Chicago Mom's

This was our last day together, me, Stephen and my daughter Samantha.

Can you tell they are related? LOL

We went out to dinner with some of Stephen's friends, they do not serve dinner until 8 at night, that is a little to late for me.

Guess who? She is located in the Louvre.

We ate dinner here on night, it is just amazing.

Paula, I took over 400 hundred pictures but here a few, I will have a photo album to show you, I am working on the pictures so when we get together you can see them if you want.

Paula nice pictures of the wedding. Did you have fun? How is having your daughter home????

Happy belated 4th of July everyone! I planned a girl's night for the 4th and it was lots of fun!

Paula - your daughter looked gorgeous...so what's next now that the wedding is done? Does your life slow down? I meant to post this before but...when I did daycare it typically takes kids 4 weeks to settle into their new enviroment(and that's just daycare) - so hopefully your daughter will start to feel more settled soon at your house.
Michelle - I am so happppy for you! What a great surprise! I hope you enjoy your time with him!
Debbie - you all look so happy to be together and in such a beautiful place. Can't wait to see all the photos.
I am going to try to find the video on facebook.

Michelle,

Sometimes understanding sticks! But it sounds like he just needs a break from life right now and the uncertainty after working so hard to be 3rd in his class(right?) must be very frustrating. My son actually said this weekend "hey - if anyone wants to come out to Great Lakes and have dinner let him know"...I was like "what!" and then he explained that he does not have class anymore so he is much lessed stressed and can deal with seeing us now. Course that could have all changed since he started his clinicals yesterday. LOL. Plus he is going to be stationed for training in San Diego and has told his girlfriend and we can't come visit...hmmm...now this may be due to anticipated stress levels but...it may also be due to the fact that I met someone stationed there recently and he doesn't think his business and my pleasure should ever ever mix...lol. I guess I understand...maybe...sort of...and sometimes not really...it is San Diego and how much fun would that be to visit.

I meant stinks...not sticks.

How fun would that be...a bunch of us in San Diego for a long weekend. Now if I could just figure out when his graduation is...

Paula my other son struggles when he lives with me (which he has decided he will never do again)...just doesn't like being home with mom after having a taste of freedom...so that's probably part of it too.

The Air and Water show is always the third weekend in August which is always my brother-in-laws family reunion in Michigan every year(for over 40 years). It was I refer to as my ridiculous weekend where almost anything can happen and there is a tooonnnn of good food and fun...and that's all I'm saying on that lol.

Paula #2- how are you doing?

Mary,

After San Diego my son goes to Everett, WA after San Diego. He will report there some time in Decemer.

Hi Sally! Welcome! I think Paula summed it up. We do have alot of fun when we get together and it's nice to have people to swap stories with. I don't think we have any officer moms here. So where is DP? And was your son an officer this past January or this upcoming January?

Sally - we share the same b-day! Not sure what's up with my weekend. This is my son's second to last weekend here in Chicago. It does look like a fun event!

Sally- congrats on your only collect that doesn't require dusting until ... Keep the collection up.

Hi, how is everyone doing? I have been in MI so I have not been around lately. Michelle sorry to hear not orders yet but his day will come you will see.

Hi Annie, how have you been?

So what is new with everyone? I know I have missed a lot I will have to go back and read a little. I am fine and Stephen is doing great, he went to Amsterdam last weekend and loved it, he said the people were very friendly. He is very lucky to see so much.

Wondering if any of you are mom to a Boy Scout..
Our scout Troop is in need of some assistance. PM if you think you might be able to help. We are looking for a safe place to park a van for two weeks.Close to dowtown. Please send me a private message if you think you can help. Thanks.-Liz

Sally,
Happy day after b-day! My birthday was yesterday too. I went out with parents for oysters and champagne...it was fun. Its sounds like with the divorce, your son gone you and being on medication you are struggling . I have been divorced for many years but still went (or am) going through a huge adjustment with my son in the Navy. At times it gets pretty lonely and at other times I realize I just how much I like no kids in the house. I dropped him off the other day at Great Lakes and was so sad driving home cause I realized that was the last time I would drop him off there before he leaves for San Diego. What I have learned over the past 6 months is that you need to get yourself out there and find new ways to have fun...even if that fun is all by yourself! I spent Mother's Day without my kids and actually had a good time. The other thing is...find things that interest you and get involved or volunteer - you may be surprised who you meet. So hang in there and try to find some new ways and new people to enjoy life with!

Vodka and tequilla - a wonderful combo which I actually experienced last night. LOL! Hub 51 downtown has that combo in their signature drink. So...this morning I am realizing that six nights in a row of going out is my limit. I was planning on going to the gym this am but I think my body is shuttng down.

Mary - I am with you on the REAL factor...my son graduates this week. He will officially be out of Chicago soon.:( But I think I still have about a year or so before he goes Afghanistan or gets stationed on a ship.

