Overwhelmed

[Heidi]

Hi!  My daughter signed in for DEP back in November, and I joined this site, but to be honest, it's all very overwhelming.  There are so many posts that say "Read This First" or "Stop Here", that I just don't know where to go.  I have so many questions, concerns, and am a little sad that my girl is leaving.  BUT I AM JUST SO PROUD!   Any tips for an overwhelmed Mom??

[cindycl]

I know where you are coming from!  As a mom who plans everything and likes to know what's going on,  it's overwhelming at first and everything seems out of control.  Then I realized that we have more time to plan than some. So that helps.

First of all, I would suggest joining the MEPS and DEPS group, the DEPs leaving in (whatever month), and Boot Camp for Moms.  Then just start reading the suggestions they list.  They give very good outlines of what to expect, how to prepare during the last month before your future SR leaves, and Boot Camp week by week.  I printed them all out and put them in a notebook.  At this point, I feel better about what to expect and told my SR I already had him through Boot Camp, through A School, and on his first ship!  And he doesn't leave until June....lol

Then watch some YouTube videos on boot camp and the many other videos they have. Just look up Navy.

The more you browse around, the better you start to feel.  If anything, break it down and read only one article or watch one video a day to let it absorb.   I hope this helps a little! 

[Heidi]

Thank you!  I'm a planner myself, so I will take your advice!  Thanks again!

 

[olga]

Sure.   My son left for Boot Camp (BC) on Monday.  He found out he was going months before and the day did not seem to come soon enough for him.  At this point, try to spend as long as you can with your son, treasure the moments, give him your two cents of life.  He will get the rest after he starts.  

I would read the getting started areas of the Navyformoms page slowly.  Familiarize yourself with acronyms.  Everybody uses them all the time and in every area:  forums, groups, blogs.  That was one that help me.  Then, you will naturally find groups that are more in synch with what your son wants to do, but all of them help understand the different stages of his career.  There is a great amount and variety of videos and photos.  In my case, now that my son is in BC, I watched videos of the beginning days, etc.  Once he starts, and because communication with him becomes limited, you will feel much closer to him, just by participating in this website.  Good luck and up with life!

[Navyvetwife48]

I know exactly how you feel, my daughter also leaving February the 4th and everyday my heart melts but also I'm just like you so proud.

[Navy Mama]

Hi there- I can relate to what you are feeling and I tend to want to know everything and so what I started with was really looking for groups that were supporting what my son was joining for- then I also started gathering all the boot camp info- I think I knew more about boot camp than my son did and he thought I was nuts! But that is how I could deal with it was to keep researching so it was so unknown.... Hard concept for a parent to let them go to unknown things so far away! And don't forget that you can go where ever you want in these sites- You will be a pro soon! Good Luck!

[JoJo'sMa]

Wow so very true.  My son kept looking at me like I was nuts when I told him about n4m site.  And I deal better when I have all the fact myself too! He left for BC on 1/27 so I'm waiting for the letter about graduation and I also understand it will contain his mailing address so we can write him letters.  Can you confirm that I've got that right?  Thanks!

 

[Winston]

JoJo'sMa - yip, you're right. But write your letters anyway, and post altogether when you get his address. The first few, I put numbers on the top so he'd know which one came first. And just to warn you, we got ONE letter back in 8 weeks! Was at the point of calling the base to find out if he was still alive! A few phone calls though, and ours was there over Thanksgiving and Christmas - tough time, but it goes quick :) So proud of them all! Ours is now deployed on an aircraft carrier a very long way from home, the most amazing 2014 our boy has had at age 19! Good luck to all of yours!

[MommaGirl]

Welcome to the Club! You will fit right in!! I am just about a week or two ahead of you. And let me say, it does get better. I too am a planner and one would think that I was the one enlisting and going to bootcamp.Ha Ha. 

What helped his dad and I, was I copied all the newbie stuff according to topic and made word documents that I then printed out. It makes the perfect bathroom reading or to read at bed time. 

All the other suggestions herein are excellent. You will find what works for you. In a few weeks, you will see a message like the one you just posted and think, 'ah, I've been there" and you will pop in and say, "boy, do I know how you feel, Here's what worked for me......"

[Amber. A]

 I felt overwhelmed also!! This site helped me a lot!!! I took notes and kept them together in a folder along with any important papers my SR mailed to me. I took that folder with me when we made our trip to the graduation. Feel free to ask any questions! Congrats to your daughter!

[disneygirl64]

I know how you feel, I was very overwhelmed when my son went in last year. There is a lot on this site, but it is all very helpful. If you ever have a question or just need someone to talk too, go into the main chat-room. There is always someone on and there are a great bunch of ladies that will help you thru.

[Leilena]

Heidi,

I feel the same way... My baby is scheduled to take her ASVAB tomorrow and she will enter the DEP. My emotions are all over the place because she is my only child and I am sad to have her leave me, but I am soooooo proud of her. I wish you and your daughter the best of luck.