Pillowcase Project

So Audrey has been having a real hard time adjusting lately. Refer to the Life is hard when you are 3  post from last week. This is the longest Chris has been gone that she is able to remember and I think she has hit her limit which is not good considering her dad will not be home until September. So lately I have been trying to do everything possible to try and help her through this transition and after a long week my latest idea was a bust. A friend of mine who is also in the military member suggested a pillowcase with Chris' picture on it for Audrey. It was a great tool for his daughter while he was deployed so I thought it would be a great idea for Audrey! So last week I ordered this pillowcase and it turned out perfect! I thought so anyways..

When I pulled the pillowcase out and put it on a pillow Audrey had a complete meltdown. I mean full blown hysterical meltdown. I asked her what was wrong she said "I just miss dad so much" and she insisted I take the pillowcase off the pillow. I tried to turn it over and she continued to sob and continued to insist on taking it off. So I did. She couldn't even look at it. Definitely not the reaction I had expected. It turned out really good... I mean it is almost creepy how realistic it is. I thought it was really cool but Audrey could not handle it. It was to much. She looks at pictures and videos and does fine with that but what I thought was a great idea turned out to make the situation worse. Ah, I am at my wits end. She gets teary eyed when I simply say his name and she doesn't want to talk about him much. Three months into the deployment and she is definitely feeling it. Audrey spent yesterday with her Aunts which was a good change of scenery and her school is being so helpful with the transition. My friend Katie sent an early Easter basket over for Audrey equipped with bug catching gear and Audrey loved it! She has so much support here but sometimes I don't know what to do next because this idea was obviously a bust. Audrey has no concept of time, all she knows is that her dad has been "gone for a long, long time" and does not know how to channel those emotions. This time must be so confusing when you are 3 years old. Ha, it is confusing for me.