Husbands Return :)

She will adjust you just have to give her time. Don't force anything she will have to do it on her own. My son doesn't see his grandparents because we live in a different state but when we went to visit it took him a little time but he adjusted very well. All little ones are different so it is hard to say but if she did ok in June she should be ok now. Just be what you will be anyway and she should act the same way as you. Just remember they can feel what you feel somehow. If you are stressed she will be too.

Good Luck

I WAS IN YOUR SITUATION LESS THAN A YEAR AGO....MY HUSBAND CAME BACK AFTER HIS TOUR IN IRAQ...WE HAVE 3 KIDS..I WAS MAINLY WORRIED HOW THE YOUNGEST WOULD REACT.....SHE WAS 23 MONTHS WHEN HE RETURNED.....OK THAT WAS SILLY OF ME TO WORRY BC SHE TOOK TO HIM LIKE SHE HAD JUST SEEN HIM EVERYDAY FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.....THE PART THAT IS HARD OR ATLEAST WILL BE HARD IS GETTING USED TO HAVING HIM AROUND AGAIN. YOU ARE PROBABLY DOING EVERYTHING PLUS WHILE HE IS AWAY AND BY NOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD ROUTINE AS TO HOW TO GET THINGS DONE THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE....AND THERES A GOOD CHANCE THAT YOUR GUY HAS BEEN SURROUNDED BY MANY MEN AND THEIR MANLY HABITS....SO THAT MIGHT CLASH A LITTLE. WITH MY HUSBAND IT SEEMED I COULDNT WIN....IF I WANTED HIM TO HELP HE WAS LOST BUT HE WAS LOST IF HE COULDNT HELP....SO MY ADVICE TO YOU IN THAT IS..LET HIM DO SOME THINGS HIS WAY EVEN IF ITS NOT HOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THEM.....KNOW THAT YOUR GUY WILL MOST LIKELY CRY AT NIGHT WHEN HE THINKS YOU ARE ASLEEP AND CANT HEAR HIM.....JUST HOLD HIM CLOSE AND LET HIM CRY....HES BEEN THROUGH HELL AND HES BACK TO FAMILY LIFE ( SOMETHING HE HAS NOT HAD IN A YEAR PLUS) IM SURE HE WILL SHOW THAT HES STRONG NO MATTER WHAT BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE HE ISNT AS STRONG AS HE SHOWS...BUT FOR HIS SAKE DONT PUSH THAT. JUST KNOW HE WILL BREAK DOWN. IT MAY BE THE FIRST WEEK AND IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL 6 MONTHS LATER...BUT IT WILL HAPPEN. PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU GUYS MAY BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY AND SEE A PARKED SUV OR VAN OR SOMETHING AND HE MAY FREAK OUT...OR IF HE SEES TRASH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD....HE WILL THINK OF THE IEDS. I KNOW THAT DEPLOYMENTS ARE HARD ON EVERYONE...BUT FROM EXPERIENCE...THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WITH YOUR GUY BEING HOME WILL BE HARDER ON YOUR MARRIAGE THAN ANYTHING HAS PROBABLY EVER BEEN....BUT DONT GIVE UP...YOU GUYS LOVED EACH OTHER BEFORE AND I ASSUME PROMISED TO LOVE FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE SO DONT GIVE UP ON THINGS. YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT IF YOU JUST GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AGAIN...AND THATS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. YOU HAVE CHANGED AND SO HAS HE. YOU BOTH ARE STRONGER...BUT HIS WONT SHOW THROUGH JUST YET SO YOU NEED TO BE HIS STRENGTH WHEN HE COMES HOME. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY....YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THE FEELING WHEN YOU SEE HIM RETURN HOME...IT IS LIKE FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME....

I dont' have any advice for you, I just wanted to say Thank you. To you and to all of the other military wives out there. I appreciate what your husbands are doing for me and my children and I appreciate what you go through haveing the men that you love so far away fighting this war. Good luck.

First of congrats on your husbands safe return and thank you both! As a fellow women with a partner in the military i can kinda understand what you are talking about, though my mans not gotten sent overseas at this point in time.
My advice is simple and it's what i've heard from his friends and their wives that have gone through the separation. Don't try to rush into things or force your daughter to accept her father. He's been away for a long time and she really doesn't know him. Let them get to know each other at their own pace, but continue being the one to disapline. In time he can take over on that possibly.
I know your going to want him in your site all of the time when he first comes back, but he's going to need his own space to readjust. My man's been to iraq twice durring the last war, wich was before we met. He didn't see front lines due to being navy at the time, but he did say it was still a large adjustment when he got home.
Also be aware that your man is going to freeze when he first gets back. He's going from desert conditions to basicaly winter. My man said the toughest part of comming home for him several years ago was the sudden climate change. He lived in California at the time and still froze for several months. I hope my advice helps and pray things work out for you and your newly reunited family. God bless!

I have never been in that situation, but first, I wanted to say congratualtions and thank God your husband is returning! It may be tough, but I say do what feels natural. I couldn't imagine trying so hard to make it a "smooth" return with all of those overwhelming feelings inside! I can't even fathom all the excitement and bubbly tummy you must be gowing through :) Fortunately, your daughter is young enough to adjust quickly. I wish you a lifetime of safety and happiness with your family!

As a former military wife myself, I just have one piece of advice - don't cling too tightly.

