Guest Post by Cody Dodd
Founder and Editor, The DoddFather blog
There are many required sacrifices that come with being an active-duty military dad. Birthdays, holidays, school plays, you name it. Storytime doesn’t have to be on that list.
As a deployed parent, staying connected with your family’s reading routine can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Maintaining this bond from afar is extremely valuable for both you and your child. It offers a sense of normalcy and continuity, reassuring your child that you’re still a part of their daily life, even if you’re physically distant.
I would like to share with you how I was able to remain a part of storytime while facing deployments to Greece, Spain, South Africa, Cuba, Panama, Curacao, and Ecuador.
Building Memories: The Impact of Storytime
My daughter is two years old. My wife and I have made storytime part of our daughter’s nightly routine for as long as I can remember, even when she was too young to know what was going on. Was she too young to be aware of what was going on?
It's also debatable whether all those countless nights of reading the same books to her, again and again, taught her which part of the book was coming next. Or how to say certain words. Or where to "find the Christmas tree" on the page. Or which character is Mama, which one is Dada.
Children are sponges. Even if they seem unaware of what’s going on, they can surprise you. Watching the rate at which my daughter learns new words and expressions is mind-blowing. I can’t help but think that some of her rapid development is due to her exposure to books and hearing her parents read to her regularly.
So, although we make storytime a component of bedtime every night when I am home, what am I supposed to do to help maintain that when I am called upon for deployment?
Enter United Through Reading (UTR).
UTR provides hundreds of children’s books to military commands. These books are available for free to any interested Sailor (or member of any other military command). The service also features a recording studio where you can pick out the books you think your child will like and then record yourself reading the books to them as if they are right there with you. The sessions can be as short or as long as you like.
I sent my first UTR package home to my daughter around Christmas time while I was deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in 2022. I took a good 15 minutes to read three books to the camera, front to back. I felt a little bit uncomfortable during the first book. But by the time I picked up the second book I was back in the swing of things – it felt like my daughter and I were reading together.
After the recording is finished, all the books are placed in a large envelope, along with a memory card that contains the video recording. No matter where you are in the ocean, this package will then be mailed back to your home.
Although we make storytime a component of bedtime every night when I am home, what am I supposed to do to help maintain that when I am called upon for deployment?
This program is awesome for a few reasons. First, you can emulate reading the storybook as if your child is right there in front of you. Second, your child can watch and listen to your storytime while their caretaker back home is flipping through the book with them. A win for you and your child.
What really sets UTR apart from other similar services available is its offline capability. Most other storytime resources require an internet connection to facilitate them. But internet connectivity just isn't something that can be guaranteed when you’re on a deployment. Although you may have to wait for the shipping and handling of your recorded studio session storytime, it's guaranteed to reach your child in a reasonable time.
Final Thoughts
I believe that my daughter seeing and hearing these digital storytime sessions has continued to develop her education while helping her remember who her Daddy is.
The fear of your child forgetting who you are when they are in the newborn to toddler stage is real. I thought about this a lot when I was out at sea. I am so thankful that the armed services consider this and offer creative solutions to help alleviate that risk.
I am especially thankful to my wife for being the facilitator back home. She does all the heavy lifting when I’m gone, so I will forever be grateful for her taking time out of her already busy schedule to still include me in our child’s life as often as she can.
Staying connected with your family during deployment should always be a priority. No matter how hectic the schedule may get on a deployment, the extra effort is always worth it. Because of programs like UTR, my daughter knew exactly who her daddy was each time I returned to homeport.
Racking up medals and ribbons on deployment has its place, but the most honorable thing you can do is take care of your children and set them up for success. I believe part of that success includes reading to your children and assisting with expanding their vocabulary and imagination.
With a little creativity and the right tools, you can continue to share the magic of storytime, creating cherished memories for you, your child, and your caretaker back home. Although we have some pretty awesome tools available to us today, you should also take that mental snapshot every chance you get. There is nothing quite as rewarding as being a present, involved father.
Cody Dodd is a dad to one daughter, husband, full-time United States Navy Sailor, part-time dad-blogger, and founder of The DoddFather blog. As a dad and content creator, he shares resources and actionable tips to help fathers be the dads they were created to be. You can find more of his writing on Facebook and Instagram.
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