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My husband, like many military service members, always seems to be either deployed or away at training in May.
Julie planned a relaxing day for herself when her husband was deployed on Mother’s Day.
Being gone in May means missing Mother’s Day. Repeatedly. Three years in a row, my husband wasn’t home for Mother’s Day.
I am the first to tell you it can be really difficult to enjoy Mother’s Day with your three children when your husband is far from home.
Mother’s Day is not a day of pampering when your husband is deployed.
For my first Mother’s Day during a deployment, I created a fun and relaxing day for myself. No, I don’t eat breakfast in bed or lounge on the couch with my favorite book. But we ate my favorite meal. We watched a fun movie and I tucked the kids in bed early that night. Obviously it wasn’t the same as having my husband home but it made for an easier and more relaxing day for me.
That’s a realistic goal for Mother’s Day during a deployment: an enjoyable and relaxing day.
How do you do that? Here are 3 ideas.
Spend Mother’s Day outside with your children.
Spend Mother’s Day with your Mom or Mother-in-Law
One year I asked my mom to visit while my husband was gone for training. We spent the day together. We got some lunch, took the boys to the park and let them run around while we sat and chatted. That year, I didn’t celebrate Mother’s Day as a mom instead I celebrated the holiday as a daughter.
If you can’t be with your own mom on that day, you could ask a friend if she wants to spend the day together. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just something to help your kids stay active and help you have some fun time with another adult.
Plan a picnic or take a long walk with your children when your husband is deployed during Mother’s Day.
Take a Mother’s Day Stroll
If you know that being stuck in the house on Mother’s Day will depress you too much, plan a short trip somewhere, even if it is a nature walk around your neighborhood.
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When my boys were very young and my husband was gone, I put them in the double stroller and went for a very long walk. This took up a lot of time and I was able to get outside and enjoy myself a little. We didn’t have a special meal but I brought my camera and we had fun walking around our village in Germany together.
When All Else Fails … Hope for Flowers
One year I got flowers all the way from Iraq. That made my day, especially since my husband doesn’t normally send me flowers.
It can be so difficult to celebrate holidays alone during deployments or other separations. However, by planning a little bit, you can still make sure you have a special Mother’s Day even without your husband at home.
How will you celebrate Mother’s Day this year?
