10 Days

[MM3 Proud Momma]

Ten days. How did we get to just ten more days to go until my son leaves me for a life unknown? Wasn't it just yesterday that he celebrated his 18th birthday?

No, he turned 18 in January, and on his birthday, he joined the US Navy under the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). I've got to give him credit. He wanted to do this himself, his first major decision as a 'man', so he waited until his 18th birthday when he could sign all the legal documents himself instead of having momma 'co-sign' with him.

So how did we get from January to just ten days to go until he leaves for boot camp? Certainly I haven't been sleeping all this time because I know that we celebrated my little boys 8th birthday, Valentines Day, St Patricks Day, Easter, Memorial day and the end of school culminating with my son's graduation from high school, days at the beach, bbq's, 4th of July, the beginning of school again. So where has all the time gone? Why am I all the sudden time conscious?

Because my baby boy is leaving me. Because I have no control over this. By leaving for boot camp, this isn't like any 'normal' child (something my son has never been good at anyway) that goes away to college. I don't have the opportunity to tour a campus, check out a dormitory, go through the hassle of purchasing books. I don't get to help him pack his most cherished possessions and drive him 100, 500 miles away and help him organize his new room. I don't get to eat a lunch with him in his new cafeteria and make promises of phone calls the next day after he's been to his first classes.

No, I get to drop him off at his recruiters before he departs for Atlanta. The next day, I get to sit in on his swearing in ceremony, to grab a few quick pictures, give even more hasty hugs and kisses, interspersed with 'I love you, I'm proud of you, be strong, you can do this', and then *poof*, my baby boy will be.........gone. Gone on his way to the airport for his first airline flight (trust me, my dear son, this is going to be nothing like the little Cessna's that you've been flying) as I'm on my way to the passenger seat of the truck so that I can just cry my way home. He will be gone to a state that he's never been to while I remain at the safe harbour of our home. Gone will be my right-hand man, my best friend, my fellow mischief maker, into a world where he will have to rely on his fellow crewmates to be his right-hand men, best friends, and fellow mischief makers.

Ten days. That's all I have left of the life with my son as I know it before we both take a major leap into a world unknown. Ten days to fill him full of 'I love you's', 'I'm proud of you's', and 'be strong' to last through eight weeks of boot camp. Ten days to cherish him as my young man before I next see him as a man, a SAILOR!

[Aaron's mom]

Awww. I was there a few weeks ago. My baby graduates boot camp on Oct. 7. It is still hard, but I don't cry all the time anymore. Boot camp is tough, but it makes our kids and us stronger. Hang in there, Proud mom. Check here often. Go to the Facebook page for U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command. You will receive loads of info there as well. Join groups here for your child's division once you find out what it is. The moms here have been such a source of comfort! Best wishes. Hugs to you.

[judy]

I so feel and get your pain and worry...I too was like this, how did the day come, my son 23 graduated college and his plan all along was get his degree then join but I thought it would change, nope off he went to the Great Lakes of IL and only one letter so far, he did write his grandma and his buddy...I am trying to read between the lines in his letters....He went in a young adult, I am sure coming out a man...I cried and still cry, when they mailed his clothes home that we sent him to the NAVY in, that was the hardest day for me, just an odd creepy feeling, hard to explain....I am hoping I can find out more from the FB you suggested above, but I am not so good at FB...thank you for posting this, some mom said she still smells her sons clothes in his room at home, I was glad to hear I was not the only nut case out there :) Smiles and Hugs to all you moms and grandma's on here

[BunkerQB]

You all are very normal. It's hard to realize now but soon you will accept the fact that many of your sons/daughters will be in charge (or handling) of million dollar (or in some cases billion dollars) equipment/machinery. Soon you will understand the enormity of the responsibilities they will be taking on.

You can certainly be yourself on this site - cry, vent, bitch - it's OK. Just remember when you meet up with someone in public (non military), keep a stiff upper lip, stand up a little straighter - it's what your sons/daughters would expect from you.

[bella [mrs. ae2]]

That was very beautiful blog. I am not a mother (i am a wife) but I empathsize with you and my heart goes out to you.  Keep coming back to N4Ms. You will find support here day in and day out for these next years to come. Your baby boy will come out a man and you will be more proud of him then you even knew possible. Good luck! Stay strong!

 

Honor, Courage, Commitment. <3