PIR 4/8/2011 Alum Group!

Texasmom,

   I'm with you...yes, one of the hardest parts of this ordeal is the "not knowing" on a day to day basis. If they're having a bad day, you can't make their favorite cookies to cheer them up, can't give them a hug and tell them, "I'm here, tell me if there's something I can do to make this better". You're NOT there for them, we're at home (here) for them, but for some of us, that's a very, very long ways away!

LOL Mumz! I am with you. While my son always printed legibly, this handwriting is almost a typing font it is so perfect! Amazed me!

Also - my son's note was definitely from him. Especially the part when he wrote..  "BTW... BOOTCAMP BLOWS!!"  LOL I laughed so hard!

...and, to add to Jessica's post below...They especially love letters from the pets..

from the pet's point of view!!.

That is so funny about the handwriting!! I didnt even regonize my sons writing on the note he wrote, so perfect. and whats even funnier!! Is that all of my children still call me mommy and he wrote Hi mom!  I guess he is a man now!!  I haven't received any letters yet but I have been sending at least one every other day.

tinlizzy and pennynavymom, I take it both of your sons are going to pre buds? If I don't make graduation I won't see him for 5 months??  The only good thing is that I am only 2 hours away from Coronado when he finally gets there.

Has anyone read The Lone Survivor?  I'm almost done.  Great book!

Thanks, that's who I was thinking of using.  Is there a big difference in flying into Midway vs. O'Hare?

Thanks all...now I just have to see if my daughter and her baby are also attending!

hello all... i just got the letter today. my daughter Sarah is in ship 9 Div. 126. PIR.

   4/8/11   . We are in NH ... And its freezing here tonight. hope to get to talk with you from this group brfore Grad.  Sandy

Hi Sandy,

 I got my letter today also, We are in NJ and my son is in the same div as your daughter, I am going to try to set up arrangements this weekend. Our recruiter recomended the Navy Lodge because it is 2 blocks from the base, I think I will look into it. See you at graduation

So happy for everyone receiving letters. Letter day is a good day :-)

Ragdollrae- I got your ribbon order. I have had some problems with emails today so I just wanted to say thanks. I look forward to making your ribbon to wear to PIR.

ProudNavyMom..I'm gettin real here..lol..

My son left home when he was 16 and not on good terms to live with his dad. The rules at my house STUNK and the grass was greener over there. He barely made it through high school doing his own thing his own way staying wherever he wanted when he wanted, but when push came to shove that bond you're talking about held us together.He came back to live with me early 2010. Talk about a tough kid who was super independent. But even though he was gone for over 2 years, when he came back to me it was like time had stood still and we were right where we left off because when he left for boot camp, I felt like my baby was leaving home for the first time. He played football so I knew he could appreciate authority but most of time he chose not to, so I worried that maybe he was going to say something or do something stupid while at boot camp. But the fact of the matter is, when our kids, no matter how old they are, respect someone they find it within themselves to submit to authority. The government is so much bigger than our boys and sometimes the structure and guidance is exactly what they've been looking for and they thrive. I know our situations are different in many ways but both of our boys, who have been on their own for different amounts of time belong to the government now, and they chose that and we are proud of their decision. But he's not really gone for good. He'll always be your son, you'll always have that connection that no one else will and after boot camp maybe he'll be where you can visit each other frequently. Take one day at a time. We'll do it together! :-)

   I am going to look into air,car,and rooms today ... My luck if i don't. we will fly in the day after Grad and have no room and have to walk from airport. lol

   I think its a mom thing to plan way in advance. so nothing goes wrong.

    I am so happy we are all getting our letters. its not much but its from them our "babys" the ones we have looked after for there whole lives the ones we would give up our own lives for. Now the are on there one and we CAN'T help them any more. Where did the time go? first words,first steps, potty training...mommy can you help me with this or that. can i hit the rewind button for just a day or two??? 

Proud,

I am just catching up from last night.

My son is 21 and has not lived with me for over a year now. I wouldn't let him sit on my couch and watch TV all day after he decided not to return to college, so I asked him to leave, took away his car, his cell phone, and removed him from my insurance. It was so very hard to watch him struggle and be stubborn and ANGRY with me, but it finally led him to decide to join the Navy and finally do the hard work that is required to become a man. We have always been close and he always looked to me for advice and has always secretly wanted to have my approval. I am so proud of him and I have stayed so tough with him and held firm on not making things easy for him even after he was in DEP and asked if he could have the car back now, and I said, "Sorry honey, I can't. I removed you from insurance and I am selling it soon." I could hear his disappointment through the phone, but I knew he could still opt out for the easy road if I started to give in.

Basically, I think with all of this explanation, I am saying that he didn't live with me anymore and I pushed him this direction and you would think that I would have no issues with him being gone. When I left him at the hotel after dinner the night before he left, I cried like a baby and called a friend and in the most desperate way possible, I just started confessing, "I just handed my son to the government! My little boy.. WHAT HAVE I DONE!" It hit me so hard and I never imagined it could affect me that way. I have been a literal emotional basket case ever since. I can't contact him. He can't contact me. I know this is tough on him and I just want to know that he is ok.

