Waiting

[Navy 08 mom]

Waiting has never been easy for me. I'm waiting for word from my deployed sailor. It's been a rough couple of days. I know he will get in touch when he can but right now time seems to be standing still for me. It's crazy but I swear I feel physical pain in my heart. You know like it was ripped in half. Every quiet moment finds tears coming to my eyes. I'm afraid it's going to be a long deployment. Just how in the world did the Mothers of the past survive when all they had was snail mail? I keep checking my email......nothing! So I'm sure he is so busy he doesn't have time to think and that's a good thing for him. I'm sure he would be having withdrawals from not being able to text if he weren't so busy. I swear he was a professional at that. Well just maybe through this all I'll learn that waiting is a virture I can obtain. Will see.......still nothing!

[Donna C]

Hang in there Mom. Try to keep busy. It really helps the time of waiting to go by quicker.....

[Paula S.]

If he's recently deployed, it takes a few days for the email system on the ship to get up and running. There are also times when email will be taken down, depending upon what the ship's mission is. Lines for computer access can be long, as is also with ship-to-shore phones. On a carrier, with 5,000+ onboard, wait for phones can be as long as 1-1/2 hours... many choose NOT to spend what little free time they have to stand in line for phones. Remember your sailor is most likely working 12 hour+ shifts. The best time to anticipate hearing from your sailor is when they reach a port and can get off the ship to use phones provided by the USO or others. No news is good news... trust me, you will be notified immediately should anything of consequence happen to your sailor. Hang in there!

[Betty Guillen]

Girl,
I didn't even know this site existed until about 2 months ago and my Sailor has been in the Navy for almost 5 years! The time your Sailor is in Boot Camp I swear it the absolute hardest time! Yes, buy a lot of tissues cuz NO one will ease your agony! However, when all is said and done you will be getting ready for graduation! So let me take you thru a few steps until then...
Yeah, no emails or phone calls for the first 3 weeks for sure! Then it will most likely be only be 15 to 30 minutes. I think what the Navy does is instill that Mom is utmost important and so is family BUT you must learn to cope without them. The beginning of becoming totally self sufficient! The symbolisim of sending their clothes home is important too, it closes the chapter on that part of their lives for now. It is the first step in maturing as a total and complete individual. I will pass this on to every Mom I swear...write...my sailor told me not to he would call and I regret that I listened to him to this day! One Mom sends her letters in bright colored envelopes so that her Sailor knows he/she has mail before even being called. That is so cool! No we can't send music cards or any bad news but it works out well that way anyway. Especially, not delivering bad news as they are going thru their own stresses. Then you will be on the grounds where in minutes you will witness your Sailors graduation. This is the final step in a transformation that will blow you away. You think you actually feel pain in your heart now! At this time your heart will feel like it is exploding!! The transformation is more than amazing! I handed the Navy a confused, unmotivated Mom's boy and in a few short weeks they returned a self-sufficient, disciplined, confident, mature MAN! I have the knowledge and peace of mind that no matter where he goes now he will always be prepared! It is a beaming feeling even more emotional than his birth...you will see! In the meantime, cry it out...it's OK we ALL do it. I still do now! In the meantime. your Sailor will eventually be at his new home away from home. His Navy buds will have pictures and they lovingly tease each other as they go thru every ones' pictures. So, start getting an album together for your Sailor from his birth pictures to recent ones. They really do love showing them off...I saw if for myself when I went to visit my Sailor in Maine. You won't ever have your baby back...he'll only exsist in pictures but you will have a MAN in return and the journey is only beginning! Your relationship with your Sailor will grow ever stronger as they really do learn to appreciate what Mom did for him! Especially the first time he has to clean a bathroom with a toothbrush! ROL! Let your self laugh while you get the album together by remembering the times behind the pictures! You and your Sailor will be so fine!
Godspeed,
Salty Mom Betty