My son left for bootcamp I am lost...

[ktzmom02]

I am inconsolable.I never knew this would be so difficult for me. My son graduated from high school a little over a month ago and left yesterday for boot camp, My daughter is ten years old and I love her dearly but I am lost without my son and cannot stop crying. I feel lost without him. We were so close we did so many things together, I don't know what I am going to do now that he is not here with us. Has anyone ever been in this situation? If so please respond I could really use some comforting words about now.

[Erinaday (Ship 13 DIV 265)]

Good morning Jamie.  It seems to me that you are doing what needs to be done.   Keep praying and writing those daily letters to her.  Personally It takes a lot of my brain power to come up with ways to make the every day mundane sound interesting. 

Remember what it was like when you were her age and how you felt about heading out on your own.  That's what helps me. 

[Courtney's Mom Ship 11 Div 313]

Thank you !

I did not know if other mothers felt the way I do . I feel such a loss in my life

 

[Erinaday (Ship 13 DIV 265)]

Believe me I do.  It's a grieving process quite frankly.   Keep in mind tho, it's not a complete loss.  It's just changed.  You're now the parent of a grown up.  My son is only 17, but he's made a man's choice and is doing a man's work and getting a man's pay, therefore I must treat him as a grown man. 

Wow.  It's a blow to the senses when I stop and think about it.  We're their roots now. 

[Courtney's Mom Ship 11 Div 313]

Thank you so much ! I know it is a grieaving process..

I just can't get over the feelings of loss... it is part of the childhood of my daughter is gone and moving on to a new part of her life.

 

[Colten's Mom-Nuke A school 1207A]

My whole world has been this boy that is now a man for 18 years. It feels like half of me is in the great lakes. Him having to be at boot camp an additional 8 weeks it devistating to say the least. He appears to be handling much better than I am. I feel like someone has kicked me in the gut still and he has been gone since the 21st of June. We do not know yet if he will get ot participate in PIR or not he only has like 4 days of actual boot camp to finish. SO he may get 2-3 days of day time liberty till he ships to A School. If that happens then I will get to go and spend the days with him that he is on liberty. But it is hard not knowing if and when I am going to see him. as well as knowing that he is injured and I am not there for him.

[DRod's mom (HM-S.A.)]

I am right there with you! My son also graduated this June and left on August 3. It has been me and him against the world since he was 5. My heart feels like it may explode. I am swelled with pride for him and the man he is becoming but I feel empty at times without him.

[Debera1952 (SR Kyles Mom)]

Our son left for bootcamp on June 27th.  He graduated from high school four years ago at onset of the recession.  He has tried everything humanly possible to get his career started.  At first he thought he wanted to work on car's that was pretty short lived.  So then he decided that he would become a Union Electrician like his father and Grandfather but there wasn't any work.  He past with high scores all the tests they require for the apprenticship they could put him through school but not work.  His father and I for the past four years used up our life savings supporting him.  He had to do something.  I love him more then life but he was now 22yrs old.  He left and was very excited about starting his life finally.  My problem isn't as much as him leaving but the fact that we can't afford to send just one of us to Great Lakes for his graduation.  That's a tough one for me since we have been there for all of his accomplishments.  So I am in a house of men including the dog.  No one it seems understand my depression and I cry and I cry and I cry.  With this said I understand we are Mom's and we miss our babies.  It will all work out in the long run.  Keep on keeping on....

 

[Erinaday (Ship 13 DIV 265)]

Hi Debera, that too was a deciding factor in our letting our son join the military before 18.  He'd scored high on the ASVAB and started getting calls but the Navy was the one that had the opportunity that fit well with what he wanted to do with his life anyway.  And with this economy and what's been happening to college graduates in the work market, it's logical to earn a wage while getting an education and a real apprenticship.  If they choose to re-up great and if they choose to leave after their contract is up then they'll be entering the work market with experience *and* an education. 

 

I'm so sorry you can't make it to his PIR, I too would be very upset about that. 

[navymom_2011]

OMG i am in your same shoes! My son also just graduated in June and is my oldest I too cant stop crying especially at night! I feel so empty!  My son just left tuesday and he just called me and its hard. How have you coped since?

[Erinaday (Ship 13 DIV 265)]

@julie What has helped me is writing a letter to him every day, taking care to make sure they're uplifting.  Challenged myself with making the ordinary every day mundane stuff sound exciting and/or funny.  I've loaded my letters with things like Mommaisms, for instance, "we aim to please, you aime too please..pick up your socks, now, I mean it.."  and other things I used to say to him on a daily bases as he left the house for school, or before he went to bed.  I've written verses of funny songs and hunted down Bible verses and funny jokes and quotes or inspirational ones.  I've loaded the letters with all my love and encouragement.  I've even told him what I was making for supper. 

Another thing that has helped me get through this time of missing my son is prayer.  Lots of prayer, as well as remembering that the Navy is giving my son the training and education he'll need for a career.  For the next 6 years he'll have a roof over his head and food in his belly, an education and money in his bank account (if he's wise with it).  He's starting his grown-up life with more opportunity than I did.   

[navymom_2011]

Thank you Erin, I too have been writing letters I keep in a note book. I just received the info from his recrutier a couple of minutes ago. Now I know his ship and Div. I'm just a little confused about his PIR date. he told me the 7th of Oct and his recruiter said 9 weeks from the date he arrived so that would be the 19th???

[lemonelephant]

Recruiters often say 9 weeks, but it can be anywhere from 7 1/2 to 9 1/2 weeks, with 8 1/2 weeks being typical.  If you have the Division number, then you can join the group for that:  PIR 10/07/2011 TG 47 (Divisions 329-340 & 947) or PIR 10/14/2011.  So far, TG 48 has Divisions 948 and 341 through at least 344--probably through 346 or after.  Some in TG 47 arrived on the same date as your SR and were the last ones to fill a division and others arriving on that date are in TG 48.