By that I mean that you shouldn't hold too tightly to him nor he to you or to your daughter, etc. Like the former posters have written - you all need time to adjust to being together again. But do be sure to be intentional about allowing him to be a part of the decision making in the house now that he is home. Sometimes we get so accustomed to doing it "our way" while they are gone that they really feel like outsiders once they arrive home. On the other hand - he needs some space - to "de-tox" after the whole deployment - so be sure to let him go out playing football with his buddies or go fishing - he needs that time to "ease back into life", and if you give him the "We haven't seen you for 18 months either! Why don't you want to be with us!?" kind of guilt trip it will just make things worse.

My heart goes out to you - but if you are patient with the transition, in about 3 or 4 weeks you will all be very happy and adjusted to your "new" old family life.

Good Luck and God Bless!

Not that I'm a military wife or have been in your shoes but here is something I remember hearing...

When it comes to discipline you should be the one to continue in that role until she has adjusted to her Daddy being back full-time. Also, I've heard that it is better to slowly let the Dad enter into your daily life routine. I'm sure after being gone they want to jump right back into life as it was before but obviously you've had to adjust your life with him being gone. Take it slow and don't try to go back to the way it was.

Good Luck and Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! How exciting for you. I'm sure things will fall into place, just give it time.

I was thinking the same thing as another lady said. The child is so young that they will adapt overnight. You'll be amazed by how they act like their daddy has been there all along.

As for you....it will take some adjustment having him back. You're going to have to give up some of the control over parenting, house issues, and yourself too. This will be hard, but as long as you're open to letting him back into the heart of the family, you'll adjust more quickly. It's hard to all of a sudden have someone around when you've grown used to being by yourself and making all of the decisions that concern the home life.

I too am a military wife. Our oldest daughter was 18 months when he left for Iraq and almost 3 when he came home. Take things slow. Our daughter jumped right into his arms, however every time he left the house she was worried it would be a long time till he came back again. My husband didn't get leave in the middle, but she still did well. He is active duty so every time he put on that uniform after his leave was over she got upset. It only lasted about a month or so till she got the routine that he was coming home every night.
Also give him time to adjust. Don't be suprised if he doesn't want to cuddle. Don't be suprised if he doesn't want to talk about what happend or what he saw over there. Just be there when he IS ready to talk. Keep in mind that may take years. I don't know what your husbands MOS is but my husband is Infantry so he saw a lot on the front lines. He was even shot in the chest (his vest stopped the bullet) but he didn't even tell me about it for almost a year and a half after he came back cause he didn't want me to freak. Just give it time. If you want to talk anytime feel free to contact me. I am also former military so (I read that you are too) so if you ever want to talk please feel free to contact me.

my husbands a trucker not military but kinda same idea, he's gone for a month at a time & was just off for 3 weeks on vacation. there was some moments when the kids didn't know what to think but overall they adapted very easily.

good luck to yall & glad to know he's safe home again!

A., so happy for you! I'm sure you're nervous and anxious and all kinds of other emotions. Give it some time things will smoothe out. You've both been through a lot in the last year and a half, just remember why you got married :) Hugs to you and your hero.

I'm also a military wife, with my husband gone. Our daughter is also named Emma :) She's going to be 10 months old this month. I can't offer advice on how everything will go with him being home, but I am interested to find out after it happens. My hubby will be home, for good, in May. She usually does ok with his visits over leave (it's been over 2 months this time since we've seen him)...but it'll be a big adjustment for her and I when he's home for good.

I'm happy your husband is coming home though! Congrats :)

Hello A., You can only take it one day at a time. I too was a military spouse, (husband got out ) and we had 3 children at the time 3,2 and 6 months, The baby wanted nothing to do with daddy for over a month, and alls you can do is encourage your child to give daddy hugs, give daddy kisses, let daddy get her drink, you are gonna want to do everything because that is what you have been doing. Don't!! Encourage daddy and Emma to do some of the things you normally would, she might not want to at first, but you have to keep doing it. She will eventually get used to the Idea that he is gonna be there and not leave, at which time she will respond to him. As for you, again it is an adjustment, it will also be an adjustment for your husband. Let him join in almost anything that he wants, that will allow you two to learn over again what it is to be married with a partner. If you let him do a few of the things that you normally do again it will fall into place, PATIENCE is the biggest thing, It will NOT be easy because you two will be having alot of feelings about him being in the way, him not thinking he is doing enough, he will try to do everything because he want's you to know he missed it, that is not ok, let him do some. After my husband got home the third time we went thru all of those things, I wish you three all the best...Good Luck

I am also a military wife, We are in the 45 day marker, of him scheduled to be home, but you know the military, that could change.
He is susposed to be home right before Christmas.
We have a 7 year old little girl , who this has been very hard on, so I have started to prepare her for the event and things she might expect but might not happen.
But like most of the others are posting, take time, be patient, let him and your little one find the medium ground to start the bonding process, also,
His unit , should be having a Briefing about things to expect, and things to help. They get the same one before coming home.
Being on the Family rediness team in my husbands unit I have found it important for the spouse to go and get all the information, since the soldiers coming home are tired, anxious, and just can not wait to get home , half the stuff said does not sink in. another thing to consider a little down the road for you and him.. is the Married Couples retreats that most of the Chaplins of the unit can give you information.

Sorry for rambling , but I hope it helps

Please feel free to contact me if you need anything, and i mean anything.

What a great thing to hear..... I am so happy for you! It is wonderful your hubby had a safe return. You are very blessed! I wish you the best of luck!

C.