Just got approved...Thanks!

[Jana]

I am so glad that I found this site and thanks for approving me.  My youngest  son leaves for boot camp on July 5 and I can't get anything out of him!!  I finally went and talked to the recruiter a couple of weeks ago to get what information I could to find out about what happens when he leaves and if I could go and see him off on the plane.  He said, "He sure is a man of few words". ..couldn't have spoken more truth about him than that.  I know he is trying to be independent and trying to handle things by himself, but it is driving me crazy!! I am not worried about him at all.  He signed up in October and has had a long time waiting, but has been doing good.  He has lost a lot of weight (which he didn't really need to lose in my opinion) but does look great and works out every day except Sunday.  He has been told that they wish everyone was as motivated as he is.  I have found some useful information already on this site, but if anyone has any advice or suggestions for me I sure would welcome them.  Thanks!

[jacqueline-rn]

It's a guy thing, I think.  My son never has the answers to my questions either.  I have joined several groups on Navy4Moms.  There's "New Moms Stop Here", "Boot Camp Moms",  "DEPPERS", (that's Delayed Entry Program for those who have signed up but not left for boot camp yet), Navy4Moms for my state and the group for the job my son's contract is for.  A wealth of info and support!  I told my son that I wasn't trying to embarrass him or take over his life, but I deal with stress by seeking information and I had questions.  He was okay with that.  I burst out with random tidbits of info from time to time.  I had taken my son and his best buddy out to dinner one night and suddenly interupted the conversation with the statement "you get about 5 hours of free time on most Sundays when you can do whatever you want except sleep.  That's when you write letters."  My son just turned to his friend and said, "she's talking about boot camp again.  It's her one topic of conversation."  Then we all went on with our meal.  I think they must have a training session about crazy moms at the DEPS meetings.  I hardly get the eye roll or the "awww, Mom" at all these days.  See? He hasn't even left for boot camp yet and he's already gotten more mature! 

Anyway.  Look around.  Join what looks helpful to you.  And welcome! 

[judy r]

Take pics lots of them swearing in at the plane and start you a scrapbook put his letters home in it the form letter and start following him it will help you along the way and pass time too. Do Not write to the address the recruiter gives you it will be wrong wait till you get the form letter. Be prepared for "The Box" it will have what he cant have at boot in it dirty clothes cell what have you.  Join the groups and come into chat and ask questions there are a lot of ladies that have already been there done that and they will help you along...Welcome to the Navy family we are huge.

[patty]

Should I wait till I get the Box before I start writing to him. Will his address where I should write to him be in the box?

[ChrisAmo]

One thing I discovered to be most useful was to write down everything of importance. What date he left for boot camp, PIR date, when he got to A school, how long each class took, when he graduated from various schools, ...just all the names and dates, addresses, acronyms and such. I keep it all in a little notebook next to my computer and it's proved to be invaluable, especially when someone on N4M needs info, I have it right to hand. When he went on deployment I noted all the countries he visited and the dates. I got a loose leaf binder and printed out all his e-mails from the ship so that in years to come he could re-read about his adventures.