LETS PLAY NICE !

[maria]

Good morning friends,
Just a friendly reminder and some advice to our new group members. We here have a beautiful site started by some very special people. We all love our children serving in the Military. We also have our strong opinions on religion, politics and many other matters. When I felt brave I started a blog on Scuttlebutt during the election season. Well, I got slammed and it got heated , I simply deleted my whole discussion, I don't know if I was allowed to but I did it. The debate just became so nasty, in my opinion ! We all have choices , if your faint at heart Don't get on that site , there are so many other places to go here. Every mom ,dad and family member here are wonderful, supportive and some are tough. Remember, no name calling, and keep your sailors out of the debate, they are all doing their jobs and we should be doing ours , supporting each other not bashing each other. As far as other sites being better than this one, I wouldn't know , because this is the site I love and the group that is always here for me. people are great here, so I welcome all newcomers and those of you who don't like it here I hope you find what your looking for. Hugs to all , Maria

[embarassedN4M]

Maria,

I am glad you posted this as I was coming here to do the same...all the drama has been on my mind - and I've only been here less than 2 weeks! No, this is not my normal posting name - to be honest, some of you women scare the bejesus out of me - I commented to my husband that if the Navy was smart, they'd recruit some of you...dang!!

My main reason for posting is that I have a couple other moms who's kids will also be leaving soon and they have asked me in the last couple of days where they could get some good info - and to be honest - I've was too embarassed to send them here!!! Don't get me wrong - I have gotten more info here in less than a week than the past year in getting my son ready to go to BC, but holy cow, you guys are more than brutal, you're just down right nasty and since most of you don't seem to be, I am embarassed and ashamed for you and not sure I want to be linked to this group. There are some WONDERFUL moms that I've come in contact with on this board so far and unfortunately there are some of you that ruin it for everyone.

I understand that many, many of you have been fortunate enough to have been raised in awesome military families and most of the info that us new Navy moms come seeking is old hat to you. But guess what? (shocker I know) some of us have never had anyone in the military in our families and while we have acquitances that are military, the whole way of life is foreign to me. I want to understand so that I can relate to my son once he's done and out beginning his new career. I am sorry if some of my most basic questions grate your nerves..then kindly move along and allow someone else to help.

I read through the whole complaint etc post, and while I understand what Hoppi was trying to do, honestly ladies, aren't there bigger issues to worry about? I honestly could give a flying leap who was the first mom here or who thinks their son/daughter has the most important job. Honestly, any kid that's left home to care for their county has the most important job! Please!

I will continue to come here only because I see people coming in with the same deer in the headlights look that I had a couple weeks ago and I feel like I can make their transition a little easier, like others here did for me. I have looked through this whole forum and there are some of you that seem to only be here to stir up trouble - its been a long time since you've actually reached out to make a difference, which, unless I missed something, this forum is all about. Maybe it's time that some of you find another arena to hang out in on a daily basis. There comes a time when you become a henderance instead of a help.

We aren't groups, we aren't elite and non-elite - we are all moms, Navy Moms.

I am truly proud of the path my son has choosen and I'm proud to be a Navy Mom and I don't care if you were the first mom here or the last mom here - I am thankful for the service your child is giving.

[maria]

Dear Embarassed,
I'm sorry for the moms who may have discouraged you on this site. I am also a neebie here, only 1 year. My blog was to try to encourage the moms or new moms that there are so many nice moms here and to stay away from the discussions that can get super nasty. I always try to remember the feelings I had when my son was in B.C. and when he first deployed it was and is horrible ,but I try to support our new moms and I ask for help too ! Most of our moms are great and the seasoned moms are a true help, like Karen G, Molly and so many others, I can't help like they can, one because I not a military person and because of what my sons job is limits me for his security. Please don't leave us , I'm sure you will find some wonderful moms here who will be there for you . Hugs to you , Maria, P.S. Don't be embarassed of N4moms we are a great family.

[Rose R]

Hi Maria and embarassed N4M. There is a lot of good in the site, the complaint discussion is not typical of what goes on here. Frankly, i had support from some people, and attacks from others when I came her in April.Those who attacked me when I arrived I finally said what I had to say to them . I started Ship 17 moms and Moms of discharged Sailors to help other moms in the boat I was in, so they could go there to talk about their problems, and we could share our experiences to help one another in a safe harbor, free of criticism.
If you tell your friends to avoid Scuttlebutt, most of what goes on here is supportive.A lot of steam got blown off the last few weeks, but the good outweighs the bad. There is a saying"take what you like and leave the rest"