ship 7 division 198,depart portland maine april 6,for great lakes illinois for boot camp

[Rachel_2010(recruit kesh)]

i'm totally lost without my youngest daughter...trying to figure all this out..any help would be appreciated

[ChrisAmo]

OK, deep breath, don't panic, all will be well. First, you need to know you're not alone, we've all been there, done that and you can pick our brains anytime.

You'll probably receive a very short (like 10 seconds) phone call tonight. She'll say "Hi Mom, I'm here!" click. Not everyone gets the call (too many new recruits, not enough phones or time) so don't worry if you don't get the call. Then in a few days you'll get the "kid-in-a-box".....everything she took with her will be returned to you via FedEx. That's when most of us lose it as we spot the cell phone in one shoe and the battery in the other. We all know that lack of cell phone means lack of kid.

Then comes the letter from the Navy thanking you for giving them your child. You can ignore that part and go immediately to the bottom of the last page where she will have scribbled a few lines. There's room for 3 but I heard of one kid who managed 7 lines. She'll probably tell you that she's made a terrible mistake, wants to come home, is miserable etc. Pay no attention. 99% of them say that, it's quite normal. Heartbreaking, but normal. This letter will also contain her address for you to write to her BUT......if you contact her recruiter within a few days of her leaving home, he'll be able to give you her address.

Start writing to her as soon as you get her address. She won't be given the letters for 2-3 weeks so number the envelopes so she knows which order to read them in. No fancy cards, no musical cards, no cutesy stickers on the envelopes. None of that until you find out from her what her RDC (recruit training commander) allows. Some are more flexible than others. Always be positive in what you write. No bad news (she can't do anything about it anyway), just endlessly encouraging and chatty. I know my son was thrilled to know where we'd been, who we'd talked to, what we had to eat, how the cats were....in other word, normal stuff. They have very little storage space so I printed photos on plain paper so it would fold easily. You can also send stamps and activated phone cards, though they can buy all that stuff at the NEX. (Navy Exchange)

You won't hear from her for about 3 weeks. They're only allowed to write on Sunday afternoons so expect a letter either Wed. or Thurs. that week. As the first 3 weeks are the hardest, she'll probably tell you more of the same (I hate it, want to come home etc. ect.) but by week 4 or 5 things will start to make sense and her tone will change.

If she does well she may be rewarded with a phone call home. I actually got 2. You will definitely get a phone call after "Battlestations" (that's the last big test before graduation), when she'll call you to tell you that she's a sailor (before that, she's just a recruit).

Any more questions? I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with too much info. Join the Bootcamp Moms group, you'll get more info plus may meet other moms with daughters in your daughter's division. And welcome to the crazy ride!

[Rachel_2010(recruit kesh)]

thank you so much chris,that made me smile,so there, that is a start...hahaha...so happy to have a respond..i will check in often,,just to reassure myself..and yes everything you wrote help alot...as i think of stuff i will write it down..wow this is overwhelming but i can do it,cause i know keshia can do it...lol tys again

[subipima]

My daughter is in Ship 7, division 198. We just got a letter from her-she has made friends with someone named Keshia. I wonder if it is your daughter? My daughters name is Brooke. She told me that this Keshia sprained her ankle and had to be moved to another ship. Brooke helped her carry her duffel bag. She said it was so sad and she cried. If it is your daughter, I hope the sprain isn't bad and that she recovers quickly.

[Rachel_2010(recruit kesh)]

omg i have not heard anything,,,but yeah my girl is keshia,,i hope she recovers quickly also...she is a tough cookie.she calls i will ask if she is the one that knows brooke...tys for the info...also surprise that they did not contact me of something like this...

[subipima]

Hello again. I am so sorry if I caused you any distress. I re-read the letter that Brooke sent and it wasn"t Keshia that sprained her ankle. It was another girls whose last name was Johnson. I'm so sorry. However, I did get to talk to Brooke yesterday, and I told her that I was pretty sure that I had chatted with Keshia's mom. She was pretty excited-she said they are good friends. Are you going to the graduation? Maybe we'll be able to meet.

[lhpa(jazz mom+dad)ship9div225]

Hi my daughter left on the 27th of April (im Mom), I just want to know basic things like, what if she does feel like bootcamp is too hard? or if she's miserable ? or if she's home sick? How would i know these things. Im assuming i would have to wait until i receive her letter, but im not sure if it will kill me first to wait to hear how she's doing. Im a nervous reck. She has never did so much but to have stayed overnight at a friends house, this is sooooo hard.We all cried so much before she left I hope she's not sad, or this is not too overwhelming for her.this is my first born child , and i've also been able to fix anything for her, but not this! im so afraid she's a girl and I feel like I let out to the wolves, I wanna be happy for her and I am but, I want to protect her too. Im strong and sometimes I think she'll be fine , she can do this ! then I say what if she cant!

[Rachel_2010(recruit kesh)]

its normal to feel like this,i did,she made the decision and i respect it cause this is what she wanted to do,,my daughter says it was tough the first few weeks but now she would not change it for the world..she says they will help them get threw this one day at a time.no backing out now...they do work as a team so we have to believe in them unless they tell us otherwise...sry i have been busy getting ready for this trip..but should be on more often from this point on..have trust...we made it this far so can the girls///

[subipima]

Maybe you can help me. My daughter is Ship 7, Div 198 also. I've heard from her but we are trying to make plans to attend her graduation. I dont know how much leave time she will get. Do you know what the usual is? I would sure appreciate a reply. Thanks!

[Rachel_2010(recruit kesh)]

i really don't know,,we are learning as we go sometime they have liberty which means that they can come out but have to sleep there at night...that is as far i know,,,

[ChrisAmo]

Ooops. You're already IN the Bootcamp moms forum, so ignore my advice to join.

[NASmom]

My son is in the same ship 7 and division 198. Graduation May 27th, right? Have you heard from her? My son is hasn't wriittened but did call twice. I've been writing everyday!

[Rachel_2010(recruit kesh)]

nasmom sorry i have not heard a thing,not even a call...starting to worry about her now,but yeah i did get paper telling me may 27 was the graduation..but that was the last of that...getting nervous...they told me i should hear from her by the third week,well we are in the third week...but i do keep on writing to her twice a week...keep in touch..