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Leaving your family behind is never easy, especially when you have young children at home. When you receive the news that you will be deployed, it is important that you act quickly in preparing your kids for your departure and the months you will be away. 

Although it is bound to be an emotional time, having the talk with your children will not be too stressful or overwhelming if you ensure that you have an idea of what to say and do. Remember these tips to speak with your kids before deployment. 

1. Be clear about where you will be
Explaining to young children or toddlers that you will be halfway across the world can be intimating for them. Setting out a map and circling or starring the country you will be stationed in may make it easier for them to understand where you will be and appear that you are not so far away. 

You can also mark the locations of other family members or friends who your kids are close to who live in different parts of the world. If you will be deployed near a loved one, this may be comforting to them, especially if they have been there before. 

2. Explain why you are going
It is common for children to be confused as to why a parent is leaving his or her family for an extended period of time. This is why it is essential that you explain that you do not want to leave them, but it is your job and you have to follow the rules. Explain that you are protecting people from harm both at your destination and at home. Remind your children that you are there for a certain period of time and that as soon as you are able, you will come back. 

If you are a military spouse, take note of these tips while your partner is deployed.

3. Remind them that you will stay in touch
It can be scary for children to hear that their mom or dad will be leaving for a while. Alleviate this anxiety by assuring your young ones that there are plenty of ways to stay in touch and that you will take advantage of them as often as you can. Communication tools like Skype and FaceTime on the iPhone make it easy for families to see one another and talk every day. If they are worried about you missing a certain event or celebration, tell them that you will make sure that your spouse films it and sends it to you.

4. Hold multiple family meetings
It takes more than one talk to prepare a family for deployment. Designate one or two nights a week before your departure to make plans as a family. For example, setting a communication schedule together or creating a list of each family member's new responsibilities after you leave will make your kids feel more in control of the current situation. 

You can also plan out special bonding time before you are gone. Choose a weekend to go on a mini vacation or take a camping trip before your deployment to ensure that you have plenty of time set aside to enjoy together. 

5. Bond with each other
After you have explained everything to your children and made the proper plans, focus on spending quality time together. As the weeks before deployment can be stressful, you do not have to go all-out and plan an elaborate weekend. Simply reading to your kids before bed or going out to a family dinner once a week can create memories that will last and sustain your family throughout your deployment.