My son just went to bootcamp in Chicago a week ago 10/27/08

[Jerilynn King]

Did anyone elses son go there too? I just miss him so and hope he is okay. When can he write? Do they ever get to call? I know these are questions that have been answered before, but I just need reassurance I guess. I am very proud of my boy Joey. From the time he talked about joining his father and I thought it was a good idea. I guess when the time finally came for him to go none of us knew how hard it would be. Does it get any easier? I just feel so lost without hearing his voice all the time. We live in Indiana and he lived in Florida, but he came home on holidays and called me all the time.

[Sandy]

Hello,,yes my son was there,,8 yrs ago this month...so i know how you are feeling...yes,been there done that sorta mom...my husband and i just moved to arizona from south bend..When yu say bootcamp it feels like yesterday,,so maybe we can become friends and compare our lives...have a good day and take care..thank got for this internet..oh my son has been at san diego,then back to ft wayne he became a recruiter in ft wayne and south bend.and now hes back on a ship...hopefully talk to ya soon. .Sandy

[Jerilynn King]

Thank you so much for responding to my thoughts. I would love to hear more about you. My husband and I moved to Goshen from Sarasota Florida a year ago. My son, Joey, got to come up for Thanksgiving and for a month in the summer before he left last week. He always called me though sometimes everyday. How long is your son on the ship for? How long do they stay on land? I am really a novice at this. Thanks again and hope to hear from you soon. Jeri

[Stephanie]

Hello Jerilynn, Welcome to our wonderful community of support. First of all just so you know ALL NAVAL RECUITS go to Great Lakes. It is the only bootcamp they have honey. All of our kids either went through or are their now. So that will be a big help for you when you read the forums about going to graduation (PIR) etc. I know exactly how you are feeling as I was a single mother with only one child. Being alone all the time and not seeing him walk through the door at least a few times a week lol has been a hard tranistion for me. To answer your questions you son will be allowed free time on Sundays only..some take that time to write and others are more concerned with doing their other dutys they have to do those days as well, Laundry, Ironing, cleaning etc. You however can write every day if you wish. Know that they DO get mail call daily and those letters mean the world to them! I got my first "real" phone call about 3 weeks in from an unknown caller (this is not the time to screen people.lol) he only got 30 minutes for the first one and then I got 2 others before PIR. All recuits and division commanders are different so some get more calls and others get less. If you didnt send him with a prepaid phone card make sure and mail him one. This is the only thing they are allowed to recieve in the mail besides a letter. Does it get eaiser? yes to a point.. My son has been gone since March of this year.. he is now stationed in VA and we are in Ca. It kills me that he is 3000 miles away from me but it is just like any other parent whos child has gone away to school..it hurts..it hurts alot but just remember it hurts us way more than it does them. He will learn and grow and acclimate himself. The holidays are going to be exceptionally hard for me since I have never had my son away from me on either of them but I know he is doing our contry a great service and I have to remind myself of that often. It doesnt stop the tears but it makes the sting a little less sharp.

Big hugs to you!!
Stephanie

[Jerilynn King]

Thank you so much for the info. I am such a novice at this. I guess you learn with time. My boy, Joey, lived in Florida for the past year, but we flew him up here to Goshen, Indiana at Thanksgiving and it was the first Christmas we were apart. He sent me a text on Christmas Day saying "mommy this is the first time I didn't wake up on Christmas with you." We then saw him the month of June he and his girl came up. I was always able to get a hold of him whether he called me or I called him or his girl. Her name is Stephanie also. Thanks again and I will get that phone card. Thanks for the hugs too. It means alot and helps to talk to you and others. Jeri

[kasie]

im a navy girlfriend not mom! but im just so glad to hear that he will be able to call sometime!!

[melanie miller]

jeri this is aunt ann talking for joey he is fine honey he aint retarderd like that first husband who is no relation to joey he is a smart boy that joey like his mama well cuddles and allison my baby girl say bye bye

[Caresshudson]

My husband left around that date.... He's in division 905? is that the same division?

[Jerilynn King]

My son is DIV 033, When does your husband graduate?

[Caresshudson]

my husband is supposed to graduate Dec. 19th.... He wrote me a letter the other day and told me...due to some of his follow comrads in the division still not taken things seriously the commander took away their leave time after boot camp... they must report to their school after boot camp. I'm praying once he reports they tell him take leave!!

[Jerilynn King]

That is awful. I hope they let him go. My son graduates the 19th of December also. Maybe we could meet somehow. We are staying at the Days Inn of Waukegan. Where do you live? Take care and let me know what you hear. Jeri King

[Anti M]

That's not leave, he couldn't do that. That's liberty, which can be taken away. Leave and liberty are very different things, I just wrote a long blog explaining the differences the best I could.

[calebs mom]

my son was there. it will get easier and he will get 2 write soon.so start writing those letters. he will also get 2 call after a few weeks. it was very hard for me also. but it will get better. he will be ok. u will feel better when u get that first letter and that phone call. we are very proud of these boys and i know god will keep his hand on them. my son graduated from bootcamp in may and i still miss him like crazy. but now he is stationed i hear from him often but in january he will b deployed.