2011-A Splitters

ParkerMom said:
How are you all handling Christmas? I'm trying to think ahead here to next year . . .
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I'm trying not to dwell on it too much. Everyone is saving her gifts until March, when she gets back. So she'll have a combined birthday and Christmas celebration then. I'm married to a retired Army officer, so I've had a little practice doing Christmas with one of the family gone. I just try to get on with it. Keeping busy helps. It's the down time when you start to dwell on the fact that someone is missing. It also really helps knowing that she is where she belongs, pursuing her dreams.

I will admit that we are completely spoiled right now because she has frequent internet access and we are getting regular emails. I expect that next year we'll pay the price and have to go months at a time without communication. She assures us that Karma will come back and bite her hard because she lucked out on her ship assignment this year. :shake:
 
I expect that next year we'll pay the price and have to go months at a time without communication.
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Let us hope that that does not turn out to be the case! The very thought gives me a sinking feeling.

I'm interested to hear from parents who have been through one or two sea terms with their children at sea for Christmas. Were you able to do anything to make Christmas "merry" for your DS or DD while they were at sea?
 
Not a parent, but I can give you my experience from spending Christmas at sea for both Christmases, another Christmas at sea and will be missing another this year. (and birthdays as well)

The most common thing we did was celebrate Christmas early. This year I celebrated 'HalloThanksChristmas' which will probably turn out to be my favorite holiday ever, :) In year's past it was simply Christmas and birthday. It was nice doing it early as I was able to get some things that I wanted to have on my sea years: a new camera, a new camera lens, etc.

On most ships for Christmas Day the Captain will have something small to give to the crew. If you wanted your midshipman to get something on that day you could always send a package to addressed to the Captain of the ship with another package inside asking him/her to keep it for your mid until Christmas. Or you could simply send a card with a 'don't open until christmas' note on it with some words of encouragement. For me it was never a big deal to be gone for the holiday's. The day ended up being busy with work for the most part and I didn't get too down or anything like that. It was nice to have a nice email or a card with some nice words from my family though.

My vote: celebrate early over the fall break.
 
Last year my son was on his first sea term, and his older brother was in Iraq...Me and my husband went on a cruise :) That made it special for us :):) Younger son called from Shanghai to say Merry Christmas, older son was at a FOB and could not call :(

You will get used to it. We raised our children to leave not to stay :)
 
One mother is our association (who is very organized) shared what she did for her son's first sea duty - she got family and friends to write letters, send cards & pictures which she put into big envelopes mark for each month or major holiday her son was out at sea. He liked it so much that he was going to take the old envelopes out the second time when she informed him that there was a new set for the second part of his sea year.
I didn't do this for my 3C's first sea duty but I am going to do it for next year. They really need a little pick-me up along the way even if they enjoy the work and are seeing the world - can you imagine working and living with the same people 24/7 for 4 months???
 
But 2nd sea term is different. The Mids do internships, and if they want go afloat with Navy/CG. My son's 2nd class now and is loving it.
 
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