Tag Archives: responsibilities

Star and Stripes newspaper article has arrived!

Teri Weaver the reporter for Stars and Stripes newspaper took the time to interview our entire family. She asked us many questions about our experiences with deployment and I think her article really educates the reader. One of my friends called and said this article was so interesting.

The article was published on Nov. 27 in Stars and Stripes online newspaper. Stars and Stripes has given me permission to share this article with you. I hope you enjoy reading- “Grandparents play vital role for many families during wartime deployments”.

This is such an honor for our family and all those “deployed grandparents”, raising their grandchildren while their loved one is serving our Country.

I think our government and military are starting to become aware, how grandparents are playing a very important role for the family during deployment.

Those grandparents may not know that they are keeping their family grounded during deployment. I surely didn’t when my daughter was deployed. I just wanted my granddaughters and my daughter to have a positive experience with deployment.

“Article used with permission from Stars and Stripes. © 2010 Stars and Stripes.”

Michelle Obama responded to my letter

I sent my book to President Obama, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, and the joints Chiefs of Staff of all Military Branches. I wrote to them to bring awareness of families supporting their family members serving deployments. I understand Michelle Obama and Jill Biden have become more involved with trying to understand what is needed to support our military and their families. There are so many issues to address. I felt privileged they answered my letter.

In my letter I offered to help educate, share, coach those military families that face the challenges I faced, when we were guardians of our grandchildren. Deployment effects the entire family. A civilian like myself, living not near a military base. You are isolated and are in your own war zone. Trying to adjust to the new responsibilities, trying to hide your fear, and having a smiling face to the outside world is a tremendous part you have to play.

I hope someday I can key note speak. Share I learned dealing with deployment and making that time with my granddaughters a special time.

Deployed Grandparents

2 Replies

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