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...

[Lisa]

My son was the same. He learned in boot camp that there is no room for laziness. I had some worries that he would be able to make it. Some of the letters and the couple of times he was able to call home were heartbreaking as it IS tough. But he made it through and his maturity now is astounding! Hang in there - it will be hard for him but the pride you will see on his graduation from boot camp will remain with you forever.

[Janice]

Tracy, Someone should write a song about this. You are living exactly through what I lived through with my son. Believe me when I tell you that this will end as soon as he walks through the portals of Great Lakes. My advice to you is to take it easy on yourself. Before too long he will be leaving for boot camp. There will be no video games, there will be alot of making of his bed, shining of his boots, everything properly folded, their quarters spotless, etc,etc.,etc. There is no asking twice. Consider this his vacation time. I promise you will see the difference when you see him after boot camp. My son since graduated A school (Medical corps)in 2006. This past August he was deployed to Afghanistan. Boy, there are many days right now I wish he was still playing his video games til all hours of the night. But you know what I am so proud of him that cry. He has become such a wonderful brave young man. So treasure all these moments with him. Yes, still try to get him to take out the garbage, and clean up his room that's what a mom is suppose to do. Time does fly by and before you know it you will see the change in your son. Trust me when I say this change will make you swell with so much pride you will cry. You take care and tell your son thank you for me. Janice

[Leann <3's Douglas]

LOL ohhh do I know what your talking about...My son was a gamer and stayed up till 4am slept in till 4pm......enjoy ....he won't be that boy after bootcamp. We stopped fighting Douglas and let him be. We packed his stuff, less to clean up and let him enjoy. When he came home on leave each time. He was up early , cleaned up after himself. Choose your battles, I was worried about bootcamp but they adjust, he will learn. You have such a short time with him, let what you can go and try to just make it till Spet 8th. Good luck.

[Helen]

Many of our sons need structure--they do better when they have a schedule that they have to follow every day--when to get up, when to eat, when to study, when to take a shower, etc. And they don't want to hear about structure or a schedule from Mom or Dad. My son floundered after high school and in college because there was no set schedule. He entered bootcamp in January and just finished one of the tougher C schools and has done well. He is heading for his first duty station shortly. At PIR he told me that one of his most memorable moments in boot camp was when his Chief was screaming at him and said: "The problem with you is that all you did was play video games at home...." My son told me that this comment hit a little too close to the truth. The Navy has more power than us Mom's had--there in no choice as to whether or not they are going to go to class and there are mandatory study sessions if they aren't doing well. There is no choice as to whether or not to do that chore and there is no choice about when it will be done. There is no one that was more worried about whether or not my kid would make it out of bootcamp because of the lack of motivation issue. But let me assure all of you--the Navy has lots of experience in dealing with these kids and has a successfull track record. We had to tell our son at least 10 times before he actually took out the garbage and the bed was NEVER made or the room cleaned before he left for bootcamp--but he did graduate from bootcamp and absolutely loves the Navy. He has finally found his niche in life! Tracy--I know that you are going to continue to worry (just like I did) for the entire time of bootcamp--and then you will worry all though A school (the worrying doesn't stop at bootcamp)--but after several months you start to realize that the Navy knows what it is doing--they have invested time & money in our kids and do want them to succeed.

[Melissa (Tucson)]

Helen:

The Navy did in 8 weeks what I couldn't do in 25!! lol

[Sheepie]

I am seriously LMAO at this thread. Tracy was bold enough to post what we were all thinking when our sons left us!!

My son took orders well. I didn't have to repeat myself too many times for him to take out the trash, etc. His problem was his 'performance'. If I asked him to fold a towel, I got it back looking like it had 15 corners instead of just 4. Of course his reply was "that's good enough". I kept telling him the Navy would be requiring more of him but what did I know?? LOL

Well in his very first letter last week, he said "I have some great shipmates who help me fold stuff right and keep myself orderly." So what everyone is saying in here is true.....the recruits keep the pressure on!!!

Whoever my sons shipmates are.....GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roxanna S.]

This is a quote from one of my son's letters "We usually wake up between 5am and 6am. Somebody (usually an RDC) say's "Reveille, Reveille" as they turn on the light. It has come to the point that if you need to wake someone up at night, you don't whisper their name and shake them, you just whisper "Reveille, Reveille" right by them and their eyes snap open. It's so cool." .... Now, you have NO IDEA the crap we went through with this boy for YEARS getting him up for school. I've been told all along not to worry about the shortcomings I know my son has, that the Navy will take care of it. I am now starting to see just how right they were. Please don't worry, this will be really exciting to see him grow into the mature young man he's supposed to be.

[PC]

Hi Tracy,
Oh Yeah, that was my son also, his life was X-box live! When he was at BC, he amazed himself with his test scores, his PT, he excelled in everything he did. Family at home were looking at each other saying Marcos??!!!
When you start to get his letter, you'll hear the change, when you see him at PIR, WOW, tears of joy and Pride and his accomplishments of becomimg a U.S Sailor. I have a mature, responsible son today. Thank You U.S. Navy and N4M.

[iinky65]

Yes girl they can change him, My son was the same way playing the video games, etc. just plain ol lazy, would wear his pants sagging the whole nine yards. When i went to his graduation (6 years ago) i knew right away he was a changed man.
So with be patient all good is coming!

[Inchon Lady]

I read your comment and laughed. I have two children in the Navy and boot camp was the best thing that ever happened to them. One was lazy and one was just a disorganized slob. Needless to say, both have changed their ways. I have to admit I was very jealous of the improvement, after all, I had tried very hard to teach my children those things. One of the chiefs made my year when he told me they can always tell the kids who have had parents who have tried really hard to get them to do the right things. Then he thanked me for making his job just a little easier.

I notice that it has been almost a year, how is your son doing now? My son has been in for 9 years and plans to stay for 20. He's an aircraft mechanic on P-3's. My daughter is a forensics photographer and has been in for 5 years so far.