Comment

Comment by TexasDocMom on March 7, 2012 at 9:44am

My heart to all of you in such pain for your kids and to the family of Conner Lowery as they try to come to peace through their grief, and to all of those who have served with him and loved him. DJ, you follow your heart with your son, you're his mom, and he turns to you. Is there a chaplain there? He needs to talk this out with someone face to face. I'm going to ask around about how to do this without causing any waves for him. I've always thought they should have a specialty school for PTS corpsmen with one on site all the time, just for this.

Malamamma....new meltdown spot....the dentist's office! We've had Walmart meltdowns, Target tantrums, and now Dental screams. We will make this country remember we are at war.

Welcome, Dawn...we're here!

Have to head to work, thinking of you all. You are not alone.  

Comment by Much Trouble on March 7, 2012 at 9:14am

DJ...I know you want to be up-beat for your son, but for something like this, crying with him and really sharing his pain, may be the best thing.  If only you could hold him as you used to do....  Anyway...I know when I'm hurting REAL bad, I get upset with those that try to brush it off.  Follow your heart on this one, and keep praying.  Get him home safely...THEN you can deal with his mental state.  Prayers are going out...but so many times I wish I could do more.

Comment by DJones on March 7, 2012 at 8:43am

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the  6 British soldiers killed today in Lash Kharga.  How horrible.  My son's return cannot come quick enough.  It is getting more scary every day he is there.  Also I ask all of you to please say a prayer to the family of Conner Lowry who was killed last week.  He was a very close friend of my son.  My son has lost 2 close friends on this deployment.  He really is hurting and I wish I can take his pain away.  Why is there no counceling out there for these men and women?  He doesn't have anyone to talk to.  He called me crying and said he won't be able to deal with losing another friend.  I feel so helpless.  It breaks my heart seeing him go through this.  I just bawled on the phone with him and could not help myself.  I told him I just want him home and it can't come soon enough.  I wasn't much of a help to him, but I guess all of it was building up over the last month as I haven't cried in that long.  I'm sure it didn't make him feel any better.  He use to hang out with Conner and his fiance on the weekends.  I cannot imagine the pain they are going through right now.  We really need to stop this nonsense and bring our men and women home.  Sorry, I just had to let this all out.  Even my husband is feeling it now.  He knows as he lost several in Iraq when he was there.  My husband still has nightmares and has to take meds to sleep.  So sad to see them go through all of this.  I tell my son I am always here for him and will be here if he needs me.  Thank God he can talk about it to me and his girlfriend.  We are the only 2 he calls.  I guess this is a step for him to heal. Sorry I have just rambled on,  but had to get out and write down how I feel at this moment.  Thank you all for listening.

Comment by DJones on March 7, 2012 at 8:43am

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the  6 British soldiers killed today in Lash Kharga.  How horrible.  My son's return cannot come quick enough.  It is getting more scary every day he is there.  Also I ask all of you to please say a prayer to the family of Conner Lowry who was killed last week.  He was a very close friend of my son.  My son has lost 2 close friends on this deployment.  He really is hurting and I wish I can take his pain away.  Why is there no counceling out there for these men and women?  He doesn't have anyone to talk to.  He called me crying and said he won't be able to deal with losing another friend.  I feel so helpless.  It breaks my heart seeing him go through this.  I just bawled on the phone with him and could not help myself.  I told him I just want him home and it can't come soon enough.  I wasn't much of a help to him, but I guess all of it was building up over the last month as I haven't cried in that long.  I'm sure it didn't make him feel any better.  He use to hang out with Conner and his fiance on the weekends.  I cannot imagine the pain they are going through right now.  We really need to stop this nonsense and bring our men and women home.  Sorry, I just had to let this all out.  Even my husband is feeling it now.  He knows as he lost several in Iraq when he was there.  My husband still has nightmares and has to take meds to sleep.  So sad to see them go through all of this.  I tell my son I am always here for him and will be here if he needs me.  Thank God he can talk about it to me and his girlfriend.  We are the only 2 he calls.  I guess this is a step for him to heal. Sorry I have just rambled on,  but had to get out and write down how I feel at this moment.  Thank you all for listening.

Comment by ktssong on March 7, 2012 at 12:57am

Malamama....I read your share and I have tears in my eyes with you as I read.  We may not be in a physical room next to you but this group is like being in a room together when we share.  I care too about your son and your heaviness and I'm so thankful with you like your husband said for your line of support to each other, that painted a beautiful picture in my mind of how you are holding each other up.  I will be praying for all of you, especially your son.  I promised my son I will support  his choice to join the Navy when he signed up last year but I honestly after only one year can say I will be glad for the day that comes like TDM when your son is out.  I'm really happy for you.  I can almost feel your relief.  I did something a little silly for my son today.  He sent me a message saying they are doing a little fun thing right now having a mustache march and everyone has a mustache....I guess...well my daughter had just posted a picture of my six month old granddaughter, his niece with a Mustache on her face from the Dr. Suess movie.  It was so funny, I posted it on his wall to make him smile and told him that she wanted to be in the mustache parade too...I hope it makes him smile next time he gets online.  

