Been There - Done That --Start Your Sailor A Scrapbook

[seansMoM]

I've already been where most of the new moms are now... through the initial separation anxiety, the worry and receiving "THE BOX" ....I was a BloB of nerves. My son is my only child and I had already "planned" his life for him....somebody had to (so I thought) ....He sure surprised me the day he left for Great Lakes. After that, I had taken to the bed....crying, depressed and missing my child. I didn't think I was gonna get through BC much less anything else. Until, PIR....I saw how proud and confident he was with his decision. Was I wrong for worrying ? NO....I am a MOM....it's my perrogative to be a nervous wreck. Am I proud?....you betcha !! So now, 2 years in.. ".we " have been through one deployment...readying for another.... I am still a nervous wreck...but now, I am putting most of my nervous mom energy into a scrapbook and keepsakes box for him (pictures,passes, cards, letters etc..) ...it sure has been calming. I'm not saying it's a cure for missing your sailor, but for me it has truly helped the "blues"........PNM...judy

[Betty Guillen]

Dear Kathi,
Although I am not a "new" Navy Mom, I did just get a home computer and finally can get with other Navy Moms.
The first time I heard my youngest ( 2 boys, one older) had joined the Navy (no pre-warning) I thought I would pass out but then again, was I going to throw up! Now, 6 years...yeap, 6 years later and I tear up thinking about the very first hand shake at his graduation! Kathi, I begrudgingly gave the Navy a boy, a very spoiled boy at that! In a wink of an eye, I was shaking the hand of a MAN! Oh, he's still spoiled but now HE can afford the spoils himself! The first week is the hardest! Especially when you hear of some of the tests they have to endure. But endure they do! My son Eric is a Torpedo man on a submarine. The thought of him in the deep cold dark ocean would drive me nuts sometimes. Then, again, in a blink of an eye I'd visit him or he'd visit home and I would remember that he was now set for as long as he was IN the Navy! He has a brand new Dodge truck, a wonder new finacee and will be in Plainview, TX for the next 3 years as recruiter now that his submarine duty is over. Don't get me wrong, material things aren't what is important. It's his well being. Kathi, it has been an experience of a life time for Eric. He has seen Hong Kong, Guam, New York, the North Pole, Greenland, Boston, he now lives in Maine. He has the confidence it takes to survive especially in these times. OKAY, I have rambled on enough...you're probably sleeping by now....so, one last thing....
Embrace the Navy life for him and with him...it will protect him as he protects our freedom! AND MAKE HIM TAKE PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES!

Good Luck and God Bless you both,
Betty

[Linda Snedeker]

THanks for your post Judy. We must be twins....LOL Sounds like you were spying on me when my only child/son left for Great Lakes. I will never forget that early morning drop off and seeing the recruiter driving my baby away. What a sick feeling that no one who hasn't experienced can describe. However, the PIR almost made up for it. I was so pumped and proud of him. He is returning in a few days from his first deployment and we are so excited to see him. I am also going to be doing a scrapebook for him when he brings his pictures home. I have also saved all his emails to be included........thought one day his kids and grandkids would enjoy reading them........Thanks for sharing with us.
Linda S.

[Lake Charles Vicky]

I'm new to this site too. My son is going to enlist, hopefully after he gets his college degree. He is my only child too and reading the posts from the moms here at least I know I'm not alone in my fear or in the thoughts of how much I will miss him. We talk everyday now and he is only two hours away. I can deal with that but all the not knowing that comes with the Navy scares me.

I do have the peace of knowing that God loves him more than I do so I know in my heart he will be ok. We are working on preparing him and ourselves at this point so I'm really grateful for this site.

Judy, I have to ask, what is "The Box"?

Be Blessed,
Vicky

[iinky65]

You are right. My son has been in for six years now, he is 27 and he is still my baby! I started my scrapbook when he first went in, and as you can imagine i have several now but they just keep growing. My son was only going in for (4) years and evry time he tells me he is thinking about getting out he stay's in. I am very proud of him as i know you are of yours. When he left he had this strut when he walked. When i went to see him graduate in Great Lakes i could not find him, i looked every where through the sea of Sailor's and i could not see him. I was looking for the boy that left me, What i found was the Man he became in such a short period of time. No more strut. It was one of the many proud days in my life to see my son become a man, but such a man that when we saw each other we both broke down and cried, and he thanked me for everyyhing i had ever done for him. So continue to save every little thing you have from his NAVY life. I plan on giving mine to my son's daughter when she gets older so she will always know who her father has become.

[Lindsey loves Julian <3]

Aw Judy it's really great to read this.. My boyfriend is a Sailor who is currently on his 2 weeks of leave after graduating A-School, and will be leaving July 1st for his first deployment on a submarine to Hawaii. I'm a nervous wreck, I'm sure you can relate. Anyhow, I have been putting together a scrapbook full of every memory that we have made since the day we met. I must say I'm pretty good at making these things, and I put SO much work into it. Now all that's left is to give it to him, which I will on the day he leaves me. I really hope he likes it and appreciates it as much as I loved making it. It's nice to hear that scrapbooking for your sailor brings you joy. Take care!

Lindsey