Christmas When Deployed — Military Family Survival

Christmas with a deployed service member is uniquely painful. Specific strategies for those at home — and for the deployed.

For families at home

Acknowledge the missing person

Don't pretend they're not gone
Empty seat at table is OK
Photo at place setting
Toast them
Kids need to feel allowed to miss them

Maintain traditions

Kids need stability
Familiar matters
Even when hard
Routine grounds

Build connection

Video call if possible
Send care package early November
Open gifts together via video
Time zones permitting

Send the deployed Christmas

Care package with home Christmas items
Photos, kids' drawings
Their favorite snacks
Christmas card decorations
Small tree if possible

Photos and videos

Document for them
Christmas morning video
They missed it; share it
Memories preserved

For deployed service members

Create your own moment

Whatever you can do
Small celebration matters
Connect with fellow service members
Don't isolate

Don't compare

Civilian Christmas isn't yours this year
Yours is service
Honor matters
Mission first

Keeping kids okay

Talk about it

They know parent is gone
Pretending hurts
Allow questions
Acknowledge sadness

Operation Homefront, USO support

Programs for military kids
Christmas events
Adopt-a-family programs
Resources exist

Gifts from deployed parent

Pre-recorded video opening
Pre-bought from before deployment
Online ordering by service member to you to wrap
Their love still arrives

Resources

Operation Homefront

Help military families
Christmas programs

USO

Connection programs
Care package support
Family events

Trees for Troops

Free Christmas trees for military families
Local distribution

Soldiers' Angels

Adopt-a-Soldier
Christmas care packages

Self-care for family

Lean on community

Other military families understand
Spouse support groups
Church or community
Don't isolate

Counseling available

Military OneSource (free counseling)
TRICARE coverage
Military Family Life Counselors
Use the resources

Cross-references

For Christmas alone — adjacent.

For Christmas with grief — adjacent.

For Christmas for service workers — broader.

The right approach is: acknowledge missing person, build connection, lean on military community. Service families have unique resources. Use them.