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Comment by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on February 11, 2015 at 1:26pm

HeyMa - Happy Birthday to your son!  Wow, that's unfortunate that he hasn't even received his mail from Christmas.  Is that normal?

Comment by B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet) on February 11, 2015 at 1:09pm

Rod - what ship is your son on?  My son just got orders to the USS Truman - reports next week.  He just finished up the nuke pipeline (MM2) and has been home for his 30 day leave.  He's excited to start the next phase of his Navy career.  He just heard from his ship sponsor so he was happy to find out when/where to report & what uniform to wear LOL.  Now I'm trying to learn more about ship life, deployments, etc.  He will be living in an apartment in VA Beach - he's hoping the drive won't be too bad.

Wow, 11 years, please thank your son for his service!

Comment by Rod on February 11, 2015 at 12:58pm

I have been lurking for a while and seeing posts about their sons feeling lost when they report to their ship.  This I don't feel is too uncommon especially if the ship is in drydock or in the yards.  Until they can get underway and start either working in their rate or striking for a rate it is going to be boring.  Most of their days are going to spent on work details that don't have anything to do with what they thought their job would be.  They are basically going to be grunts to work on things that the "yardbirds" don't do like painting or taking apart berthing compartments or just lifting and toting.  Until they can get underway there is nothing to do concerning their chosen rate.  They also can't work on their respective warfare pins unless underway.  My son was lucky in that he reported to the ship while it was underway so he was able to get into his job right away.  There will be times later on when they do deploy and they are over in the "sandbox" sweating to death" that they wish they were back in port and being bored.  My son has been in for going on 11 years and is an ABH2 and he is bored and ticked off that he has to travel across town to get to the ship on a daily basis.  Hang in there.

Comment by TwoForTheNavy on February 10, 2015 at 8:51pm

John and Yvonne that invite for sailors, is that just enlisted or are officers invited?

Comment by TaylorsMOM on February 9, 2015 at 10:43pm

HuffyMom 23, I can sympathize with you. My son had high hopes when he joined the Navy. The recruiter made BIG promises and painted a rosy picture. None of which came through - other than he'll have a job for 4 years. It's a hard lesson to learn and this "job" is not one that you can quit. I told him that welcome to "big boy" world. Sometimes you don't always get what you want and you have to make the best out of what you get.  He also spends a lot of his time alone. He has a couple of friends, but they all have girlfriends or wives. He has 1 1/2 years left and we are all counting the days. I do hope that things turn around for him and he finds some enjoyment it. He's had experience that he wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Comment by John and Yvonne on February 9, 2015 at 10:44am

Just a reminder for you moms(and those who don't know about us) my husband and I open our home on the weekends and invite sailors to come over to eat with us and the other sailors who come and we also play board games, watch good movies, do puzzles occasionally, mini golf, bowling, and every year we go up to Yorktown for a civil war re-enactment! Some of the sailors even step into the kitchen and cook. :)  If you think your sailor would be interested(and it would get him or her off the ship and give them a place to hang out) please let us know and let them know about us. I can pm any of you our cell number.

Yvonne and John

Comment by Ang3and1 on February 6, 2015 at 12:19am

My son has also been in Norfolk for a while in dry dock. He's always been described by his dad and I as an"old soul" in a young man's body. I don't know if it's because he has 3 younger siblings he's always been like another dad too, but he's been this way since he was 2. He also spends a lot of his down time by himself, though he does have some friends that he will occasionally spend time with. He sounded a little more happy last time we spoke with him, so that's good news. I think he might get more excited when they finally leave dry dock. We'll see. He's a great young man just trying to find his way.

Comment by HuffyMom23 on February 5, 2015 at 9:06pm

Thanks for all the input.  My son is very mature for his age.  I have felt for a long time that he is an old man in a young kids body.   But I agree with you Holly MA mom, at that age you feel differently about your job.  I just hope the day comes that he says he is really enjoying it. 

I can see why he is frustrated though.  He has been out there in Norfolk for a year and his ship has been in the shipyard most of that time.  There were a few months it was at the base, but then went back to the shipyard.  He hasn't experienced a whole lot yet off of land.  He spends most of his downtime doing things on his own.  That does make his father and I kinda sad. 

CO-Twin - how long has your son been in Norfolk?  Does he have a room on the base? I know my daughters have their moments when they get frustrated with college things too.  But they can always come home and get away.  You can't really do that in the military. That is probably the biggest adjustment for the young kids that are out on their own for the first time. He never ever tells us he is sad or homesick.  Too proud to do that.  But we can tell when we talk to him that he is down sometimes. I can also tell when he calls and is really griping that he hasn't had enough to eat that day! ha  He seems to be more fussy.  I can relate to that though! ha

Comment by Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom on February 5, 2015 at 6:12pm

Huffymom, I agree with Holly, it's a lot to adjust to straight out of high school.  Since it seems the source of his situation is his job, has he spoken with a career counselor about the possibility of cross-rating?

Comment by CO-TwinSalorsMom on February 5, 2015 at 12:39am

Huffymom...I can totally identify with what you said, My son was soo excited to go but he has not been a happy camper. He also had not gotten the job he wanted. He also was alwayss very independent and he now has had his sails trimed. I keep hoping he will make friends or find inderests to make him smile more.

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