How do families handle splash pads during short rotations and TDY?

TDY (temporary duty) and short training rotations of 30-90 days are common in military life and often hit harder than expected because they're 'short' but still long enough to disrupt routines. Splash pads are ideal anchors during these periods. Continue the regular splash pad day — same pad, same time, same routine. Mention the absent parent naturally ('Daddy would laugh at that face'). Send 1-2 photos per visit. Skip the urge to over-schedule with 'special' activities to fill the void; kids prefer normalcy. For the returning parent, plan a 'welcome home splash' on the next visit after their return — they get to see the pad they've heard about and reinforce that routines continued. TDY-spouse parenting is genuinely hard; connect with other milspouses going through the same rotation. Many bases have 'TDY support' Facebook groups where families coordinate splash pad meetups specifically during these short absences.