partner is stressed when they call you, allow them opportunity to vent. Don't try to fix the situation unless asked. Affirm them. 9. Write and send a tribute to your partner. 10. Be the first to say "I love you" in every conversation. Decoding Deployments with Words of Affirmation Words of Affirmation are one of the easiest languages to speak during separations. In fact, you may find that being international with this language will draw the two of you closer together than you thought possible while physically apart.