Son leaves in 24 hours, flys to IL Wednesday 4/18

[JMT1366 (Ship 3 - Div 188)]

We just had our sons party yesterday afternoon with a great turnout from lots of family and friends to wish him well.  He will be picked up tomorrow afternoon to be taken to MEPS and will fly out on Wednesday, 4/18 to IL.  Needless to say, today is a huge reality check for us all.  I'm feeling very sad today knowing he will be leaving soon.  I know this is normal but wanted to hear some of your stories to help ease my mind. 

I have to say the waiting is the worst part.  It's the anticipation of leaving and the fear of the unknown.  I can see the stress and worry in him today more then ever.  I know once he gets there and gets a few weeks under his belt he will feel quite different.  This will be hard on us all....but we know he will have such a bright future ahead.  This is a long and exciting journey full of many emotions.   I'm sure I won't sleep a wink tonight...

[ebigirl]

JMT; what you are feeling is totally normal. I would say that you need to get used to the waiting...your son joined the Navy and you know the Military's motto of "hurry up and wait"!! It is oh but soooo true!

My son is my only child. He went to our local recruiting center in Nov. of 2010 and signed up without his dad or my knowing. He was 19, and it was perfectly ok that he did this. It just came as a huge shock at the time. I have now learned that by making this huge, life altering decision on his own was the very best decision he could have ever made.

He left for bc in March 2011. His leaving was hard, but I never in my wildest dreams thought that his being gone with NO communication besides snail mail would have such a deep effect on me. I was literally glued to this website almost 24/7. We had received the first "I'm here, I'm safe, and I love you guys bye" phone call the night that he left, and knowing he was safe made me feel tons better.

For as many times as I would ask, tell and/or beg him to clean his room, sometimes I would just stand in his room and actually appreciate the fact that he didn't bother to clean it before he left. Sounds crazy I know, but many crazy things occur when all you think about is your child.

We drove to his PIR (graduation) in early May of 2011. If you haven't made up your mind if your going to attend or not, I can honestly say that you DO NOT want to miss it for anything. The ceremony is awesome, and not only are you proud of your own child, I found pride in being an American was just as important. Being able to see and hug my son in his dress whites was worth every mile driven.

PIR occurs every Friday, and then the majority of the graduates fly out to their designated A schools the very next morning. We met our son at the airport at 4:30 AM!! Did I mention "hurry up and wait"??? Well...his flight didn't leave until around 10:00 AM, so we were able to spend a few precious hours with him. Again, worth it and every minute of sleep lost!

We didn't see him again until August of 2011, when he arrived home from A school. The Navy does amazing things with our sailors in the 8 weeks of bc and then again while they are in A school. Your son's rate will determine how long he is in A school and where he goes for A school.

Expect to be on the bc "rollercoaster" of emotions for 8-9 weeks. Once your son is in bc, you will find out what ship and division he is in so that you can send letters. The one thing heard from just about every sailor was that no amount of letters is ever enough! Start writing them now, number the envelopes, and mail 2-3 at a time. Mail day is the favorite day of the week for the SR's (Sailor Recruits). 

I'll go for now and let others add to my experience. I can say that my son is very happy, LOVES his job, and our relationship has only grown stronger.  :-)

[JMT1366 (Ship 3 - Div 188)]

Thank you very much for sharing your story, it means a lot.  I'm preparing myself for the long journey and I know it will be an emotional roller coaster ride.  It's exciting and scary all rolled up into one. 

We plan to fly to IL for PIR and I'm already counting down the days.  We had people who attended his party yesterday write him a note and I will mail those out (along with my everyday letters) so that he's sure to get lots of mail!  :) 

It's funny you say that about cleaning his room, he too has always had a messy room and I expect it to be that way when he leaves, I'm sure.  It's funny how we get on to them about things like that and now they seem to be so less important. 

Again thank you for sharing your story and I wish you and your son well!! :)

 

[ebigirl]

Your very welcome. Your so right about things that are so less important now that they are adults and making decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. Mine seems to have grown up overnight!

