Our last guest blogpost from an unacompanied military family was so popular (read again HERE) I asked Jo a wife of a Royal Marine to write a post about her business Huggable Heroes.
Jo attended our Summer Camp in 2015 and her Huggable Heroes are a great resource for military children, hope you like reading the post with a cuppa.
Louise xxxx
My name is Jo, I am a Military Wife, living
in a married quarter with my husband and two beautiful Children 6 hours from
home…..
Have you heard of Huggable Heroes? I am
known as the ‘Huggable Heroes Lady’, which I secretly Love.
Huggable Heroes are helping military children with a
loved one working away cope with Separation Anxiety, a design of making a photo
of the loved one into a cuddly toy to help them express their feelings of
sadness, anger, loneliness, happiness and love.
By simply having their hero to cuddle at
bedtime or to take to their first day at school, Mummy or Daddy will not ‘miss’
a thing.
Our very own Huggable Heroes have helped me
to understand when the children are upset either missing or mad with Daddy,
helping me to know how to respond to them in the best way. Daddy was with us at both children’s first
days at Pre School and is a regular at Swimming Lessons and Ballet…
Charlotte (4 years) is fascinating to watch
with her Hero. She gives Daddy the most amazing cuddles and reads to him. When
she is mad that he is working away she tells Daddy off. He has been known to
sit on the naughty step and has even been thrown across the room on more than
one occasion! (I would like to add, I do not throw anyone or anything across
the room when I am angry!)
Henry (My 2 year old) enjoys rough and tumble
with Daddy, he knows he is only allowed to do this with Daddy and yes I have
found him doing ‘Big Daddy Splashes’ on his Hero!
Another huge difference I have found since
having Huggable Heroes in our lives is the time it takes for the children to
reconnect with Daddy when he gets home. In the past they would shy away from
Daddy, clinging to me for hours on end (which as you know is heartbreaking for
all involved). Charlotte and Henry now take Daddy his hero to show him,
reducing the reunite time dramatically and I put this down to Daddy still being
such a huge part of a daily routine even when he is away.
Huggable Heroes have 100% reinforced the bond between them.
If you would like to see some customer
reviews on Huggable Heroes, please check out the ‘Posts to Page’ on Facebook,
we have received 100% positive feedback that Huggable Heroes have helped to
Reduce Separation Anxiety in our brave children. (www.Facebook.com/HuggableHeroes)
I launched Huggable Heroes in January 2015 after
spending 8 months making them for family and friends and realising just how
much they help other families.
Since Launching in January last year
Huggable Heroes have helped more than 500 Children! We hope that in 2016 we can
reach out to more military families struggling with Separation Anxiety.
Thank you so much for taking the time to
read my guest Blog, I look forward to meeting some of you in the coming months.
Stay Strong
Lots of Love
Jo (AKA Huggable Heroes Lady)
PS If you would like to buy a Huggable
Hero, please follow this link to the shop on Little Troopers website. I will donate
10% to Little Troopers for each Hero they sell.
PPS I would be honored if you would help me
reach more families by sharing us on Facebook or requesting some flyers or
posters for your local coffee mornings.
