Letter Enclosures...

[K]

I know we cannot send anything really other then paper. I know some moms send cartoons, word jumbles, etc. I spent some time before he left going through and putting together things to print out and send him. Jokes, the Navy NUKE School Final Exam (super funny if anyone wants it), interesting pictures, etc. I have been clipping the SUDOKU puzzles for him also. Writing every single day makes you realize how boring your life can be sometimes but it also provides a challenge on what to include. I thought maybe we could start here by sharing some of the things we found to send that others might not have thought of.

My first idea was maybe taking funny pictures of us trying to do his chores while he was gone.

My second idea was to keep an eye on what changes are going on around town and maybe take pictures of some. We have a significant amount of growth going on so we have buildings going up, business moving in, etc etc. We are a small town so the Chik-Fil-A last year was SUPER exciting...so any stuff like that.

My third idea is to let his little sister (age 4) write letters to him. She is learning to read and write so it would be good for HER but they are close so I think it will be good for him too.

I also keep my eye on the local Washington Post magazine for interesting articles to clip and send. I picked up a thing of American Flag stickers as I heard in the past the kids can use those to stick their pictures up since they don't have tape. I would love to get some more ideas of things to send that are interesting. I have heard no politics so that is out. Nothing super heavy or depressing. Just some fun light stuff. Anyone else here have great ideas or things they are sending? The whole family in groucho glasses? All of us dressed like sailors? A short mystery story with a different page a day? Just brainstorming.

[Chrystal]

lol they really are going to think that!! thats hilarious. my hubby will be like, what is this, some kind of joke!!?!?

[Cindy Corpsman Mom]

It's great that you are coming up with such creative things to do (wish I had thought of those), just remember they won't be able to keep everything you send. They only have a small space to put everything in, which includes their clothes so he/she may end up throwing a lot of mail away. Also, they don't have a lot of time to read what is being sent. I know they'll enjoy looking at whatever is sent, but they'll really love hearing about your normal day as they are in a different world.

Keep on writing! As you said, after awhile you'll find yourself looking for things to say. Encourage, support, and love....it's the best medicine. It seems like forever, then you'll get that call saying they passed Battle Stations and you'll have a new sailor on your hands.

[Chrystal]

I mailed my husband one of those thin manilla envelopes that easily fold into thirds, and a book of stamps. I encouraged him to send back to me what he did not want, so then I do not feel bad sending him a bunch of junk.. lol even if its loving junk that I think he REALLLLY needs.. haha

[emily giles]

Well, my 14 year old is writing her brother letters. I like the picture thing. My son says he only gets some down time on Sundays. The word puzzles are good. Dont send anything to him that would get the attention of recruit trainers. My son, josh went in and his buddy got the attention of the trainers somehow.

[Pamela]

Advice from my son's experience in BootCamp.....Andy told all of us, the best things he received during this trying time...was song playing cards!!! He said, hearing the songs, sounds, music, etc...was heaven to everyones ears. He aslo told us, guys he didn't even know, asked him to please play the cards again. We almost cried when Andy told us these stories. He told us the cards were so nice to receive. He played them over and over again. They were wore out by the time his Div. graduated. The music was country songs and Andy don't like most country songs...HA HA HA After no news from home for a little while, no TV or music, cell phones, the cards were very nice!

[Cappy]

i have been told not to send these as they are not permitted. I saw where one mom sent one and the RDC yelled and made him do extra PT and never did receive it. Just my 2 cents!

[politelytwisted]

I agree with you Pamela. My son went into BC last June. I wrote or sent something to him every day. The best things he says were the musical cards. They are not allowed any radios or ipods of course, and they were starved for music and if someone got a musical card and had to do some extra pt because of it...none of them minded. He wrote back asking for the lyrics to a couple of songs. After I sent those, others put in requests. When I found a few musical cards to match the lyrics...they were in heaven. They could sing while working on their uniforms etc. As a Navy veteran myself I can tell all of you moms that the memories of BC will last forever. The stories of having to drop to do pushups for a musical card will be FONDLY remembered with pride, even if the RDC is a donkeys behind over it. You will hear them telling their friends when they are home for the holidays, "I did 2 million push-ups cause mom sent me Brad Paisley's I want to check you for tics musical card." and watch them tell the story with a huge grin on their face.

[Julie (Beth's mom)]

I did a day in pictures for my daughter. She LOVES pictures. I went around and took pics of all of us doing our daily thing and "journaled" it for her. I printed the whole thing out on regular paper to keep it from taking up too much room or the pics getting lost.

[BB]

When did ur son leave for boot camp and when does he graduate???
Has he called you?
What about the first letter, when does it come?

[flowers22]

My son was terribly bored at boot camp - he wrote about it all the time and mentioned it during our phone call. They have a LOT of sitting around time in their compartments; typical Navy...hurry up and wait. He really wanted a LOT more physical activity. So in addition to the regular letters, comics, jokes, articles about his college and our old home town, I took a paperback book and sent it to him in sections of about 25 pages. He REALLY liked that. I found cards & envelopes that were big enough to include the pages without folding. I hadn't gotten the whole thing sent off before PIR and that was one of the first things he asked - did I bring the rest of the book?

[K]

That's a neat idea. I actually considered doing that as well. Hmmm. I might have to throw that in this month.

[K]

I found an old paperback I never got around to reading that I didn't mind cutting up. I used an exacto knife to slice the pages out and then read them...I told him I was reading the book along with him. I found they fit just perfect in the larger size card without having to fold. I was able to get the first five chapters in without it being too heavy or thick. It looked like just a normal letter that I have been sending. Probably about 46 pages... I tried to find a good stopping place where the chapter ended right so he didn't get the first page of a new chapter. Whatever I don't get to send, I'll just bring the end up with me when we see him for PIR.