Service Children Support Network - RAF Benevolent Fund

One aspect of achieving that is understanding
the stresses of separation. On the plane back
from Basra, I wrote the first half of a poem for
my children to explain my absence. As I realized
the benefits that it might have for others, it
developed with reference to the Emotional
Cycle of Deployment into a colour picture book
called My Daddy’s Going Away… that has now
sold over 8000 copies worldwide to schools and
Dads in all walks of life.
It is not surprising that there is an increased
focus on the issue of paternal separation.
A father’s departure is not just a personal issue
for kids or a problem for mums. Paternal
separation may have a very real affect on how
Dads feel about themselves and how they
perform when conducting the business that has
sent them away from their families. Emotional
health and well-being are increasingly
important to families and businesses alike. We
all know that there is a definite link between an
emotional state and behavior: a happy worker
is a better worker... and a happy parent is a
better parent.
methods for staying in contact over the tour
and demonstrate that it is not the fault of the
child that their father has had to go away.
Better still, the book might even inspire more
dads to read to their children - at which, as a
nation, we do not yet excel.
From the feedback that I have received from
families and schools alike, it appears that the
My Daddy's Going Away... book and
website does help all those families who have to
endure temporary separation from each other.
With a small team from The University of
Reading, I hope to start writing teaching packs
for schools that will help teachers better
understand separation and its effects on their
children - and yes, I promise that I am writing
My Mummy’s Going Away…!
It was in my interest to have soldiers fighting for
me without distraction from domestic issues.
As I understand it, good comprehensive support
prior to, and during, a period of separation will
help:
• Dads focus more on their mission,
whatever that might be, and become
more effective and efficient at work,
and;
• the family left at home to bond and
work collaboratively together.
Because the verses of the poem are linked to
the Emotional Cycle of Deployment, every page
of My Daddy's Going Away… can act as a
catalyst for discussion and can be used to
educate children and thus permit families to
cope better. They provide a medium through
which parents and teachers can explore the
process of deployment, separation anxiety,
My Daddy’s Going Away… is a great little
storybook that supports children and families
through paternal separation. The foreword was
kindly written by HRH Prince Charles, The Prince
of Wales and a proportion of profits go to
Service charities.
Please follow progress of these initiatives and
more on the Facebook page and visit the
website now for loads of tips and tricks on
coping with separation
www.mydaddysgoingaway.com.