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Comment by ArmyNavy mom on October 12, 2010 at 8:10pm

My son is doing great....yes, he was homesick at first, but he just keeps volunteering to do all kinds of things, never mind the kid had to be told many times to do chores around the house, but not there, not with ROTC...he's the volunteer of the year! Centhea, you said it best. The freshman dorms are awful at his university. They aren't dorms at all, but are barracks! he will have to do his time as a freshman, than move up. I have not seen him since Aug when we dropped him off, so I am counting down the days....and yes, he sent me a picture of himself in his blues.....it's not the same kid that left here. We are such a military family. I'm glad my son chose to serve his country. It's nice he chose the Navy over the Army like me. I am so very proud of each son and daughter that made this choice. God bless our young men and women, and God bless our country.

Comment by Zachsmom on October 8, 2010 at 4:06am

My son is living on campus, but only about 20 minutes from home. I don't know which is worse, close to home or far away. I know I would miss him if he were far away, but with him so close he calls me to pick him up alot and comes home every weekend. He really was having a rough first month and then things settled down somewhat and he just had another rough day going back last Sunday. He is coming home during the week alot as he is still involved in a Rowing Club and will be competing at the Head of the Ohio here in Pittsburgh this weekend. He is really looking forward to it. He also races his mountain bike alot on the weekends. Trying to let him still do some of the things he loves to keep him going. He looks so handsome when I pick him up and I almost don't recognize him in his uniform. I can tell he is so proud! I don't know what the future will hold for him but I think the whole experience so far has been good for him as hard as it has been. He is definately a better person for it and our relationship has grown even closer. It's definately been a roller coaster ride these past two months!

Comment by Megan on October 7, 2010 at 10:05am

Lukes mama,
OK, you sound like me... skype has been wonderful. I think without it I would be a basket case wondering how much to read into what he is saying. With Skype, not only can we hear his voice, but we can see that he's doing OK. His smiles and jokes make me realize that although this is very difficult, he's hanging there. I also get to see how unbelievably short his hair is now!

We won't see him until Thanksgiving. I'm counting too. 50 days...

Cheryl - I am so glad the second year is going better than the first. That's also keeping me going.

Comment by Rose on October 6, 2010 at 8:13am

The first year is toughest for parents and kids with being away from home, new to college, new to NROTC. My husband & I found that the calls home to vent were exactly that... let them freak out a bit so they get their worries out of their system. But don't let that consume you with worry. Be the listening post & encourage them to continue trying to do as best they can with their studies. They aren't alone and definitely should reach out for help from the NROTC tutors. If there are college study groups for the particular classes... they are a big help, too. Re: NROTC stuff, I believe they all have a running mate to give them guidance on how things go, plus they have their Freshman Advisor. I am impressed with the time management skills that the NRTOC instills in our kids! The freshmen will pick these up soon and make good use of them. Last bit of advice, these kids/men & women are in college & hopefully they also are enjoying (in the 'right amount') the social aspects of college. Balance is the key.

Comment by ArmyNavy mom on October 6, 2010 at 8:07am

navymomBarb, yes, SKYPE is great. This is just me, my son is doing fine...he has his moments, but I think, no I know he is doing great....it's just tough letting them go. I know it has to be this way, it's the cycle of life, right? He had a chance to come once before on a 3 day, but we both agreed, it would be best at Thanksgiving. So.....that's when I see him. I've made peace with my decision. He is where he is supposed to be...but you can BET, I'm rolling out the red carpet for him for the holidays...we are gonna throw down because our son is coming home. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!!!

Comment by ArmyNavy mom on October 5, 2010 at 8:48pm

wow, your comments are comforting. My son is also in his first year in NROTC. He is always on the go, but I seem to miss him more than he has time to miss us...Still, I know he is homesick at times. Sometimes their voice says it all on the phone, doesn't it? we have not seen him since we dropped him off, on 20 August, it was my Bday, very bittersweet for me. It was the saddest thing to drive off in the car and watch him walk back into his dorm, into the unknown. All I could see was my little 4 year old with the cow lick in his hair wearing his little pumpkin outift. Where did the time go? I know some moms on other posts have actually been shocked when moms post how sad they are to be away from their child when they go off to college.. they say the good should outweigh the bad. Well, to hell with that. Yes, I am so proud, yes, he is getting an education and will serve his country, but I am a MOM. My heart hurts at times.....sometimes, I go into his room and see all his things from High School and remember he was there....sorry....I am rambling.....thanks for this group. We NROTC moms are a special group :)

Comment by proud but nervous on October 5, 2010 at 7:34pm

My son has been gone 8 weeks now. I was able to go see him this past weekend for Family Weekend. I can't believe how much he has matured! This is his first year in the NROTC and he has become quite the man in such a short time. He loves the program (not so much the 5:30 a.m. PT sessions, though) His difficulty is with a couple of his classes. He went to a good college prep high school but the pace of the classes in college is so much faster. He is really struggling with Calc and Physics right now. After seeing him, I worry about all the late hours and lack of sleep. He looks so exhausted! He is worried that, even putting in many many hours on his classwork, he is going to end up getting kicked out of the program. He has always been an A or B student and that is not happening in college. It is all so stressful for him and for me because he is 5 hours away and there really isn't anything I can do to help him other than let him vent. Tell me things will settle down some 2nd semester, please.

Comment by Sweet*Southern*Lady on October 5, 2010 at 2:05am

Carrier: I assume with any tv show they aren't showing the whole picture. I did pageants for years and TV shows would make it seem like we all have crazy moms, eating disorders and terribly restricted lives. When in reality we are prepping for post college job interviews, Mom's who think their little girl has put in the most effort thus deserves to win, eating based on individualized nutrition plans, working with personal trainers, and using win money to pay for college.

So I would take it with a grain of salt, a though it does give alot more insight then we had seen before hand.

Comment by ArmyNavy mom on October 4, 2010 at 7:28pm

I still enjoyed the series. I have worked with enlisted, myself being a retiring one, so I know we are more vocal. My son has grown up around an enlisted family, he will be the first officer. I think he will make an outstanding one, he remembers his roots and I have taught him to treat all with respect, officer or not, he will take care of his people, when he reaches the level to do so.

Comment by ArmyNavy mom on October 3, 2010 at 7:58pm

NavymomBarb, hey, I didn't know about that one....I will def see when Surviving the Cut is on....these documentaries are something else....Yes, I agree, there was ALOT more enlisted guys being interviewed, but as I speak from experience, enlisted people always seem to have more to bitch about :), maybe they are just more vocal than officers, officers never complain, right? :)

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