Reintegrating After a Deployment

To further the conversation;

One of the things that helped my wife and I after my first tour to Afghanistan was making an "expectation list" for one another. I know it sounds kind of crude, but this is what it broke down to:

We each made a list of things we expected to happen upon my return. Things like how the house would operate, how our family time would function, phrases and triggers for 'this situation is starting to get volatile and we need to step away,' things like that. I know it helped us.

I did pay attention during the reintegration training and felt that it was very helpful.

For me it was realizing that although I was deployed their lives went on. My best advice is slowly dip your toe in the water and get used to their routine. Adaptability is key.

It is going to sound like I am making myself distant with my wife and kids, but my wife has told me this is how she has learned to take care of things while I am gone so it is her idea.

Sit back and wait to be asked to help around the house. Understand if my kids want my wife instead of me. Be there, and not into all the other things that I did not get to experience over the last 9 months.