Thursday, September 21, 2006

National Guard Families:Do you Think Flat Daddys Can Help Families Cope?


Google did the pictures


CBS


September 18,2006


National Guard families


"Do you think Flat Daddys Can Help National Guard Families Cope?"


CBS interviewed a family who used a "flat Daddy" for the children to remember that their father cared about them very much; even though he was far over seas!


It was an interesting if not mind boggling experience; because "flat Daddy" went to school events, he went along to grab a meal with the family or go to school.


So tell us, do you think you would use a "Flat Daddy" if your spouse was in the service? Do you think a FD


can be effective as far as a kind reminder to the children that their daddy is thinking of them and that he will be attentive to them when he returns?


Please let us knwo what you think!


TY

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think it's bizarre and really unfair to the servicemen whose children are being fathered by someone else. What's the next suggestion that mommy get an "uncle" for the kids!

Anonymous said...

I think it's bizarre as well, just too weird and surreal for me! Jeannette xx  

Anonymous said...

Is it basically just a cutout of their dad's pic in a life-size way?  Well if kids like that sort of thing, why not?  I don't know if I would have liked it as a kid, but there is something for everyone.
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Anonymous said...

It sure is an interesting idea. But, I would think that the kids would get to the point that is was nothing more than a cardbaord sign to carry around. I would rather the family have a little "Dad" time each day where the look at pictures of Dad or Mom and talk about them. Maybe even write letters or draw pictures. I would expect that for most this activity would be more effective. Keep it all at home to remind the children where he/she is and what they are doing there. It would also allow the kids to be creative with their art and letter writing. My Regards, Bill.

Anonymous said...

Well, kids love to have pictures of their parents.  Might help some kids.  
Oh, and by the way.....you are tagged!  ;o)  -  BArbara
http://journals.aol.com/bhbner2him/LifeFaithinCaneyhead/entries/2006/09/22/six-things.....mary-tagged-me/2049

Anonymous said...

It's sort of like having them carry around a picture of their dad. Except, it looks like a paper doll, like a Flat Stanley, and kids are very familiar with Flat Stanley in school. They learn about life in other countries through the letters and photos that accompany Flat Stanley. Last year, a teacher in our school did a Flat Stanley photo album, and posted it on the bulletin board, and the youngsters loved it (so did the teachers) when we saw all the great buildings of past times in the background of Stanley's pictures. So, yes, I think it would be a clever idea, but even more clever would be to let everyone in the the classroom make a Flat Dad (doesn't have to be life-sized) or a Flat Mom when a child in their classroom has a dad overseas. Kids miss their parents no matter where their parents are, even if it's only at work five miles down the road... we're talking little kids like second graders and below.

Then you'd have issues where one kid rips up another kid's Flat Parent (kids in school can be mean when their feelings are hurt) ... because he doesn't have one of his own, or his parent is in jail, he just got mad at the kid with a Flat DAd for whatever reason ... or because she doesn't know where her dad is. Imagine the trauma a little kid would experience if a classmate tore up or cut up their FD? There would be lots of tears.

Therefore, I think a kid, if she makes a Flat Dad, should keep him snug and safe at home, like any other personal and valuable family picture, and maybe FD can be sitting in the living room, or kitchen, or bedroom for a goodnight kiss. It would be weird to see a family hauling a life-size picture of their dad around in the car and carrying him into the restaurants, etc... and it would alert predators that daddy is far from home, and the family is vulnerable. Not good. bea

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Anonymous said...

I put u on alerts :)