Talk, Listen, Connect

Political conflicts that require the presence of the brave men and women of our military have been a challenge for thousands of families for some years now. While every family that has to say goodbye and then prays each day for the safe return of a member experiences some trauma, it is the most difficult for families with young children.

Young children have trouble understanding why daddy or mommy is going away and why they have to be gone for so long. They may wonder what they did to make their parent go away and will they ever come back. In the best case scenarios, a parent will only be gone for a short time and will come back largely unscathed from their dangerous duty abroad. Sometimes, parents come back with physical or psychological scars that may never heal. In the worst case scenarios, parents don’t come back at all and families have to begin creating a “new normal.”

On Wednesday, April 1, CET will broadcast a special program from the Sesame Workshop, creators of the landmark series, Sesame Street, designed to help parents and caregivers of young children information and support to help deal with the deployments, homecomings and changes that are part and parcel of military duty today. “Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes” will feature the familiar furry characters children know as they deal with parents going to or coming from serving their country away from home. An accompanying website offers streamable video and corollary materials for use in homes and preschools. Special attention is paid to families that have to create a “new normal” after circumstances change them forever.

If you or someone you know is dealing with the challenge of helping a young child and a family navigate the difficulty of a separation due to military duty, please consider using this resource.

- Diane