Why Write a Children's Book About Deployment?

The journey of creating a children’s book about deployment stems from a profound need to support and honor both our military service members and their families. Deployments bring unique challenges, especially the heart-wrenching goodbyes that families must endure. By focusing on these emotional farewells, this book aims to achieve several crucial objectives:

1. Support for Military Service Members: Our service members make immense sacrifices, and their dedication deserves recognition. By highlighting their stories, we can foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of their experiences among children and adults alike. This book will serve as a tribute to their bravery and commitment.

2. Support for Families: The families of service members are the unsung heroes who bear the weight of separation and uncertainty. Children, in particular, face unique emotional challenges when a parent or sibling is deployed. This book will provide a comforting narrative that acknowledges their feelings, validates their experiences, and offers a sense of solidarity and support.

3. Awareness and Empathy: Many people outside the military community may not fully grasp the complexities and emotional toll of deployment. This book will raise awareness about the difficulties of maintaining family connections across vast distances, fostering empathy and support from the broader community.

4. Love Knows No Distance: At its core, this book will convey the powerful message that love transcends physical separation. By emphasizing that love remains strong and present regardless of distance, children can find solace and strength during periods of deployment. This reassurance is crucial for their emotional well-being and resilience.

5. Authentic Voices: This book is co-authored by a mom, Tricia, and her two sons, who both serve in the military and have experienced deployments firsthand. One of her sons is currently deployed and contributing to this book from the field. Tricia grew up in a military family herself; her father was a Navy officer who was frequently away for months at a time. She intimately understands the challenges of having a parent deployed and brings this personal experience to the narrative. This unique perspective ensures that the book is an authentic and heartfelt portrayal of military life and the bonds that endure through separation.

In writing this children’s book, we aim to create a resource that not only supports military families but also educates and inspires others to appreciate and uphold the values of love, sacrifice, and connection. This project is a heartfelt endeavor to bridge the gap between miles and hearts, ensuring that every child knows they are never truly apart from their loved ones.

On a personal sidenote, I grew up in a navy family where we moved every year and a half to three years and many of those years was spent knowing that my dad was overseas/not at home/on sea duty/deployment. I obviously have a personal connection as a child as well as being a mother of two sons who have either been deployed or are currently deployed . So our hearts pour into this book for personal reasons but also for all of those families who can absolutely relate to what it feels like knowing that love knows no distance.

Always,

Tricia

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