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Reintegration Not Just For Adults
(October 17, 2009) |
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Emilu Crisman and teacher
Joseph Pascetta of role play a situation during
the Oct. 10 “Tying the Yellow Ribbon” event in
Elgin, Ill. This is one of the many ways
instructors with the Children's Reintegration
Program teach kids how to deal with difficult
situations when their parent comes home from
deployment. Pascetta is one of eight teachers
from the Chicago School of Professional
Psychology that help with the children's
program. |
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(Editor's note: This commentary was written by 11-year-old Hannah Crisman with
the proofreading help of her father, Sgt. 1st Class Mike Crisman of the Illinois
Army National Guard.)
ELGIN, Ill. (Oct. 12, 2009) -- While my friends were outside playing in the
colorful leaves on Saturday, I was in Elgin, going through the Illinois National
Guard's Children's Reintegration program.
The day was part of the Illinois National Guard's "Tying the Yellow Ribbon"
program for Soldiers and their families after they return from overseas.
My father, Mike Chrisman, a member of the 1744th Transportation Company in
Streator, Ill., got back from Iraq about two years ago. When he came home, they
didn't have this program for kids like my
two younger sisters (Emily, 8 and Paige, 4) and
me. |
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Let me tell you just what the program is and what the kids do. The Children's
Reintegration Program is for children whose mom or dad is in the military. My
sisters and I split up from our parents and went with a group of teachers who
help kids like us understand the feelings we have felt while our dad was gone
and what we are going through now that he is home.
First we went into a room and played some really fun games to get to know
everyone just a little bit better. I will admit I was a bit nervous, but after
the games I felt a little bit more comfortable to talk about my feelings.
Then it was time to get crafty in the art room. We drew a picture of where we
want to go before we die. Then we drew our family. Before I die I would like to
go to the Hawaiian Islands. To me, Hawaii is symbolic of our families. Each
island is different just like each member of our family.
Lunch time! Now this is the part of the day where you can see and talk to your
parents. I'm not going to lie, the food was not the best thing I have ever put
into my mouth: Ham and cheese sandwich
on dry bread.
After lunch was my favorite part of the day, drama. It was awesome! We got to
put on plays and act out different situations in our lives. This helped me and
my sisters get a better understanding of how to handle things with our parents.
It was interesting putting myself in their shoes, which gave me a better idea
about how they handle different situations with me and my sisters.
While going through the day I got to learn a lot about my teachers and why they
are part of this program. One woman named Kristy is about to have a baby and her
husband is in Iraq. She sees the need for such a program and wants to help out
other families. Others had different reasons, but they all said it was about
helping families of our Soldiers.
Although I was nervous about going to the Children's Reintegration Program, I
learned a lot. Programs like this are very important to me and my family because
it is supposed to help families reconnect with each other after being away for a
year or more.
I think it's awesome that the Illinois National Guard put together this fun
program for kids. This is something I didn't get to go through when my dad first
came home from Iraq and I think it could have really helped me get through some
of the problems when he first came home.
I encourage families with kids to come to this program. It is fun and it can
teach your kids a lesson or two. | |
Article and photo by Hannah Crisman
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Army News Service
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