Iraq Deployment Reunion Tips For Wife?

Can someone give me a list of 5 things to do to prepare for my husbands deployment.



For example, one lady said spray lavender oil on the lightbulbs and buy fresh flowers.



Any new or different tips? Thanks...

Iraq Deployment Reunion Tips For Wife?
Blue, give him all the space and time he needs. Many returning Soldiers will be withdrawn at first. Don't plan anything major without first consuilting him. He may not want a huge welcome home party or an immediate vacation.



Remember things won't be the same as when he left, especially if this is your first deployment together. Take the time to get to know each other again.
Reply:I can't think of five but here's one tip. Stock up on all his favorite food and snacks, especially the ingredients to his favorite home cooked meals.
Reply:Yep, I am in that homecoming stage also. Mine comes home in about 5-7 days. It has been a long 15 months.



Anyways we take it day by day for a little bit.



He will only have the first 2 days off when he first gets back and then he will have 1/2 days for the next 14 in which he will reintergrate back into the unit and do all that fun stuff with them. Then he will take his 30 days leave (well we are only taking 3 weeks at first).



I give him a chance to do what he wants for the first 2 weeks. Which he usually just wants to do around the house.



But here are some other tips:

-buy some new dvd's or cd's that he has been really wanting

-make sure to make him his favorite dinners or snacks or lunches

-buy him some new clothes and underware and socks

-get him a nice pair of slippers

-My girls and I are planning him a small "welcome home party" for just the 5 of us.

-We are decorating the outside of the house with balloons and banners and welcome home signs that we have made

-We have put together a few baskets of goodies for him:

1. snacks, cakes, cheezits, pepperoni, crackers, etc., (foods and stuff that he didnt get alot of while he was deployed)

2. Basket of his socks, some new books, dvd's, cd's, photoalbum that my girls and I have made over the past 15 months. We also have made a CD that has music on it that has pictures going through the songs (http://www.onetruemedia.com/?OVKEY=onetr... ) And a few other things that he might like

3. Basket 3 is upstairs and in our room with some "adult" type stuff: lotions and stuff like this.



We always just take it easy for the first month when he comes home for a deployment. We won't do our family trip until this summer since the kids and I are still in school and the girls have soccer and girl scouts. Besides Hubby is so looking forward to watching his girls play some soccer and sports. We are suppose to have their first game the day he comes home but I told him no we will just go home. The guy he is was like "what are you kidding, I want to watch them play. I want to watch them kick some soccer butt". LOL. so it looks like the first few hours he is home we will be at a soccer field for 3 girls. That is why I love him though. :)
Reply:you are so lucky to have him home and in ure arms once more. dont plan any big events without asking him. im saying this bc my husband just left last week on deployment and its the first one weve had. god bless u and ure family
Reply:I can only think of 2:



Buy beer

go to Victoria's Secret
Reply:I do not do homecoming things. I make sure the house is clean, cook dinner and ask if he needs anything. Then I allow him to do what he needs to do or wants to do. Most of all I give him space. I will keep him company while watching TV or while he is on the computer. I have been through at least 6 deployments some long like 3 to six months and some only about three weeks to a month. It will be hard but try to understand you are in a new stage of your relationship and you have to get to know each other gain.
Reply:WOW!! My honeys coming home in 9 days too!!! Maybe 8?? It changes day to day lol... Too happy for you! I know how excited you are ;) Last time he left I know how much he appreciated a soft bed when he came home. They sleep on CRAP the whole time their gone so I went and got a feather bed top to put on our mattress and the softest sheets I could find.



Some comfy "just around the house clothes" and some soft new socks, and make sure the showers clean ;) Thats the FIRST thing they want to do when they get home... Take a long HOT shower.



I bought him a few new outfits and laid them out for him last time (have them this time too) so he had something new and nice to wear the first couple of days... (guys ALSO feel 'prettier' in new clothes lol)



You might want to go buy a few movies/DVDs because he might want to just stay home and kind of lounge around with you the first few days, cuddle on the couch etc...



Once again, Im so happy for you!! Good luck and best wishes! So glad hes coming home safe to you!



EDIT****



The time and space thing all depends on your husband and how he handles things and how rough his deployment was. He may need space and he may want you there with him constantly... Everyones different. This should be a happy time for you both. Regaurdless of the time he needs to get back to 'good'. I am on #3 of my fiances Iraq/Afghanistan deployments... 1st one was 10 months, 2nd one was 8, and this one was 7... We fell right back into the swing of things not long after he was home... who knows, you may too. Good luck. :)