Am I losing it or what????

[Jason's Proud Mom]

The "box" came last night and I really thought I was prepared for it, I expected to cry "a little" and that would be that. I totally lost it in front of my oldest son and my hubby-to-be and freaked out on both of them for not understanding my grief and accusing them both of not missing him as much as I do. . . I know this is the furthest thing for the truth (they both miss him in their own ways). I just don't know why I can't seem to get a handle on this, like my oldest son told me. . Ma, you're acting like he died!! Sad but true!!

[Tracy]

When the box came is felt like a death too. I had no idea it was coming and it was very tramatic. I am sorry you had to go thru that. I feel like it was a death, as in that part of my life died and it will never be the same. The brighter side of it is with an ending there is always a new beginning and that is what I am looking forward to. I am looking forward to having an adult mother son relationship. Although I still do get sad over the past being the past. It will all get better.

[Rita Redmond]

My hubby and I have both been in the service, we had our oldest son VERY prepared to go in, we were prepared, I did not even cry when he got picked up by his recruiter. And I knew about the box being traumatic because I read it in the other forum. But when it actually came, it totally shook me up, it made me cry, it made me cranky to the rest of the family and threw me for the proverbial loop. It passed but I was SO prepared and yet totally unprepared.

[Nancy Fortini]

Kathy......When I got the "box" I did the same exact thing !!! I flatly refused to "toss" the clothes in the washer, and didnt until after we came back from Great Lakes....How sad am I...lol??

Not to worry Kathy.......He is FINE...will be FINE......and you just keep coming here for any and all the support you need. The women here have all been through...or are going through, all the stages and aspects of having a son or daughter proudly serving in our US Navy. By the end of boot camp you will have wonderful stories to relate, I wrote to him every single day.....and that was important, for him and for me, actually. His letters got much better towards the end of boot camp. Believe me, they are so proud of their accomplishments.....They are just amazing.

Take Care....and NO WORRIES !!! Just keep 'loggin on" to N4M.....Thats' what we are here for.....
~Nancy

[Jason's Proud Mom]

Nancy. . that is too funny about not washing the clothes. My oldest thought he was helping and took the clothes to the laundry room, I SNAPPED and told him those clothes will not be washed until I decide it's time to wash them....both my son and future hubby, just sorta looked at each other with that WHOA!!! she totally lost it, expression!! I know they both think I went off the deep end :)

[Chrystal]

I thnk the hardest part about all of it, is the NOT KNOWING! Here are some videos that might make you feel better...

http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/1971797:Topic:816732

I hope this helps

[Jason's Proud Mom]

Exactly. . .I don't know if he's hungry, cold, sad, tired, scared, etc. I'm sure everyone feels the same, it's like you're always there for them to fix whatever problem they have and not being able to do that now is unbearable!!

[momofjhrazk]

Oh... THE BOX....(duh duh duh duh... background music!)

I hated the box! It was almost like he was dead or something. I didn't even know about "the box'. It will be okay. We all have survived the box and you will too. You have support here. When he graduates, you will look back on 'the box' incident & laugh. You will be so proud of your sailor.

[Elizabeth Pierce]

Okay I'm new here what box is everyone talking about?

[Tatiana]

The box is what you will get with all his belongings. Everything he took to boot camp will come back to you in that box. I got mine yesterday and although I knew it was coming it was very hard. Good Luck!

[Jason's Proud Mom]

I think this says it all. . .

What is a Son?

A son is a warm spot in your heart
and a smile on your lips.

In the beginning, he is charmingly
innocent, putting his complete trust
in you.

He comes to you for a hand to hold
and for the security only your arms
can provide.

He shares his tales of adventure and knows
how proud you are of his
discoveries and accomplishments.

All his problems can be solved by a
hug and a kiss from you, and the
bond, you share is so strong it is
almost tangible.....

Time passes, and your innocent little boy
starts to test his limits. He lets go of your
hand to race into the midst of life without
thinking ahead or looking both ways.

His problems have grown along with him,
and he has learned that you can't always
make his life better or kiss his troubles away.

He spends much of his time away from you,
and though you long for the closeness you
once shared, he chooses independence and
privacy.

Discoveries and accomplishments aren't as
easy to come by now, and sometimes
he wonders about his worth.

But you know the worth of that young man.
He is your past and your future. He is hopes
and dreams that have made it through each
and every disappointment and failure.

In your heart, your son is precious and
treasured. Together, you struggle through
the years trying to find the right amount of
independence for each new stage of his life,
until finally, you have to learn to let him go.

Now you put your trust in him, leaving that
son whom you hold so dear totally in his own
care.

You hope he always remembers that you
have a hand for him to hold and arms to
provide comfort or support.

You hope that he believes in himself as much as you believe in him, and that he grows to be the kind of man you that you have tried so hard to teach him to be; kind, honest, generous and loving.

But most of all you HOPE that he knows HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM.

[Elizabeth Pierce]

That poem is so wonderful. and says everything about the way I feel about my son.Elizabeth pierce

[DONNA]

This poem is so true thank you for sharing it donna gerry's mom