Hi everyone-New to this site but had to join , check out the name and I am only about a mile from Wrigley Field! My son is a nuke on the Seawolf out of Bremerton. Went to the Rockin for the Troops on Saturday. Had a great time with some other Navy Mom's who have son's in the Nuke program. This sounds like a fun group of women...lots of partys and martinis...my kind of people!

Sally we are all moms here why do you feel their is a difference just because your son is an officer? We love you just the same either way!

Welcome ChitownPat I saw you on the ILL board your a sweetie and I hope to meet you on the 14th you too Sally!

Hi, sorry I haven't been on in a while, when summer is here I am always busy and outside. I cannot wait until our get together in August, it has been a long time since our last one.

Barbara that will work out perfect you coming from Evergreen. I am glad you are coming. We need to catch up.


Hi Sally and welcome to our group. I have a son who is in Naples, Italy. He has a very high clearance and cannot talk much about his job but I can tell you that I miss him everyday and I am very proud of him. We just came back from see him in Italy, what a great trip. That was one way getting us to Europe. LOL This is a great group. We are here for one another and support each other and the best part of this group is each of our sailors do something different so it is nice to talk and catch up with everyone. Paula's daughter is home now, how great is that. Some are on ships and some are on land so we all sure learn alot from one another. Maybe we will be able to meet at the get together.

How is everyone else doing? If you go to fb, Stephen posted great pictures of the Ike and a destoryer that was next to the Ike. He just loved being on the ship. He was like a kid in a toy store. LOL Talk to everyone later!

Who is going to make the coffee after all this drinking. LOL Paula I don't think I can keep up with you. LOL

Hi Sailly, I noticed once my son was settled at his base he was not calling either. I also found he did not answer my calls until around 8pm Chicago time, because I knew that is when he went to bed. He told me during the day he is either working or with friends and he felt stupid answering his MOM's call infront of every one. The weekends are a no call zone LOL at least for him but I do like the tough love I did get mad and do that and now he makes sure he calls me at least once a week I would like more but he has a LOVE for the Seals so he is busy on a 2 yr plan of taking classes upgrading security level and they have him at the gym in the morning and jogging 4 miles in the evening so as he says it his time is "spent" then he crashes to bed. I am kind of hoping this is a phase and he goes another way to tell you the truth my daughter in San Diago has 3 friends married to Seals and she said it is very hard when they are called away.

I hope to meet you on the 14th please come it is even better to exchange "war" stories in person.
Paula2

Sally I was wondering how long your son has been in the Navy?

I talk to my son all the time. We skype or fb everyweek, and this week so far I talked to him twice and it is only Tuesday. LOL We do talk a lot but we always have, he know his mother will hunt him down if he does not call. But he is not married. Diana it is harder when they are married, the son goes with the wife and her family that is just the way it is. Good thing I have a daughter also.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes to the group. Sounds like there is a party going on!
Sally, my son was never a communicator growing up. Hardly spoke to us in high school and college. I had to learn what was going on through his sister and his friends. In the nuke program, he was always too busy or his hours were weird, so phone calls were few and far between and they usually were calls filled with complaints. Since he's bee assigned to Bremerton and the Seawolf, he has called nearly everyday...which is weird, but I know once he is underway on the sub he won't be able to talk to us. I guess all that silence in his youth has prepared me for when he will be under the water and won't be able to communicate with us. I'll still send him letters, packages and e-mails, and if I don't hear from him, I will still know he cares and loves us as I'm sure your son loves you! Keep the faith...he'll come around.

Paula2 - You made me laugh...not wanting to look stupid by answering his moms calls. Our children...I am sure my son might say the same thing - which is why I laughed.
Sally - I understand from my son that enlisted life is different than officer life but then so is corpseman life from navy seal life from nuke life...as everyone has mentioned...bottom line we are all moms each facing somewhat similar yet different challenges with our kids... the key is that we are here to support eachother.

Welcome - Chitown Pat...I am on the opposite of the city and live 10 minutes from Sox Park.

So Ladies....mom moment...my son graduated from Corpseman School yesterday!!!!! I was so proud of him and enjoyed the day of celebration. After we got all his stuff off base we went to Benihanna with my parents and sister. He looked so good! Now he is off to spend time with his uncle and grandma(dad's side) and then several days with his adorable girlfriend...after that he will make his way to his mom...before he leaves...I fully intend to be at the airport waving goodbye - even if he protests.

Michelle - I thought of your son cause there were only 20 graduates who got to leave the base with orders...the rest(over 40) are still on hold at Great Lakes.

Michelle, aren't you suppose to be working. LOL

Mary I sent you a friend request and then I can send you a message with my fb information.

Coco, congrats on your son, that is so wonderful. Does he know where he is going yet? I bet he looked so handsome in his uniform. They always do.

