Having a lazy child

[Tracy, Proud Mom of Darryl]

I don't know if there are any moms out there that can feel where I coming from on this subject, but if you do please comment so that I can rest my mind. I have a son that is to leave for boot camp on Sept 8 and I have heard about how hard the navy is on you in boot camp., but when I tell you that my son is lazy he is lazy, before signing up with the navy my child will just sit around the house doing nothing but playing video games, I will have to tell his twice to take the trash out or to make his bed or clean his room. I know that the navy will change them in boot camp, but can they change someone as lazy as my son?. If any mother have been through this and can give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it...

[Chris A.]

Oh Tracy! You will not believe how different your son will be after boot camp. Yes, it will be hard, but his fellow recruits won't allow him to get away with ANYTHING. It's all team work and if one messes up they all get punished, so the peer pressure is enormous. Kids who lag behind on the physical stuff will be pushed and pulled along by their fellow recruits. Kids who are lazy will have it made plain that they need to shape up. Sure the RDC's will yell at him but it's the fellow recruits who'll really make him toe the line.

Trust me, he'll be a changed young man. When you see him again you'll be amazed at how mature he's become. You'll notice when you talk to him on the phone (not very often!) that his voice sounds deeper......several of us have noticed that.

Keep checking on the various group discussions and you'll find out everything you need to know from those of us who've been through it already.

[coop]

Hi Tracy!
Don't worry, you are not the only mom out their with a lazy son! I have a son in the Navy now he is not lazy but his bother is. At first I was wondering how did you no my younger son. My son is in his senior year of high school and also want to join the navy. Don't worry once your son is in the Navy his fellow team mates will ensure that he is following protocal.
Coop!

[Lois C T(momma T)]

Hi Tracy, I had the same concerns about my son! Not only did I think he was lazy, but also unmotivated, and lacking any direction, or desire to grow up!!!! I was VERY worried about him having to follow schedules, get up in the morning, and having to take orders! But when I saw him at graduation from boot camp, I was so filled with pride and admiration I could have burst!!! The Navy helped him achieve what I knew he was capable of!!!! He has been to A school in California, and is now in Gulfport, he will be deployed to Iraq in early Sept ! Keep the faith, they do recall what we taught them, and stay connected on Navy 4 moms, it's a great support!!! Lois

[Linda Wright]

Lois
Hi my name is Linda and I also have a son that is stationed in Gulfport. They just returned from Kuwait on the 15th. My husband and i just got back yesterday from meeting my son on the base. It was great to get to spend some time with him.

[Linda E./Justin div 161]

.Just wanted to say;" glad he is back and safe". How great you got to Gulfport for a visit! How was the weather there?? hurricane season and all~ Its a nice base, I mthought. I was there end of July for A school grad. Thanks" to your sailor!

[Karen S.]

Most boys are like that. Mine was absent minded, scattered brained and slow to take initiative. He would help arround the house occasionally - one task a day, maybe- trash, dishes, chicken or dog chores, washing cars. But, when the DEP leaders gave him a task he would do it soon and well. All the men in my family are pretty lazy at home but driven in their jobs or hobbies. They'll take the trash out when it offends them (sight or nose). But, at least he'll be drilled for two months on basic "domestic routines" . He'll be fine. Two months of hell and then he can join the other service personnel who do their job well and go home to be lazy.

[Dori (Damien's Mom)]

Tracy, My son Damien is the same way. He is leaving for BC on Oct 8th, I really hope all that I have read is true. He wanted to join the Navy because his words were that "I need direction and motivation". All his does now is hang out, and his recuiter tells him enjoy while you can. I can't wait to see my son be he salior that I know he can be.

[Linda E./Justin div 161]

Believe me, he WILL learn, He will do fine! You will be one proud mom when you see him in a few months.

[LynnDear]

This makes me chuckle with so many memories. When my son wrote that he was ironing in bootcamp and was measuring his creases I am surprised that I didn't have a heart attack. He used to leave his clothes in the dryer and never fold them. He would sleep until noon and go back to bed. He would take showers until the water ran out. When you gave him clear directions the answer was huh? or you never told me that! Not sure what they do in boot camp, but it was more than I could manage in 18 years. Now, just be his mom, and let the Deppers do their stuff. Don't mix the two. I only learned this for my son. I nagged the first one. Just get ready to write those letters. He doesn't NEED you now, but he will soon to help him focus later

[Christina]

Hey, how do all of you know my son!!!....jk

Tracy, I had the same worries and I will tell you, I was so frustrated with the lack of enthusiasm towards boot camp or anything that he needed to learn. I was pushing like crazy, in fact I knew more about boot camp than he did going in (that is not a bad thing, it helps you prepare emotionally). The week before he went in, his recruiter had him running 5 miles a day and on a diet of strawberries and water so he could lose the body fat (weight was good, body fat measurements were off?), I had been trying the whole month before he left to get him to run! Anyway, he is in his 5th week of BC now and I get a letter every week from him and he sounds pretty good, positive and right now he says he can taste graduation.

So, find out everything you can, pass on the information to him, don't be offended when he isn't thrilled with all of your new found knowledge, and keep reminding him that this is his thing (remind yourself too), and then tell yourself that he will be just fine, because he REALLY will be.

[Kimberly K.]

Your comments made me laugh, LynnDear - Josh's idea of ironing was to throw his clothes back in the dryer. Every morning he'd be running the dryer with one shirt in it! Thank goodness for the USN!

[susan]

My son is due for boot camp next week .. He lives on his own but he is and was the same way. You could light a firecrcker up his you know what and he still wouldn't move any faster.. Maybe this runs in the Male teen catagory... But he is in to a rude awakening when he gets there. He is getting pumped up about it now cuz it is down to the last wire.. He is looking forward to it now ... Good luck ...He'll get it one of these days...

SUE