How To Stay Connected During the Holidays

Military Family Tips to Celebrate the Holidays Apart

For military families, celebrating the holiday season often looks a bit different. Deployments, trainings, or being stationed in different parts of the world make it challenging to be physically together with loved ones. Yet, military families are also experts in finding creative ways to share the spirit and stay connected during the holidays despite the distance. Here are some ideas to keep those connections strong.

1. Ship Care Packages

Sending a care package is a time-honored military tradition to show love from afar. Fill a box with your loved one’s favorite treats, homemade holiday goodies, and tokens that remind them of home. Make it even more special by setting up a video chat to unwrap the package together. This shared experience adds an extra layer of excitement and makes everyone feel a bit more connected.

• Check out these military care package best practices from MilitaryOneSource.
• Remember these holiday shipping deadlines, especially if you’re sending to a deployed service members, overseas military families, APO/FPO/DPO boxes!

2. Send “Open When” Letters

Writing “Open When” letters can be a thoughtful way to offer support and encouragement from afar. Create a series of notes for your loved one to open at specific times you’ve labeled, such as “Open When You Miss Home” or “Open When You Need a Laugh.” These personalized messages can offer comfort and serve as gentle reminders of your love and support.

• Get “Open When” letter inspiration from Marine Corps Spouse Lizann.

3. Lean on Your “Framily”

“Framily” or friends who become like family, can play a crucial role at each duty station. Remember, you’re not alone in this unique military experience, so look outward! Appreciate who you have, not just who you’re missing. Others may also feel lonely or miss family, and you could bring holiday cheer. Is there someone you could invite to your holiday dinner or to join you to check out a local holiday event? Sharing experiences with friends who understand military life can make the season much brighter.

4. Hit Record

There’s a special warmth in an audio or video message that’s hard to capture in a text. For example, some deployed military parents record themselves reading bedtime stories for their children to keep nightly traditions alive. Similarly, you can send audio clips or video updates of making your favorite holiday foods, or your children singing carols. These messages can be replayed whenever your loved ones need a little holiday cheer.

5. Host a Virtual Watch Party

Nothing says holiday season like cozying up with a beloved movie. Host a virtual watch party where you can laugh, cry, or comment on the plot twists in real time which can make the experience feel more like home. Some streaming platforms make it possible to enjoy holiday classics together, even miles apart!

6. Collaborate on a Playlist

Music has a unique ability to evoke emotions and memories. Most streaming platforms allow you to create collaborative playlists. Start by selecting songs that hold special meaning for you and your loved ones. Think about tunes that remind you of past holiday gatherings, favorite holiday movies, or even classic that have been family favorites for years. Then, encourage everyone involved to add their picks too. This way, the playlist weaves together shared memories and individual tastes, offering a way to stay connected all season long.

7. Stay Connected with Holiday Gifts

Consider gifts that bridge the distance and keep you connected. Here are a few ideas:

• Custom Face Pillows/Dolls are a favorite gift for military kids missing a parent worlds away.
• Digital Picture Frames that can receive updated photos from wherever you are.
• Long-Distance Touch Lamps that light up in sync to signal you’re thinking of each other.
• Personalized Stationary (and stamps!) to keep in touch with friends.
• Virtual Experiences like online cooking classes that you could enjoy together.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Even with the best attempts to stay connected, it’s natural to miss loved ones, traditions, or the way things used to be. Allow yourself time to reflect and, if needed, grieve. Acknowledging these feelings as a healthy part of dealing with distance.

Keep the Holiday Spirit Alive

Being apart from loved ones during the holidays is never easy, but it’s a reality that many military families know all too well. Remember, you’re not alone in this. And with creativity, thoughtfulness, and a little bit of technology, you can keep the holiday spirit alive and stay connected to those you love.