Getting that letter on Friday boosted my spirits so much. Now, I can focus on getting to him. I am going to be out of town this entire week so if any letters start coming from him, I won't be able to get them until I get home on Friday.That will make my week miserable!!

So - yes - I can relate more than you know. I miss my son terribly and I am so very proud of him. I am more proud of him than ever before in his life. This is most definitely NOT the easy road and I know that I have raised an incredibly intelligent son who is brave, handsome, good-hearted, and now... a MAN!

Sorry for the book. Sometimes i just keep writing and writing and writing.....

Ragdollrae - my son enlisted last July after high school graduation.  Since he was delayed by 7 months he tried to find a job.  He had a couple of jobs lined up but fell through because they weren't busy enough.  He played Xbox whenever his GF wasn't around which was usually most afternoons.  I considered cancelling his cell phone service, but we have no house phone and he needed to be in touch with his recruiter twice a week at least.  We considered selling his vehicle and cancelling him off our car insurance, but he needed to be up at his recruiters at least twice a month if not more often.  He actually could not wait to leave to get started with his life since he was not ready to go to college.  It breaks my heart that he is homesick, but as my husband says they are all homesick at first until they get into their routines.  My husband was in the navy 35 years ago so he knows what emotions they are going through.

My son will be 21 in May. My son has lived in Washington for the last year in a half with his dad. He tried one year of college and didnt do well. He is so smart, smarter then I will ever be but didnt apply himself.

No matter what  or where our sons were last. They were still out babies and meant the world to us. It is so hard not to have that contact with them. I talked to my son almost daily even though he was so far away. I also babied him all his life. My husband tells me this will be good for the both us.

Then the form letter came and he said everything is good and not to worry about him. You have to take his word at face value, but in the back of my mind I wonder if it was just a front for me. Well hopefully by the end of the week we will all be able to talk to your recruits

Jennifer  

NavyMomofOnly1Girl:  I think she will get the letters...they really do try and track down the SRs.  So don't worry. Welcome to the group!

Welcome to sandy too!

ProudNavyMom:  I 'hear' ya!  Mine is now stationed, but he was also one of the older ones.  He had lived away from home (but just 2 hours away) for 1.5 years...but moved back for 10 mos while going through DEP.  Maybe that softened him up a bit?  HA!  Not sure.  But I will say this...the Navy will straigthen up any problems that will interfere with them becoming good sailors. It takes a while for some, but here's what I had heard from a sailor even older than my son.  He said he "got it" when there (he was 30)....understood why they do things the way they do...could see the "whole picture" which probably was due to being more mature.  But they get through it....so try not to worry.  You know that for all of us, we don't enjoy the refining process...but in the end, it is a good thing!  Yes, the Navy "owns" your SRs...but the good part is that they mentor them, care for them, and help them to grow up and train them, not to mention the benefits, etc.  So hang in there....the first few weeks are tough on the ladies here too.  But it does get better by about the 4th week of training.....and you will see that reflected in your SRs. They have worked hard by that point, and they see the finish line....it is truly a wonderful transformation to see!

And, on the mail issue, the SRs usually are not allowed to have any for the first 2 weeks they are there....normally they can't mail out before then either, although every now and then, we veterans see exceptions to that on here.  Remember that they have processing days first...and the timeframe of those varies....before they start actual training.  Just try and be comforted by the fact that they are being watched over, cared for, needs provided for, and they are safe! 

Momma2USNSailor:  What a great post!  I so agree!

ProudNavyMom:  My son lost his dad when he was 15....I know how hard it is to "fill in the gap" with no dad in the home.  I have been so appreciative of the NAVY for my son, I have to say.  He needed mentoring that I couldn't give to him, and he's getting it!

Jennifer:  So many of the SRs want to protect their moms from their bootcamp experience because they just don't want them to worry...and that just warms my heart....

So glad to catch up on all your postings, moms.  Still no real letter from my SR.  I sure hope they get extra mail time tomorrow MamaSeal.  Maybe we will get an extra letter!

I must say I have had the same feelings as some of you in the regards that my 20 year old 'little boy' now belongs to the government.  Part of me totally understand that choice he made, and I love my country, but the government is a different animal. I even told him before he left that he will probably feel conflicted about being a soldier and being himself.  Like he will have two personalities.  I hope all our sons/daughter find their balance and don't loose themselves.

As for PIR, that's for the suggestion of  flying into Milwaukee. We do have Southwest service here in the Northwest so maybe this can save some money.  Money is soooo tight for us, like I'm sure it is for all of us.  So whatever deals we all find, let's share.

One of my co-workers' son went through GL BC 6 months ago and said he was displeased with the Quality Inn Waukegan.  Said it was loud, dirty, smelly.  So far that is the only extra advise I have.

Have a great Sunday all!!

MamaSeal,

I believe I saw on the RTC facebook page that the recruits will be on holiday time tomorrow which is like Sunday time for them.  From 7 a.m. til 1 p.m. they have time for hygiene, shoe shining, ironing, and letter writing.  Let's hope we ALL get lots of letters this week!  For those reading this that have not "liked" this facebook page I highly recommend it!!