My Son Left Today for BootCamp

[ChellyMay]

My only son left today for bootcamp at Great Lakes and I am bittersweet. Even-though he is 26 years old and married with his own home and a great life it still makes me feel sad as a Mom. In 26 years we have never been apart for more than maybe a week to 10 days when either of us were on vacations or honeymoons without each other. I raised him alone until I decided to marry a man who is not his father so I feel that it is hard for anyone else to understand. I really want to reach out to anyone who has a son/daughter who left today to go to Great Lakes. I just put him on the airplane and he is in the air and I can't stop crying right now. 

[lemonelephant]

I see you have joined, DEP-Leavin for bootcamp in July; you may want to join, or at least check out, Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones), PIR Reference Information, and New Members Stop Here. Once you know your SR’s PIR date and/or division number, watch in Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) and/or at http://www.navyformoms.com/forum/topics/groups-listed-by-pir-date and join the group for that once it has been created. There will be a lot of great information and support for you in those groups. Be sure to check out the Pages (found under the pictures of the Members) and Discussions within the groups. Arrival and What Happens at the RTC within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) will let you know what is happening, but you will also want to check out the other Pages in all of the groups.

(Group names within this reply are clickable links.)

[ChellyMay]

Thank you so very much! That is very helpful! His wife gets most of the information so this way I am not out of the loop. 

[lemonelephant]

You are very welcome.

Make sure his wife knows about this site and the groups as well. When Will the Recruits be Paid? and Information for Spouses will be important to her.

[ChellyMay]

She has already joined. Thank you very much. 

[lemonelephant]

:o)

[BridgetTheBrit (Ship 11/Div 340)]

My son left yesterday too! I am in a different place than you emotionally, but of course I do miss him!!! As an Army wife for 17 years to a career soldier, I am just thrilled by my son's decision and just hope that he does well at boot camp and stays strong through the pressure! My biggest worry is that he jus isn't that cliched 'tough''physical' guy - but he is fit, healthy and determined, so let's hope and pray that he fights through!!!!! My daughter left a few months ago to 'travel the world', so all of a sudden, we are empty nesters!!!! Weird & unexpected :). Anyway, our 'boys' may well be together!!

[ChellyMay]

Yes they will. I am happy to meet you. This is my only child so it is really tougher than most people can imagine. I can't have anymore children so if something ever happens to him I will lose it. I felt comfort when he called me twice from the airport in Chicago and then my daughter-in-law called and told me he made it to basic. I cried all day yesterday. 

[BridgetTheBrit (Ship 11/Div 340)]

Awwwwww :(. And I know that when my husband was in the Army, my mother-in-law found it hard (in the nicest possible way) to have to always wait for news from me! I did my best, but I do understand that it isn't the same!!!!!!! They obviously both care deeply about you :). I am 'lucky' in that I have been trained for this through a ton of deployments, but it IS different when it is your kid! I had a 'moment' this morning when I called upstairs for him to go and feed the horses.....and remembered that he wasn't there anymore! Very strange range of emotions!!!

[ChellyMay]

Yes it is. She is very young and not a Mom yet and we are not close so it makes it really difficult. I feel that it is, I deal with you because I have to verses because I really want to because we have something very special in common.....My Son Her Husband. I have to remind myself that regardless of anything I will always be his Mom and I will always have that Love and Bond that no other person on the face of the earth has with him. He is the Love of My Life outside of My Husband. I couldn't imagine going through this with a husband and then a son so I really commend you for being as strong as you are. I am doing so much better these days I watch the PIR videos almost daily because it makes me feel like I am there with him each step of the way. I had to constantly remind him that he can do this because his 26 years old and he knows that he is much older then most of the recruits. He is very physically fit he went to the gym and did crossfit everyday. I am not worried about him swimming he has been an avid swimmer since he was 3 years old. We moved from Wisconsin to Arizona when he was 12 and my sister had a 10ft olympic style pool in her backyard that he lived in. He needed reassurance from Mom and told me he will really miss me because we talk via phone everyday and had date nights just the 4 of us at least every other weekend. I miss my daily phone calls but I see, hear, and feel him everywhere. Hard to let him go for so long after being together for 26 yrs and only being away for vacations (a week or so). I am going through a variation of strange range of emotions as well. 

[BridgetTheBrit (Ship 11/Div 340)]

I have been thinking of you! I hope that you are finding ways to put a smile on your face. I know that it is hard, but you will always be his Mom and you know that! Wives are different from Moms and vice versa! I don't get on superbly with my husband's Mom - I never felt good enough for her and it was downhill from there!! But I have always tried to respect the relationship & pass news along. The sad thing is that she drove him away by trying to drive me away - which is really a shame because it isn't like we are in competition!! Oh dear :(. Still, he loves his Mom, as he should, and I do everything I can to make sure that he remembers to let her know!!!!!!!
How did I got off onto MY history?!?! Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you & hoped that all was well!!!

[ChellyMay]

Thank you for thinking about me BridgetTheBrit I really appreciate that. I totally understand being a wife and dealing with my mother-in-law who had it in for me until a couple of years before she passed away and I never changed the person I am, she finally realized the person I am and we were able to have an Awesome relationship and she died in my home in my guest room and I would not have had it any other way. I don't want my daughter-in-law to have to wait years to get along for my son and future grandchildren sake. I know my son will always Love me and I will always be his Mom and he must leave me to cling to his wife. Unfortunately, now that he is gone I am seeing a part of her that I am not comfortable with although she is communicating with me more but it is for a specific reason......(I am sure you can imagine why). Anyhoo, I had an Awesome weekend with my husband in Northern Arizona catching some cool/fresh air and fun. 

[Valerie ( Ship 2 Div 943)]

My only son left this past Wed., and boy oh boy, no one could of ever prepped me for this. It has always been the two of us. I am still trying to figure out what to do with myself lol. Although it was reassuring to get a call from him when he arrived in the Great Lakes that same evening, I still miss him like crazy. It was also reassuring to have his recruiter call me the a few days after he left to brief me on what to expect.