How do you say goodbye to a loved one who is leaving to Iraq knowing you may never see them again?

Answer 1

I think this is a great question.

You seem as though you genuinely love this person and have a very justified fear. However, we cannot live our lives in the unknown and worrying what "might be". You have to live for the moment, and treasure the time you have with your loved one as best as you can. Alot of people take for granted their loved ones presence in their lives on a daily basis, and you could kiss your husband, child or parents good bye one day and you cannot be guaranteed that it won't be your last goodbye. Love your significant other every day, like there is no tomorrow, and it may ease your sense of guilt IF something should ever happen to them. Not only people with those going overseas should heed this advice, but everyone should treat their loved ones as though it were their "last today".

You may want to start a scrapbook for this person. Include some photos of you two together at special times in your life. Include some love letters in between, say every third page, or for every time in your life you've shared together, you can post a message "remember when we went to this park? This is where you first said 'I love you' to me. I will always remember that day forever, as it was the best day of my life." Maybe a few movie ticket stubs that you attended, or plays or maybe you saved a matchbook(remove the matches please LOL) or napkin from your favorite restaurant. You can also put in pictures from magazines or newspapers of what you hope your futures will be like together when they return. If you are married and have no children, put in pictures of babies in diapers(if you'd like to try for a family when they return), or if you are dating, some pictures of a nice house, a dog, kids(or no kids, not everyone wants children), parks or museums you'd like to visit. Be creative. Let this special someone know that you will be waiting for their safe return in the hopes of creating many more memories to put in that book.

Keep a positive attitude, send care packages(which are really uplifting when one is far from home), and emails and even snail mail(with some cologne sprayed on it for added affect and let them know you will be here when your loved one returns.....safely. :)

Answer 2

I've been deployed. The last thing they want to feel is that they're leaving you for possibly the last time. So don't say anything of the sorts of goodbye for good. Try to keep things upbeat for an otherwise sad occasion.

Tell them you'll see them soon (they do take vacations home while in Iraq, i.e. leave) and that you love them. They made the decision to join/stay in the military so regardless of how you feel, they need the support of their loved ones.

Answer 3

In our family, we have always made a big thing out of anyone going over there, as much for their sake as for ours. This is what we do: We have a big party (for us it has mostly been just close family), a cake with the persons name and 'see you soon' on the top, we have small wallet size pictures that we put in an envelope to send along with them (your family and friends are with you wherever you go), and we tie a yellow ribbon around the tree in front of the house where the party is at (it doesn't get taken down until they come home for good). A flag (small size) is put on a table (under a lamp so it is always lit at night) with the persons picture right next to it (they never are far away from us). It makes the parting a little more tolerable for everyone.

Answer 4

Odds are, she won't. That doesn't mean it'll ruin your relationship or anything like that so don't get scared. It'll be a lot easier for her to sort of understand if whomever she is going to be with for the year is constantly showing her pictures of mommy and if you're making videos of yourself for her singing and playing and stuff like that. She may recognize you when you get back but she probably won't make a quick connection as seeing a picture of mommy being a few inches tall for one year and then seeing a big live version of mommy and completely different. When you first come home she'll probably cling to whomever she is staying with but after about a month she should be fine. Just go with the flow and do your best to spend as much time with her as you can before you leave and when you come home to spend plenty of alone time with her!! Good luck and God bless.

Answer 5

Tell them you will see them home again soon. And try not to worry. There have beenabout 10 times more murders in 1 year in the USA than all the soldiers killed in Iraq in last 3 years. He is really safer there from that aspect.

Answer 6

It depends on what you mean by a loved one. But more than anything, realize that he or she needs your support, not vice versa. I know you are scared, but the last thing that person needs is to carry your fears with them, and not feel able to reveal their own.
Stay positive, and most of all, stay in contact while they're gone. It can literally help them to get home if someone is sending them letters and packages, reminding them that the real world remembers and wants them back.
Lastly, if you really love them- get them the hell home. Do whatever you can to put an end to this pointless, bloody mess.

Answer 7

It doesn't matter. If something were to ever happen to them, no goodbye would ever seem to you like it was good enough. Just do your best to let them know they are loved.

Answer 8

You don't say goodbye. You say see you soon. You don't think about them not coming back, you think about them returning. You tell them how much you love them and reassure them that you're always by their side.

Answer 9

You leave nothing unsaid. Imagine the person never comes back. Is there anything that you wish you would have said? Then say it now.

Answer 10

Say that they will always be in yoru heart and you will always love them. No matter what happens you will meet again in some way, shape or form.