Tag Archives: disconnection

Thank you National Guard Foundations magazine for the wonderful article.

This national magazine is distributed to 400,000 National Guard soldiers.

I was interviewed by Rachel Gladstone the Staff writer for the magazine last summer. Rachel took the time not only ask me questions about my experiences with deployment, she interviewed my entire family on how deployment effected them.  When she asked me questions about  my experience it took me back in time of my daughter’s deployment.  I got to tell you I had tears in my eyes.  This surprised me . I thought I was over being emotional, it’s been almost two and half years ago now. I think when deployment is over, you think it’s over. But what I learned about deployment you never really forget the feelings and emotions  you had during that time. For me, that’s OK. I survived a challenging yet rewarding time in my life.

I am so happy that the media and the military are starting to recognize the families that support our military.

So here is to all of you out there supporting your military loved one and family.

I hope you enjoy the article.

(Click the image to see the full size article)

Deployed Grandparents

I am a working empty nester grandmother that became a care giver to her granddaughters, when our USAF daughter was deployed to Afghanistan. The children had to adjust to a non military lifestyle and moving to our home in another state. My role changed from being a grandmother to an acting parent with all the responsibilities. Our daughter faced the separation and feeling of disconnection of her role as a mother. We faced many challenges, and gained a greater understanding of what military families face when their love ones are deployed. We did not know when our daughter returned, how challenging it would be to reconnect her to her children and her old lifestyle, even though she did not experience trauma. I have written a book soon to be published book “Deployed Grandparents being Parents”, my personal journey during this time. Hoping this will help others that are care giving children. Even though our daughter has returned we face the possibility of future deployments, so our journey will continue..

Debbie Nichols

debbie@grandparentsbeingparents.com