Leaving for Boot Camp the Week of October 25th 2010

[KLMkathy]

I thought it would be nice to start a discussion for our children leaving the week of October 25th 2010.  Welcome everyone.  Kathy   

[Nancy]

Betsy-take it easy, and drive carefully. It's probably even tougher when you're tired from driving too. Shamrock, TX sounds so cute!! Have a safe day tomorrow!! ((HUGS))
Nancy

[jeanne]

we had the same experience as Betsy. The recruiter came over when Ash signed up and I've not seen him since. Fill us in on all the details.

[Donna_ship12_div029]

Jen's recruiter has never come to visit, but to be quite honest, that may have been due to Jen being very independent and as she would probably say handling her business. lol. She had me go with her about 9 months ago to see where she stood as far as weight requirements and all that. Since then she has handled everything. It has not been easy for her because she had dropped an Army rotc scholarship(another long story) and the Army gave her a hard time releasing her. Then when she went to Meps the first time they tried to say she was colorblind and she came off with "that is biologically impossible" lol. So she refused to sign until she got a letter from an independent eye doctor wheww. And here we are. The recruiters were probably afraid to come to our house after all that lol.

[Betsy, mom of Stennis sailor]

Yeah, when is PIR? LOL

Betsy

[NC_Susan]

Ha ha unfortunately I am not physic and I doubt they would tell me even if they knew :) Susan

[Wendi, CTR mom]

I was reading the other night and they were all mom's of daughters talking about how scared their daughters sounded when they talked to them. It was killing me.

[Donna_ship12_div029]

My daughter Jen is leaving Oct 27. I have been in the army myself. She puts on a very brave front and i am sure she will be fine, but no matter how much i have prepared her, (this is my experience) when you get to basic you are now stepping into a complete different world. anything that different from what you are accustomed too is very scary. The guys won't admit it, but they also are scared of the unknown. They will all go through a low point in the beginning. It is all worth it when they graduate, and the feeling of pride that they have inside them, the confidence that has been built in them, by all the trials and tribulations. Wow. It has been over 25 years and I still have that feeling when I think about it. They will all do great, and we will all be so proud of them with our RAOC at graduation.
Donna

[Nancy]

Hi All,
I just got back from having dinner with Ian and meeting his girlfriend (reminder-he lives w/ dad in another town), and it was SO nice. I will see him again for coffee Sunday morning as he has plans for tomorrow. You will all LOVE this (sarcasm may be detected).

He decided in order not to hurt any feelings (mine or his dad's) that his ONE phone call will be to the girlfriend. I immediately handed my phone over to the girlfriend (very nice girl BTW) so she could add her number and mine went on hers. I think that Ian is making the best of a difficult situation (he knows his parents really don't like each other too much) and in some ways it was a mature decision. Did it break my heart..YES! but I do understand where he is coming from. I knew I could tell you guys cuz no one else will really understand how IMPORTANT that phone call is!!! But, I DID get him to agree to text me the entire way so I know he is OK, and I will see him at MEPS in San Jose before he goes.

Susan, You were a very busy lady!! I too went to buy my scarf last night (you save $7 shipping) and it is really cute in person. My hubby came along (well, really drove me cuz my car's in the shop). Anyway, he's like, "You have to have this NOW?" and I'm like yes. He has pointed out that nothing is written in stone, and I realize that our PIRs may not be on the same day, but this is how I look at it. Our kids are going to be entering BC almost all at the same time, the groups that are going in now seem to be all accelerated (going out in 7 weeks average), and our kids SHOULD BE (in my little fantasy world :-)) having their PIR around the same time. So even if we are not the exact same day, we are all staying at the same hotel, and we WILL be wearing our pink scarves, and we WILL run into each other. That's my backup plan for if they all have different PIRS, and I'm sticking to it. lol

Recruiter-wise, I have never been too impressed w/ Ian's and neither is Ian at this point. He never offered to come by the house, and I met with him once, I think the ex twice. I think Ian is mainly working with another recruiter. However, it sounds like you can only get the division number, ship info from the original recruiter as it is under his SS#. My kid thinks he know it all...I think he is in for a REALLY big surprise. Maybe not, hope not, but hmmmm.... we'll see. Oh yeah, I did mention the form letters, where you write questions and all they have to do is mark the multiple choice answer, which are available somewhere here (I will look for them next week for us), and he was actually quite enthusiastic about them.

I wanted to talk to him about what he wanted me to do if his Nana got really sick (this situation is playing out right now on Oct.site), but my mom was sitting right next to him at dinner and I thought it might not be too tactful hee..hee..hee. Hey I am looking for humor wherever, and my mom is in fabulous shape. But, seriously, I AM going to talk to him about how he wants to handle a crisis.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I am meeting a bunch of sorority sisters tomorrow night for a tailgate party. Do I have tickets to the game?...nope! But hubby and I should have a blast.
Nancy

[Nancy]

Sorry it is SO long. :-)

[jeanne]

That probably was a good decision but I'm sure it hurt. When my son left for the Marines and stayed up and waited for the phone call. The apprehension is UNBELEIVABLE! Then, when you get it, they sound so "official". they're not suppose to converse, they just read what is on the card. When my son got done reading he said, " bye momma" and I broke down. I could hardly beleive how emotional I got. I'm even crying as I'm writing this! such a sap. So, be prepared for a flood of emotion. I'm really struggling with Ash leaving because there will be no kids left at home. I'm also used to texting w/ her a million times a day and going to lunch on the weekend and breakfast on Sundays. I know I'll be really lonely.
I'm counting down, she leaves for MEPS one week from tomorrow.

Praying for strength!!! Through all the years of picking up their clothes, hounding them about their homework, getting the dirty dishes out of their room....this really makes you take the time to look back and realize how short and precious those years are. Now, as we "let go" and watch them fly, we will get to see what kind of job we did. When we see them march by in their uniform the pride we will feel will be more than any other time in our lives. Be proud mom's,,, they all made such honorable decisions by joining. This is a scripture I've posted on my refrigerator. I hope it encourages you all as you wonder where they'll be sent and if they'll be back.

Jeremiah 31:16-17
Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you. Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, your children will come again to their own land.
Have a great weekend with your kids.

Don't blink....the time is short.
Jeanne--Ashleigh's mom

[NC_Susan]

I love that scripture Jeanne. Thank you so much for sharing it! Susan

[Stacey USS George Wash mom]

I too thank you for the scripture. I am so glad I am not alone in this.
Stacey