Tracy BeckB次元官网网址檚 office resembles a childB次元官网网址檚 playroom more than the office of a program facilitator with the Military Family Resource Centre.
The small space is covered in toys, books, craft supplies, juice boxes, snacks and two small red kid-sized tables and chairs. There are two large maps on the walls, including one with different types of animals found in various countries around the world.
On the opposite wall is a whiteboard with several kidsB次元官网网址� drawings of how they feel that day. Having kids draw how theyB次元官网网址檙e feeling is how Beck starts her deployment workshops since she started running them 15 years ago. The weekly workshops, held at the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre, help children between the ages of three to 12 adjust to a parent being away on deployment. Beck focuses on teaching children to express their emotions and showing them there are other children also going through similar situations.
Each of the four children at the Tuesday workshop are in the youngest three to five age group. Many of their fathers were deployed on HMCS Winnipeg and have been away since last June.
B次元官网网址淟ots of times you can be sad, but you can be happy in 10 more minutes. You can feel more than one thing at once,B次元官网网址� Beck said. B次元官网网址淵ou can be happy you have something but you can be sad because something reminds you of your dad. ItB次元官网网址檚 okay to feel whatever you feel, thereB次元官网网址檚 no wrong feeling.B次元官网网址�
To start, Beck shows the kids where their parents are that day on a map (HMCS Winnipeg was in Tokyo at the time), then they talk about the weather and time differences.
Next kids have snack and story time followed by a groundhog and ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day craft, which can be mailed to their parents. Beck, who brought her own children to the workshop when her husband was deployed, said the crafts and activities provide children things to talk to their parents about when they call or Skype.
B次元官网网址淚f they were in Egypt, we would talk about the different things to see. ItB次元官网网址檚 to give them topics to talk to dad about,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes at this age, children say B次元官网网址榟i, I miss youB次元官网网址�, and thatB次元官网网址檚 it. If we give them things to ask dad or talk about like the weather or how hot it was, itB次元官网网址檚 easier. They love to send pieces to dad.B次元官网网址�
Throughout the workshop, mentions of their fathers come up several times.
Beck will ask B次元官网网址渨hose daddy is the best tickler?B次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址渨hy donB次元官网网址檛 you make cupcakes and surprise daddy when he comes home?B次元官网网址�
Heather Vallieres enrolled her son Isaac in the workshop when her husband deployed nine months ago. She has seen a difference in her three-year-old since he started attending.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e noticed even at three he wants to take more responsibility and help mom and his little sister. HeB次元官网网址檚 able to articulate what heB次元官网网址檚 thinking and feelings related to the deployment a lot better than before,B次元官网网址� Vallieres said, adding Isaac has a better understanding of time and the countries his father has been.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 able to say I miss daddy, but I know daddyB次元官网网址檚 working.B次元官网网址�
The workshops are growing in popularity, mostly by word of mouth. There are currently 12 children enrolled, numbers tend to fluctuate depending on the size of deployment.
The workshop is one of many services the government offers through the Military Family Resource Centre, the facility in Colwood is one of 43 centres in Canada. For more information visit esquimaltmfrc.com.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
