Coparenting across the Deployment Cycle: Observations from Military Families with Young Children

Abstract

Contemporary service members and their partners have adapted their coparenting to respond to the specific transitions and disruptions associated with wartime deployment cycles and evolving child development. This qualitative study draws upon interviews with service member and home front parents of very young children to characterize their coparenting experiences throughout the deployment cycle. Parents described varied approaches as they considered their children’s developmental capacities, the fluidity of demands throughout deployment, and the service member’s well-being during reintegration. A common theme was the key role of home front parents in facilitating the service member–child relationship through communication and maintaining the presence of the deployed parent in the child’s everyday life. Reintegration challenges included redistribution of coparenting roles, the pacing of the service member into family roles, and concerns related to the returning parent’s distress. Study findings highlight areas of coparenting throughout the deployment cycle that can be supported though prevention and intervention efforts.

Outcomes of a reflective parenting program among military spouses: The moderating role of social support.

“…of very young children (see DeVoe et al, 2019). Researchers have described the middle phases of the cycle of deployment as sustainment that is characterized by more stability and regularity than other deployment phases (Logan, 1987).…”

“…Although many military spouses play a critical role in maintaining family life during deployment and transitions/adjustments of reintegration after the service member returns home, managing the deployment cycle for spouses who are parents presents additional and unique challenges (see DeVoe & Ross, 2012 for a detailed description). During deployment, parenting and coparenting responsibilities are highly dependent upon spouses or at-home caregivers for parenting support and assistance (DeVoe, Ross, Spencer, Drew, & Jacoby, 2019). Establishing child care and household routines, communicating with the deployed parent, and managing finances are often exhausting and contribute to the cumulative stress burden among at-home caregivers (Kelley et al, 2001; Lapp et al, 2010).…”

“…Establishing child care and household routines, communicating with the deployed parent, and managing finances are often exhausting and contribute to the cumulative stress burden among at-home caregivers (Kelley et al, 2001; Lapp et al, 2010). At reintegration, normative processes of renegotiation and reevaluation of family relationships, work, household, and parenting/coparenting roles and expectations, in addition to adjusting to changes that have occurred individually and within the family during deployment (DeVoe & Ross, 2012; DeVoe et al, 2019). Upon reunification, both service member and spouse at-home parents must renegotiate intimate and coparenting relationships, and reconnect with their children who are 6–18 months older depending upon deployment length (DeVoe & Ross, 2012).…”

“This is not your Life…and it becomes your Life”: A Qualitative Exploration of Deployment‐related Stress and Support needs in National Guard and Reserve spouses who are Mothers of Young Children

“…At reintegration, the cumulative pile up of stressors (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) during deployment separation may not necessarily be alleviated. Athome parents have reported that both negotiating new and resuming previous parenting roles and relinquishing responsibilities taken on during deployment are challenging aspects of reintegration, regardless of a service member's health or mental health status (DeVoe et al, 2019;Knobloch & Theiss, 2011). DRS has been associated with higher levels of mental health symptoms in parent samples (Gibbs et al, 2008;Hisle-Gorman et al, 2015;Rentz et al, 2008).…”

A Trauma-Informed, Family-Centered, Virtual Home Visiting Program for Young Children: One-Year Outcomes

“…For example, during military-related family separations (e.g., due to deployment, non-local military-related training, etc. ), the at-home parent may experience a range of difficult emotions, including fear, anxiety, loneliness, and frustration related to a variety of stressors such as increased responsibilities in the home, temporary loss of a co-parent, and worry about their partner’s safety [ 11 ]. Increased psychological distress may render the at-home parent less able to support their child in the midst of the child’s own worry about their deployed parent and stress associated with separation from an attachment figure [ 12 ].…”