I bought my nearly 3-year-old a daddy doll to help her cope when her father is deployed. I sometimes sneak a hug from it, too, when I'm feeling low

Lauren Gumpert's daughters are nearly 3 (2 years, 9 months) and 14 months old. Courtesy of Lauren Gumpert I wasn't prepared for how my husband's deployment would impact my daughters. When her dad isn't around, giving my eldest a sense of control and predictability helps. Other things that have…