Wives of Deployed Soldiers

[JanetRose]

We have three wives/students in our department at a college who recently had their husbands leave for deployment.

Another student has suggested a gift basket we could present to them during the holidays to show our support - does anyone have any suggestions??

Thanks!

 

[Hutchy]

Wine for those that drink it! One thing I would love to get is gift cards to my favorite places to eat. I HATE cooking just for myself and do end up eating out a good bit because it's just easier. This is the 3rd Christmas he's been deployed and I always go home to spend it with my family so I would check to see what their plans are so you can get the basket to them before they leave. Oh a gift card to the local movie theater would be great too because I love going to the movies with friends. If they have kids an offer to babysit now and then to give them a break is a great idea also. I know my friends with kids sometimes have a hard time finding babysitters they can trust.

Eh, you would think I'd have better ideas since this is my third time but that's about all I have. I'll ask some friends and see what they think!

 

[Magic Mom]

Just get them things you would get anyone else you wanted to do something nice for....Bath and Body Works stuff, small gift card, wine, chocolate, coffee...whatever they like. The thought will mean a lot. You also might invite them over during the holidays. even if the are spend the day of Christmas with family, it's still hard during the days leading up to Christmas.

 

[Stephanie218]

Wine for those that drink it!

I second this one...I saved all the corks from this last deployment and my husband was a little worried when he got home, lol (girls nights = quite a few bottles...).

The restaurant giftcard suggestion was great as well, or the movies. I think anything you could come up with would be great - just the fact that you were thinking of them will mean a lot. The holidays are definitely rough during deployment.

 

[vicb]

How thoughtful and kind of you to do this for your friends/co-workers!

 

[olwyngdh]

The greatest gifts I have received when my husband has been deployed (he's home this year! yea!!) have been gift certificates for "husband jobs." I had a neighbor who shoveled my walk all one winter. I had a family who did all my lawn mowing another time. A friend of mine once loaned me her husband for the year for repairs (he fixed my dryer, put up my storm windows, things like that). I had a couple of friends who took turns once a month babysitting while the rest of the group took me out to a movie and dinner. Another friend would call and tell me that she was stopping at the grocery and did I need her to pick anything up for me, and then drop it by my house on the way home. Another friend would come and spend the weekend every once in a while with a couple of bottles of wine and some new DVDs.

It is knowing that people care that is more important than things.

 

[jsmith]

The greatest gifts I have received when my husband has been deployed (he's home this year! yea!!) have been gift certificates for "husband jobs." I had a neighbor who shoveled my walk all one winter. I had a family who did all my lawn mowing another time. A friend of mine once loaned me her husband for the year for repairs (he fixed my dryer, put up my storm windows, things like that). I had a couple of friends who took turns once a month babysitting while the rest of the group took me out to a movie and dinner. Another friend would call and tell me that she was stopping at the grocery and did I need her to pick anything up for me, and then drop it by my house on the way home. Another friend would come and spend the weekend every once in a while with a couple of bottles of wine and some new DVDs.

I agree with this-my sons are also grown and gone from home ( my husband is a Guard soldier-they stay in longer than AD soldiers) so im frequently doing lawn work and oil changes myself.
This is a wonderful and thoughtful thing for you and your co workers to do.

 

[rabyoga]

I had a deployed hubby.. I would have appreciated the "hubby chores"... Or if they have kids, offer to babysit and give them a gift certificate to get pampered...

I know that your co-workers appreciate any kind thoughts and deeds.

"Military spouses are the unsung heroes of the armed forces.."

 

[golfgal]

The greatest gifts I have received when my husband has been deployed (he's home this year! yea!!) have been gift certificates for "husband jobs." I had a neighbor who shoveled my walk all one winter. I had a family who did all my lawn mowing another time. A friend of mine once loaned me her husband for the year for repairs (he fixed my dryer, put up my storm windows, things like that). I had a couple of friends who took turns once a month babysitting while the rest of the group took me out to a movie and dinner. Another friend would call and tell me that she was stopping at the grocery and did I need her to pick anything up for me, and then drop it by my house on the way home. Another friend would come and spend the weekend every once in a while with a couple of bottles of wine and some new DVDs.

It is knowing that people care that is more important than things.

When the troops from our old town deployed, this is what DH's office did for the wives of the deployed employees.

 

[ginna74]

My husband is comming home very shortly and there are a few things I like while he is gone. AS someone said above I like to get or buy things for that pamper myself. I go to this special store that make bath and reg soap and you can have it cut and it is weighed and sold per oz, and there are bath bombs, bubble bathsquare things. I usually spend well over 100$ and use it when I have hubby really on the mind or am feeling down. and when it is empty I remplenish it. And I do like taking son out more just to get him to get his mind elsewhere too, so gift certificates to fun places would work too.