Comment

Comment by Arwen on November 29, 2010 at 6:53pm

MPOA is Medical Power of Attorney. It gives you the right to make medical decisions for your sailor in case is unable to communicate his/her wishes, or is not in his/her right mind to make decisions. Once they turn 18 you have NO legal right to their medical information, as per HIPPA laws.

An MPOA gives you the right to ask questions, and have them answered. Without it, the Navy will not tell you anything about your sailor/spouse's condition if they are hurt and can't give permission themselves.

Comment by mamawalrus on November 29, 2010 at 5:17pm

Grayson@yes I agree on sailor but I think this poem was probably more general intended to maybe cover all branches, but just a guess. I guess it could be omitted out and replaced for sailor.

BB@sorry what is MPOA? I really hope you get to see him at MEPS swearing in.

jonsmom@we invited his grandparents and his best friends mom, who is also a friend of mine to attend the swearing in. We were first told he may not have to stay at the hotel on Tues but got the word he will.. We will do family dinner that night and have him back by his curfew and then to MEPS on Wed morning.

We are going to put our Christmas tree tonight as a family, it will be bittersweet. I guess its time to look for a NAVY ornament to add this year.

Has anyone joined Blue Star for Mothers/Fathers?

Comment by beachbum on November 29, 2010 at 4:31pm

I have been trying to think of things to do...love the blue candle idea, I am also going to get e-mails of those at his party Sat and then mail them his address in GL so if they want to write him they can! I have the sailors bible, got in on Amazon. We go next Monday to register his PAO and HCPAO with the register of deeds in our county. He will go to MEPS Tuesday night and spend the night in a hotel there, we (me,his dad and brother and sister) are going then the next am for his swearing in. I am leary to have grandparents go because I know grandma will completely lose it! Trying to get him to pack up what he will want for A school and then I guess the rest I will box up for when he comes home on leave and he can decide what to take from there. Does everyone know where the sailor will be stationed?

Comment by BBWinthemoon on November 29, 2010 at 3:26pm

Nerves are building...7 more days! going to sign the MPOA tomorrow I think, I think that is going to be hard for me, still have not gotten an answer as to if my son wants anyone to come to MEPS with him? I am learning how to hurry up and wait very quickly! Love the poems below, I have saved them to use, hope that is ok.

Comment by bbus (FC) on November 29, 2010 at 1:09pm

I like that poem mamawalrus...but wouldnt sailor in place of soldier sound better :)

Comment by mamawalrus on November 29, 2010 at 12:35pm

I believe and I have it written down somewhere the week that BS21 falls on. We dont get the call untill they have completed BS21. But maybe some of our veterean moms out there can clarify this?
Have a Happy Monday all!

Comment by mamawalrus on November 29, 2010 at 12:34pm

Tis@ here you go.. I got it from navyformoms on a discussion board, just dont remember which. lol. Have a tissuer ready... I cry every time I read this....

“I am the mother of an American soldier.”

I give my complete and unwavering support to my soldier.
As my child serves the people of the United States,
so I humbly offer up my prayers for his safety
and the safety and health of those he serves beside.

I respect his choice to adhere to a strict moral code and system
of values that has preserved our great country for over two centuries.

I accept that my soldier’s first duty is to his country and I understand
that this sacrifice he willingly makes is what keeps our nation great.

I will never expect anything but the best from my soldier
for I know he is capable.
I know that a soldier’s hearts is true and strong,
and that my soldier will endure.

I will never abandon my soldier, my son, my love.
I will love him unconditionally.
He will know I am there for him, even when he is alone.

I am disciplined, emotionally and mentally tough.
Learning to wait for phone calls and letters or emails home.
I, like my soldier, am an expert.

I stand ready to do whatever I can do to let my son, my soldier,
know that we are here for him, beside, him.
We love him and I will pray for swift destruction
of the enemies of our country.

I am the person who stood guardian of this man
who has become my soldier,
now our Guardian of Freedom and the American way of life.

“I am the Mother of an American Soldier!“

Comment by tls on November 29, 2010 at 9:52am

mamawalrus --- I love your candle idea! Can I borrow it? Can you share the poem that you found? And will we KNOW when they get to BS21? Or do we just count the days and assume?

ARWEN - Thanks for your continued support and information --- I (and I'm sure many others) feel much better about this whole thing because of the information you have provided! Sometimes ... even more than we've gotten from their recruiters (and that's a shame).

LYNNE - To you, too ... a hearty thanks. It's good to hear from someone that is on the other side of all this ... balances out all of the crazy emotions that are expressed and puts more of a sense of normalcy ....


7 days until the trip back to the state she'll ship out of ... 8 until I drop her at her recruiter's office for the trip to MEPS ... and 9 until she swears in and ships out ... still have to buy her a phone card, get a "sailor's Bible" for her (I'm guessing her regular size one is too big) and get her bank account set up.

Comment by Lynne on November 29, 2010 at 5:25am

All those feelings are so normal y'all and just wait mamwalrus some of that bravado will go straight out the window after the first week of being yelled and screamed at by the RDCs. Its funny how that is the great equalizer of all recruits and they seem to have sudden overwhelming love for their "mama" again...lol!! It is a very hard, sudden changed from boyhood to adulthood and yet you will be amazed at the changes. As I watch my son now in A-school I see little pieces of his personality returning that I am glad to see. He is mroe relaxed and less jumpy. However, he is also good at compartmentalizing. He was bragging to me about getting all these great scores on his inspections and I laughingly said to him he could show me his impeccable cleaning abilities when he came at Christmas to which he replied "Are you crazy...I am no doing any cleaning for 10 days...thats all I've done since I enlisted." Well you can't blame a mom for trying...right!!! lol

Have a great day...and keep on sharing those feelings because you will find out there will always be people who have similar feelings to you!!

Comment by Arwen on November 29, 2010 at 3:26am

The box costs the same no matter how much or how little goes into it. My son brought a change of clothes (he couldn't stand wearing the same clothes for 2 days, a disposable backpack (the stupid plastic one the Navy gave him when he enlisted) and most of his electronics (iPod, phone, Nintendo DS) for entertainment for the two days of travel and hotel. It cost him about $12 to ship it home and he is glad he did it. He made a lot of friends on the way because they wanted to borrow his stuff to de-stress on the way. It was a great icebreaker. Everything but the backpack came home safely.

The other side of the coin is one of the guys he went to boot camp with. He wore almost-dead shoes and clothes that were at the very end of their useful lives. He simply threw it all in the trash and shipped nothing home.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 307
• 308
• 309
• 310
• 311
• …
• 336
• Next ›
• Page