How do you, the family of those serving on the front lines, handle the stress.?

I just watched a news story of military families with children having a day of distraction at a carnival like activity with toys that were donated by various businesses. There was a focus family of a father and three children with the mother/wife serving in Afghanistan. The two younger children did not understand fully the seriousness of their mothers situation. The older brother however being around 12 yrs old was in tears.

I had a flash back when a member of my family was in Viet Nam in 1965 and tears came to my eyes. Back then it was not spoken of most times I don't know why. But every night on the news I would get sick with worry. I was around 11 yrs old at the time.

Today with the internet, Skype and other social networking I often wonder how families with service personnel on the front lines deal with the stress.

What do you do to get through the day. How do you explain to your children what is going on with the deployment.

Lastly to those who serve thank you. To the families left behind thank you.