Q: My brother-in-law is coming home from Iraq this weekend. We are planning a Christmas dinner for him. We are putting up the Christmas tree and most of the family will be there. I have bought him a few gifts. We are trying to re-create the Christmas that he missed while over seas. Do you think this is a good idea, or will it make him feel funny? Will it just remind him that he missed Christmas? Will he feel funny, because there are only girts for him? Please advise.
A: THAT is wonderful -- a great thought .. and I am SURE That he will APPRECIATE what you are doing for sure. Just don't push everyone and everything on him -- for the most part -- he is going to want some PEACE and QUIET and just to try to get back to LIFE and being with his family -- so if he needs TIME alone (and he looks like he does), please be kind and just LET him have that time. It takes time to decompress from being deployed, and to process where he is at now. Remember .. it is difficult to transition from combat to just being in a home where people are NOT targeting you for your uniform.