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In this military town, we’ve had soldiers deployed and soldiers returning these past couple of months.  It’s been hard for those deploying during this Christmas season–most left before Christmas.  Christmas was hard for those who had deployed soldiers at the tail end of their deployment too because many returned after Christmas, but they did have the consolation that the end of the tour was near. 

Here’s what I’ve seen and heard: 

• The dad who snuggles his baby girl who is 10 months old.  The last time she saw her daddy she was two weeks old.  She knew instinctively that he was her dad.  It’s the sweetest thing. 
• The bewildered mom in our therapy clinic’s waiting room who seemed unsure how her husband will fit into her life again.
• The anxious autistic boy who cries because he’s so sure that his father going to work means he’s in Iraq again.  He’s afraid his dad won’t come home each night. 
• The smiles on the faces of the wives whose husbands are home again.  The relief that they won’t have to go on anymore without help (until the next deployment).
• The reunions that have happened at 3 am because they’ve had to schedule so many flights to get all the soldiers home.
• The wife who hears from a friend that certain flights are arriving earlier than predicted and runs to use another friend’s computer to check her email.  Then seeing the surprise and the tears.  The whoops from her children when they hear. 

It is wonderful to see all these dads home (I say dads because I don’t know any deployed moms).  Their children are happy, the moms are relieved (and very, very happy). 

Welcome home, soldiers!  May your transition be smooth.