Have a great time at PIR. It is a once in a lifetime experience, one that everyone should experience!

Please wish your son well and thank him for making the decision to serve his country.

[Hawkmom(PIR 6/15 S-11D-177)]

My son left on 4-11-12. Thank you for sharing about your sons room. I cried opening the "box" because his clothes smelled like him. 4 days later , I still don't want to wash them :( I thought I'm being silly. He is the first to leave home of 4 boys. Thank you for sharing. It means a lot to see others thoughts going through this adjustment stage.

[JMT1366 (Ship 3 - Div 188)]

Just received my phone call. He sounds so tired and stressed....long day. He allowed us to go to MEPS, so happy we were there...it was a emotional moving day. I managed to hold in my tears until I was out to the car. I'm so proud of him. Wow, what a journey this will be for us all. Can't wait for the form letter to get these letters out to him. Thankful for this website and all the wonderful Navy moms....great to be able to share and express this wonderful experience.

[ebigirl]

After such a long day the reward is the precious phone call. We were also allowed to go to MEPS with our son, watched him being sworn in, did a lot of hurry up and wait.

Congratulations on being able to wait until you got to the car to start crying. I wasn't so lucky, but my son knew that about me going in. Sleep good tonight, and know that your son is in a very safe place and being well taken care of.

[JMT1366 (Ship 3 - Div 188)]

Thank you again!  :)  Now the waiting begins...I woke up this morning thinking I would be feeling some comfort knowing he's there safe and sound but now worry and wonder what is happening to him and how is he handling it.  I just need to put my faith in him and the good lord to watch over him.  He will do fine.  Mom's never stop worrying....it's what we do.  God Bless them all! 

[ebigirl]

If you haven't watched any of the videos yet, be sure to start from the beginning. I think one starts with SR's getting off the busses at b.c. and it walks you through the process.

I haven't watched them for awhile myself. Thinking there might be new ones???

Go to the main page and scroll down to Bootcamp Mom's Survival Guide. Bunker QB and a few other "veteran" mom's have put it together and it's awesome.

Again, welcome to the Navy, and I'm right there about Mom's never stop worrying!  :-)

Oh, and your son's cake is beautiful!!

[JMT1366 (Ship 3 - Div 188)]

I will look at some of those videos....I hope it will help ease my mind some.  Thanks so much for sharing...it means a lot!

[Dawn]

Hi. I feel your pain.  My son is in Pensacola FL for school but I remember like it was yesterday when we were anticipating him going to boot can't.  I was sick for weeks leading up to it.  The day he left I was in the bathroom laying on the floor sick but oddly at the same time a deep feeling of excitement and being proud.  My son was only 17 when he left, he still loves it and said he has no regrets. Keep your head high and be proud.  He will call you the first night but then not again for about 3 weeks...  It gets easier.  The excitement and anticipation and unknown will eat you alive...  Just know they say boot camp is not that bad and you will get back a better "kid" 
Dawn

[JMT1366 (Ship 3 - Div 188)]

I just wish I could hear his voice and he tell me he's fine.  I know he is...but it's just the fear of the unknown.  I'm so looking forward to the next phone call...it seems like 8 Weeks is an eternity away....I feel myself how I used to feel liked the days past so quickly and now they seem to drag on forever!

[Mom2TJ]

I come from a long line of military men & women in my family, so I wasnt suprised when my son wanted to join.  He was very excited and apprehensive too.  The unknown I think was the worst.  Now that he is in his 1st week of BC i have all kinds of things running through my mind.  What is my "baby" going through?  It makes me very sad.  He is my only son and I miss him sooo much.  I just pray he is doing well and making it without any problems.  Every time I go to his room I get so sad and the reality hits that he isnt gonna be home for a long time now.  But I know he will be ok and I know I will be too.  He is my 1st to leave home. I am soo very proud of him.