New Book Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home Makes Separation Easier

UNIVERSAL CITY, Texas - March 27, 2013 - PRLog -- Coping with separation from a parent is the key message of Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home (http://www.daddycountdown.com/), a new children’s book by first-time author Kristin Ayyar. Drawing on her experience as a military mom, Ayyar penned Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home to help children understand why parents travel for work and how they can stay connected. Published by Mascot Books, Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home is now available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and MascotBooks.com. The list price is $14.95.

Written from a young boy’s perspective, Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home offers constructive ways for families to stay connected as they countdown the days until mom or dad returns. Beautifully illustrated by Melissa Bailey, Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home touches upon important concepts in the development of young children, including the need for strong attachment to parents as they develop a sense of trust, and the need for consistent routines and rituals in order to feel secure and safe.

A mother of three children, Ayyar has been an Air Force Spouse since 1990. Through deployments and separations, Ayyar saw the need for a book written from a child’s viewpoint that offers reassurance as well as helpful ideas for children to make the countdown fly by.

“I was inspired to write Countdown 'til Daddy Comes Home when I searched for books to help my youngest daughter cope with her father deploying to Afghanistan and found nothing that fit our situation,” recalls Ayyar. “I hope that Countdown 'til Daddy Comes Home will not only be a great story for kids, but will also help parents with  practical suggestions on how to keep everyone connected during deployments or business travel.”

Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home also offers resources for parents to integrate into their family routines. Special sections include discussion questions to help families open up about their concerns and feelings. In addition, the book features ways for families to countdown as they await the return of loved ones, whether they travel for work, military or other situations.

Most importantly, Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home tells children that it’s okay to be worried and to voice their concerns. The discussion questions, which are touched upon in the narrative, help children to understand that even though a parent must go away, their connection to them need not be broken.

Praise for Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home:

“Ayyar has written a book that belongs in every home and classroom where young children deal with parents who travel.” – Cathy B. Griffin, M.S.Ed., Director of The Children’s Campus, Raritan Valley Community College

“Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home is a wonderful book that demonstrates the value of family rituals and how they can carry us through challenging times. . . . Ayyar’s book is filled with great suggestions that all families can do when they find themselves missing their loved ones.” – Kari O’Neill, MSW, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), owner of Issaquah Highlands Counseling Group

“Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home provides education about and normalizes children’s emotional and behavioral experiences when a parent is away, while teaching families a variety of strategies to adaptively cope with separation from a loved one.” – Rocio I. Villarreal, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist

“As a long-time principal on an Air Force Base, I saw hundreds of departures and homecomings. I wish Kristin Ayyar had written Countdown 'til Daddy Comes Home earlier so that I could have put it in parents' hands. Her book will help other military kids realize they are not alone in their experience, that other children like them are faced with the reality of separation. Active duty military members, counseling centers, and school libraries should have copies of the book readily available.” – Karen Bessette, Former Principal, Randolph Elementary School, Randolph Field ISD, Randolph Air Force Base

“Military families have special challenges as their family members serve their country during far away deployments. Young children can have an especially challenging time because developmentally they have a skewed sense of time, and cognitively they have trouble comprehending what is happening. Ayyar’s wonderful book addresses those concerns with practical ideas for both parents and children.” –Lisa Allen, Director of Parent Education and Early Learning, Bellevue College

“In Ayyar’s charming book Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home, the separation issue is beautifully handled with practical suggestions to make the time apart meaningful and as stress-free as possible. . . . Anyone would benefit from this small, but informative book.” – Claudia Lockwood, M.A., Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), YWCA Seattle|King|Snohomish

About the Author
Kristin Ayyar is the mother of three wonderful children and an avid volunteer in her community. Countdown ‘til Daddy Comes Home is a book based on her family's experiences and is filled with rituals that she and her children follow when her husband is traveling the globe or deployed overseas serving our nation. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Ayyar received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked in sales and marketing before taking a hiatus to raise her family. Her family has moved more than 13 times, including assignments in India, Hawaii and across the U.S. mainland. Ayyar lives wherever the United States Air Force sends her family. To learn more about author Kristin Ayyar and Countdown 'til Daddy Comes Home, visit daddycountdown.com and connect on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DaddyCountdown).