How are you spending your last week with your future Sailor?

[LuvmysailorSON]

To those whom have sons/daughters leaving in a week, how are you spending your last days? I don't want to feel like that smothering mom lol. My son has been going none stop from morning til evening, doing whatever teenage boys do. I just want to tell him to slow down and pencil me in. How's it going with everyone else?

[Sierrascrapper (ETN2)]

I pretty much let my son do what he wanted this last week. He went on a 4-day trip with his friends and then came home and went to the recruiter's office for his 7-day and after that he mostly hung out at home playing video games until today when he went and visited a few more friends. We had a few last nice home-cooked meals and we sat around the backyard fire pit last night after our Anchors Aweigh party. We are leaving for MEPS with him tomorrow and he flies out on Tuesday. So just try to be flexible and suggest ways to get him to spend time with you whether it's taking him to dinner or watching a movie together or even going for a walk. My son seemed to have turned inward these last few days so I think they kinda need a little time to breathe too as I'm sure they have a lot going on in their minds just like we do. Hang in there and savor these last few days. They are very special.

[Jana]

I don't have a child that is leaving in a week, but my son left for boot camp 3 years ago on July 5.  We had a family gathering the Saturday before he left at our house.  Most of my family lives 3 hours away, so it's not like they could see him anytime they want.  Most of them were able to come, so that was nice.  He was leaving on a Monday, so on Sunday we went to church together.  They were having a luncheon and fun day after church, so we hung out together for the afternoon.  I thanked him for letting his mama hang out with him the day before he left for boot camp...lol.  I drove him to Shreveport Monday and we booked a room in the same hotel where he was staying.  We went to dinner in the hotel.  I don't consider myself an emotional person, but just sitting there thinking of him leaving the next day got me all choked up, but he was really good about it.  I met him at MEPS the next morning and then waited there with him until they got ready to go to the airport.  I met them at the airport and stayed with him until he went through security.  They wouldn't let me go any further.  If you are able to take him to MEPS and go with him to the airport I would definitely recommend it.  I told him he was just going to have to humor his mother this time.  Of course if he would have objected, I wouldn't have gone because I wouldn't want to add to his anxiety.  While he was going through security I just about lost it until I couldn't see him anymore, but once I got over that, I was fine the whole time he was in boot camp. Good luck... :) 

[Mstink Ship 14 Div 269]

Today is my sons last full day at home. We go to MEPS tomorrow and he flies out Wednesday. My week has been much the same as yours! Except every night he would sit down with me and eat dinner while we watched a Sherlock Holmes episode! I have to go into work til noon then I'm done til Thursday...my boss was kind enough to give me a few days off...he offered the week but I figured I'd need the distraction! Mine seems a little withdrawn too, I catch him staring off into space quite often the last day or two but he seems anxious to get going too! I realize your son heads to DEPS today and wanted to wish you the best of luck...thanks for all your great words of wisdom...they have helped me.

[Nonie1234]

My son leaves a week from tomorrow.  He has been spending most of his time with friends.  Its hard but I think its good for both of us.  I think I have seen him 2 hours in the last 2 weeks.  I know its hard.  We will take him to the recruiters the night before and will go to MEPS on the 8th to watch him swear and say goodbye.  ((HUGS))  to you hang in there!

[LuvmysailorSON]

@ Nonie1234 Our sons may be in bootcamp together:) We will be taking him to the recruiter on the 7th and they will take him to Indianapolis. From there he will do MEPS on the 8th and head to GL. I never thought about going to Indianapolis with him. I assumed we said our see you laters at the recruiters. Hmm

[Nonie1234]

LuvmysailorSON  YES its sounds like they could be at boot camp together!!  We take Alex to the recruiter on the 7th.  MEPS is in Denver.(we will say bye to him there) and then he will go to DIA to catch a flight to GL!  We are not going to the airport with him as I feel its time to cut the "cord" so to speak.  He has to grow up sometime.  I do know they said we could meet him at the airport before his flight to say goodbye as well but I not doing that.  We were told at MEPS he will do a final swear in which is why we are going.

[Debbster]

we had a family picnic for him during the day yesterday, and then his friends came after 4pm.  He has been spending a lot of time with his friends (they just all graduated high school too) .  We are closing our business on Friday for the 4th until Monday the 7th, which is the day he leaves.  We will be spending the weekend with him, and our doors are open for his friends or family that may want to pop by again.    Going to miss him!

[Alison Ang's Mom Ship 03 DIV 271]

My daughter leaves in a week. She to has been spending a lot of time with friends and yes it is very hard to say spend more time with me! I want her to enjoy this last week so we agreed after Thurs the days are all ours with family. We are celebrating July 4th with family and having dinner Sat night with just immediate family. I drive her on Sun to her recruiter. I have to say it is soo hard emotionally! I have cried each and every time I talk about it. Trying to just tell myself to be strong. She is my oldest of 3 girls. All I can think about is not being able to talk to her or see her for 9weeks. How to know she is ok and she isn't crying from being home sick or feeling overwhelmed.This is what is making me an emotional mess! I feel very Blessed to have this group for the support both emtionally and informative. Very proud of my daughter and her decision to join the Navy! God Bless all our children!

[Debbster]

On another side note, for his picnic I had purchased note cards with envelopes, and I asked everyone who came to please write a note to my son and seal it before they left. I have 30 envelopes between his friends a family and plan on sending him 5-6 of them weekly while he's in bootcamp! It makes me feel even better knowing he will be smiling when he reads them after a long hard day!

[LuvmysailorSON]

The notecards is such a great idea. I'm gonna use that at his cookout:)

[Debbster]

Hope you're enjoying these last few days. We found out he will go to the hotel they use for Meps on Monday, where he will hang out until Tuesday morning. he will be sworn in Tuesday. Which we will attend (it's only an hour from us),and he will give us his cell phone then. He will be flying out Tuesday for boot camp. The recruiter also told my son to have a watch, he is sure that they will put him in some command position because of his experience and E3 rank. Not quite sure if that's a good thing, everyone says "don't stick out and don't volunteer" but my son isn't worried about it. I do know he isn't sleeping well. He is so excited to go, which makes me excited for him!

[mom24boyz]

Funny..my kid is usually a homebody but the past few weeks he too has been going, going, going.  He says "Everyone wants to do stuff since I am leaving."  I was feeling sad that he doesn't have much time for us but I also think it is a way for him to separate himself from us before he leaves.  He is avoiding cleaning out his room and finishing thank you notes from Graduation etc.  I guess it is just as hard for him as it is for us....