Reaction 1: “Where is daddy? When is he going to come home?”
Reaction 2: “Daddy, why you no longer play basketball?”
It is not a secret that military services cause a great deal of grief and loss, especially for the members of the family, and it is the responsibility of social workers to help them in the disagreeable situations of the underlying level. Not surprisingly, the children face not only injuries of their fathers accompanied by either mental or physical circumstances, but also the lethal outcomes. Holmes’ article is dedicated to the investigation of the problems related to the experience of family members who encounter the visible and invisible injuries bearing different effects. According to the researcher, “A long and disruptive recovery can take its toll on children, 15 percent of whom exhibit clinical levels of emotional and behavioral problems several years after their military parent’s injury” (Holmes, Rauch, Cozza, 2013, p. 146). In this case, children behave quite unpredictably, and the manifestation of their reactions depend upon the level of the parent’s impairment. To understand the core of the problem for the social worker, it is reasonable to dig deeper into the issue and get to know it.
Providing support for children who cope with grief and loss demands a well-balanced approach. Generally, the social workers should explore the background of the issue and stabilize children’s response in a positive manner. To achieve a well-desired effect, it is necessary to bear in mind that each problem is individual – from the point of the underlying idiosyncrasy, a treatment option is to be selected. The support for children ought to be based on the emotional commitment. Apparently, the helpers have to fill in the gaps of misperception that usually result from military injuries and other instances.
References
Holmes, A. K., Rauch, P. K., & Cozza, C. S. (2013). When a Parent Is Injured or Killed in Combat. The Future of Children 23(2), 143-162.
