Military life means missing out on a lot of family moments—birthdays, holidays, graduations. It might mean leaving behind a baby and coming home to a toddler or saying goodbye to a middle-schooler only to return to a high school freshman—complete with all the teenage attitudes and style changes.
Deployments and training can create some serious distance between you and your family. Kids grow up, and spouses find ways to fill the empty spaces. Sometimes, it feels like living together again can be even harder than being deployed. The little things start to feel like big arguments, and the usual military routine gets replaced by the hectic chaos of school schedules and activities.
But reconnecting with your family is so important for your mental health and your success, especially as a military member. It’s even more crucial when you retire and find yourself home every night and every weekend.
Make your family your partner in reconnecting. Talk about your hopes, your dreams, and what’s next for you all. Don’t hold back—over-communicate if you need to. And remember, while you were gone, everyone has changed—including you. Take pride in what your family’s accomplished while you were away and share your own stories too.
Plan fun outings, like date nights, outings with friends, and time with your kids. Remember, experiences that hit all the senses help create lasting memories. Try a new restaurant, check out an escape room, or go on a hike.
Get your family involved in the decision-making process too. If you’re planning a big trip to celebrate, let everyone have a say—where to go, how much to spend, and how long you’ll be away.
Don’t forget to talk about when parents or friends should come visit. It’s a good idea to focus on immediate family first, then bring in extended family and friends later.
Retirement can also mean big changes—moving back home, adjusting to new jobs, and figuring out new routines. Being intentional about connecting with your family can help smooth out that transition.
Remember, you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
At Next Chapter, we get it. We’ve been there. We’re all veterans, so we know the challenges of coming home after deployment or transitioning into retirement.
What makes us different is that we don’t just focus on talk therapy, although that’s part of what we do. We’re here to help with real-life challenges before they become major issues for you and your family. We can connect you with resources for the whole family, offer activities to help you unwind, and give you ways to relieve financial stress.
We’re here for you, your family, and your friends. Let us help you write your Next Chapter.