http://www.sheknows.com/authors/laura-crawford/articles Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/997203/post-deployment-reintegration It's hard to believe my husband has been home for four weeks already. Having him back home has been wonderful as well as rejuvenating. It's great having a second set of hands around the house, and with the kids, again. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/997203/post-deployment-reintegration Laura Crawford Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/994301/when-daddy-comes-home-from-deployment As soon as we had 31 days left in our deployment countdown, I drew 31 hearts on our whiteboard in the kitchen. Each morning my son woke up, he would cross off a heart. When we hit day seven, and my son had just one week left before Daddy was home, his excitement exploded and stayed at an ultimate high through the rest of the week. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/994301/when-daddy-comes-home-from-deployment Laura Crawford Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/993291/preparing-for-end-of-military-deployment Finally this deployment is coming to an end! I can't even begin to describe how excited I am. Honestly though, I feel a touch of sadness about my husband's return too. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/993291/preparing-for-end-of-military-deployment Laura Crawford Mon, 06 May 2013 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/992607/the-military-wife-vs-the-single-mom Mommy wars, competitions and judgments drive me insane. It never fails, I read a story about a single mom and her struggles or triumphs, and who chimes in with the one-upping 'I've got it worse' comments? You guessed it — the military wife. This also happens in reverse; the comments from single moms to a military wife's story of struggle for survival can be pretty vicious too. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/992607/the-military-wife-vs-the-single-mom Laura Crawford Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/991875/playing-helps-military-child-deal-with-deployment I love talking with my son. Through the entire age of 5, having conversations with him has been absolutely amazing to me, and a great insight into how his mind and heart are developing. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/991875/playing-helps-military-child-deal-with-deployment Laura Crawford Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:30:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/991353/countdown-to-the-end-of-deployment The beginning of deployment is like looking down a long, dark tunnel. You know the light is at the end, but you can't see it. Our deployment is roughly between 200 and 250 days long. Counting down each day through each month is slightly depressing and too great of a time span for my kids to grasp. Instead, we have concentrated our countdown according to holidays, birthdays and scheduled events. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/991353/countdown-to-the-end-of-deployment Laura Crawford Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/990795/books-to-help-children-cope-with-deployment Books are undeniably a great resource that can give children not only a literary reasoning of a situation, but also an excellent visual — something that as a parent I can't always give through mere explanation. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/990795/books-to-help-children-cope-with-deployment Laura Crawford Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/989765/military-deployment-can-strengthen-marriage You won't find a single person that raises their hand and says, "Yes, please! Deployment! My spouse and I love being apart from each other six months to a year at a time." I can tell you, though, that I do find the silver lining in deployment and how these times of separation strengthen my husband and my relationship. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/989765/military-deployment-can-strengthen-marriage Laura Crawford Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/989015/communication-with-daddy-during-deployment Of my three kids, I knew my son was going to have the hardest time in dealing with his daddy being away. The great thing is that he's 5, and that allows me to be extra creative in inventing fun ways to keep his spirits high while keeping him feeling connected to his daddy. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/989015/communication-with-daddy-during-deployment Laura Crawford Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/987807/governments-sequester-affects-military-families-hard As I sit here and write this, I do it fighting exhaustion with a heavy heart and burning eyes. The impact the sequestration is having and will continue to have on the military breaks my heart and has brought a lot of tears to my eyes. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/987807/governments-sequester-affects-military-families-hard Laura Crawford Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/987375/importance-of-family-routine-after-deployment After deployment, it's important for military families to get back into their regular routine as soon as possible. The structure and predictability can provide kids with the emotional stability they need. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/987375/importance-of-family-routine-after-deployment Laura Crawford Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:00:00 -0800 http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/986757/military-families-saying-goodbye-at-start-of-deployment What we've been preparing for the last few months has finally come. There's no easy way around it. And, as much as you want to avoid this day, you know you can't. For the sake of my children I knew this day was important, no matter how heart-wrenching it was going to be. http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/986757/military-families-saying-goodbye-at-start-of-deployment Laura Crawford