Keeping Christmas Traditions When a Parent Is Deployed

Christmas can feel different when a parent is deployed. Familiar activities continue, but an empty chair or a missed bedtime call may make the absence especially noticeable. Grandparents and caregivers can keep a few family traditions without trying to recreate every detail of an ordinary holiday.

Keep one familiar ritual

Ask the children which tradition matters most. It might be decorating a small tree, baking a particular cookie, or reading the same Christmas story. Choose something manageable and make room for the child to say that the day also feels sad.

When communication is possible, share a photo, a short recording, or a drawing. Plan something enjoyable that can happen even if a call is delayed. Avoid promising a call or homecoming date that the family cannot control.

Let new memories belong too

A holiday at Grandma and Grandpa’s house can include its own small customs. A farm walk, a homemade ornament, or a family mystery game gives children something to look forward to while they continue missing their parents.

A Christmas Mystery follows Jake and Sophie at their grandparents’ farm while their parents serve overseas. A missing birdhouse, wildlife clues, and Licorice’s company bring adventure into a season of separation. This Christmas book for military families invites a gentle conversation: which traditions help us feel connected when we cannot all be together?

Explore the book: A Christmas Mystery: When Mommy and Daddy Served Their Country, We Stayed at Grandma and Grandpa’s Farm