 

Comment by TexasDocMom on March 6, 2012 at 1:04pm

This is one of those days I read these posts and say thanks to God for each and every mom and dad that posts here. The support is incredible...I don't need it any longer like you do, but I've been on this board for so long that when it happens, it makes my heart sing and my eyes cry.

Malamama, yes, many times those who have never had a child in a warzone do not understand. I think it's just they don't understand the fear, how deep it is, how real it is and how it consumes a parent who has worked her/his whole adult life to raise a young man or woman, and now they are in harm's way and we can do nothing. I sometimes think that my nephew's terrible car accident that left him brain injured prepared me somewhat, the sitting in ICU being helpless....except I could see him, hold him, sing to him and work to help his rehab. So, to me, this war zone hell is worse. They just don't get it. Sometimes it can make you angry,  and all the time it's frustrating, but I finally came to the conclusion that I don't want any more people than necessary to ever know this fear.

I do a water aerobics class at an all women's gym, many older (even then me) women in that class...almost all have had husbands or kids in the military. That was a huge support for me, a huge support when Matt was deployed. They got it. It didn't matter their politics, race, faith...they got it. He had prayers going up for him from all of them in so many different languages and to this day, when I walk in, they each ask after him. So much joy when I said he had finally left the Navy..! (by the way, his official last day of leave was yesterday! he's out!)

Mala,please take a look at the links above the discussion area, including the ones about after deployment and secondary PTS. As you read, if you find better information you think we need to have there please post it here so I can share the links with all. It's good he's talking, even if it's hard for you to hear, and I agree with you, I didn't want to hear it either. But you know what he's facing and what he's seeing, and you know it's affecting him (and you). Start your research now and reach out to those professionals who know how to help you and your son when he returns. Be prepared. And do not hesitate to come here, you are not alone in this, my friend. You are part of an amazing group of strong parents here, and you will not face it alone. If you like, send your friend here to read, maybe she would understand just a bit better the everyday hell of being the mom of a child in a war zone. And if you can, let her know that none of us wish this on her or another mom. Ever. 

 

Comment by ktssong on March 6, 2012 at 8:37am

Since it's a learning experience for him and I both sides home and there I just do what he says for now.  He said to stop boxes til he lets me know ok to send again .  I  thought I'd ask because it sounded like some of the moms comments had sons or daughters off the base too and were sending things still.  I'm definitely sure of one thing that if they can have it and want it he will find a way to get that message to us if possible.  In meantime I will keep busy.  I decided to organize a Navy4Mom Spring Breakfast in our area.  I posted on our moms group for our state and have already had responses so that will be good. 

Off to go to work and vote today.  I've urged all those I can to do same.  Also TDM tell your son we will write.  That is another positive thing we can do.  Have a good day moms. and God Bless our Troops.

Comment by Much Trouble on March 6, 2012 at 7:55am

If you are interested in what your kid is eating check out these "menus" for MREs

http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/menus-xxxi-2011.html

They HAVE improved over the years, but from what I understand how good they taste depends on how hungry a person is. (Chances are, it doesn't taste like Mom's cooking...and even things (s)he turned up his nose at, will suddenly taste like heaven.)

When my son (a Seabee) went over there, he went with a battalion...his DET (detachment) was a group within the battalion.  That probably doesn't help much but it might explain a bit.  I think, depending on where they are and what they are doing, they can get mail, but it is iffy. 

Comment by TexasDocMom on March 6, 2012 at 1:47am

I don't know what the DET means, I'll check with my son or another Bee mom, maybe they know...nothing in the link up above for it, or when I google it.

My son talked when he came home for the most part. He did talk to me on one of his calls about how he saw PTS in the Marines who had been on multiple deployments, how they were one person back in NC, and another in Iraq. He told me to get my Navy moms fired up and writing Congress to make sure they got more help and were not going to be belittled for being diagnosed with PTS, or not get help. He says it's a lot better now, more is being done for those diagnosed with PTS.

Comment by ktssong on March 6, 2012 at 1:28am

Yep, No offense taken.  I understand OPSEC and follow it.  Just wondered how parents are sending food to them when they aren't on base, how did they know where to send it.  Trying to understand what things mean as they progress like the word "Det".  When I read articales in Seabee Magazine or on the Battalion Blog and they speak of Det's.  Are those the groups that have been sent outside the wire on projects and it is short for word  "detachment"?  Because we are following OPSEC we have to figure some things out by experience.  Next time we will better understand.  One thing I fully try to follow though is not giving out info of where or when etc.  I understand the importance of their safety and will not jeopardize that.   Just trying to learn about what this means in a forum where I can ask because we are talking but in keeping with OPSEC.  They say experience is the best teacher and we are learning alot of lessons here for sure.   I'm sure when we all reunite afterwards just like when we all got together after bootcamp we talked and shared about what happened we learned alot about what each other went through during the experience.  Thank you for the info on the  MRE too. 

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 158
• 159
• 160
• 161
• 162
• …
• 434
• Next ›
• Page