Sally, it is hard when they go and now he is married so that is even harder, but I am sure he loves you and I know you are very proud of him, so try and not worry so much. Boy it is hard to be a mom, isn't it!!!!!!

lovemysailor-Don't have the party particulars, but I think I saw it was on the 14th!

Michelle-Didn't mean that the packing party was on the 14th but the Chicago mom's gathering I thought was on the 14th.

No Sally I do not, last year I did Christmas for the ship the Nimitz not sure what I am gong to do this year. I have to make 80 goodie bags for the IT group, that is what my son is. This year I am hoping to bring my sailor home so maybe I will be paying (or at lease helping him) with a plane ticket.

Thanks Diane, I will try and behave myself. I cannot wait to catch up with eveyrone.

Michelle try and keep up. LOLOLOLOLOL

Mary, that was just AWESOME!

Sally if you are looking for IL packing parties for Molly's group I would post on the group and ask around. I believe the fund raiser in Sept is in Florida.

But of course we can drink now...lol...actually I think tonight is it for me. Oh how I am adjusting to life without kids. I started on July 11 with my neighbors and have somehow been out all but one night since the 11th between friends, my b-day, son's graduation, family and then back to friends...crazy...I have not been out this much since before my first son was born. Tonight is White Sox game and then I really neeeedddd to collapse and get back in the gym! Enjoy your drink Paula and save room for more on the 14th.

Mary-Congrats to your son. It is quite an accomplishment!

Congrats Mary & Dan! Try the sailor rescue list group and see if anyone is out his way and can help...but then again...he Nuke which means a decent salary so maybe he should enjoy a hotel room before his next adventure begins. Congrats!!!

White Sox game was crazy! They won 11 - 0 and had three home runs in just the first two innings. Looks like I just made plans for tonight and then back to Sox game on Friday...so maybe thursday I will stay home...lol...not complaining just truley amazed that I have a such a social life lately.

Got a call from a Navy dad and good friend yesterday. He got an email at 4am through Navy for Dads from a mom expressing her condolences to him about the loss of one of his sons in the Navy. He ended up making frantic calls to Hawaii and Guam. She mistakenly sent it to the wrong dad. For hours, he went through hell before he finally talked to both of them. He's still shook up today by it. He happens to be a Nuke dad.

He knows the protocol and knew it wasn't right, but he also knows mistakes can be made. During Vietnam, the Army contacted my sister-in-law's grandparents in Illinois of her husband's death. They called her in Hawaii. My husband is the one in Hawaii who opened the door and told the soldiers they'd already gotten the word.

Yum, I love both and I like cookies too. LOL

So do I have this right we can go to Diana's around 2 and we are eating around 5?????

I have to go back to work today, YUK!!! Summer went by way too fast.

Mary that is so wonderful news about your son, way to go! I know you are smiling from ear to ear.

LOL you are sooo crazy Paula!!!! We will have fun that is for sure.

Grass skirt...guess I will hit a party store. Any dessert will be yummy!

Tomorrow is it ladies...I am meeting my son at the airport at 7am to say goodbye. I can't believe its here already. I got teary eyed in the card aisle as I was trying to pick out his b-day/goodbye card. We had a great time this weekend. He has grown into such a great young man. He let me make a mom wish list (filled with things we did together when he younger) and then we did almost everything on it. After he beat (demolished) his girlfriend and I at a game RISK in just 6 moves (he had conquered every country lol), I decided it must be time for him to go play Navy for a few years. I am sad but I am so proud of him.

Oh Coco he sounds like such a great young man. The airport was hard for me I hugged him so hard and could not let go!!! I had a hard time the first few weeks after he left but he called every other night for a while and that made it easier. Can't wait to meet soon! Paula2

Hi everyone-I know the get-together is on the 14th, but I still haven't received an address or if it was sent, it didn't come through. I'd love to join everyone and meet this fantastic group of Navy moms!

Thanks for the message and all the info! Coco-I also think that it was so awesome that your son gave you a wish list of things to do with him from when he was llittle. I was trying to think of what might have been on my son's list!

I did I made it thru! Actually I should say his beautiful girlfriend and I made it thru.
The lady at American lectured us not to talk about families getting to wait. She was really upset...apparently that is supposed to be top secret...lol. Guess she doesn't know about Navy for Moms. The security people were awesome and we got to go right thru security without waiting in line. Although one stewardess was upset that "non" airline personel were in line with her. Guess she was in a hurry. She actually picked up a basket, put her stuff in and walked right in front of us with a "huff". then a gentleman next to her told her military personel were allowed in this line, too. lol. she still looked annoyed.

It was kinda fun (in the midst of emotion) to sit an wait with him and watch his plane take off. I told his girlfriend that if he stays in super long we will bring the grandkids (10 years from now) and let them sit and watch airplanes and each junk food at the airport when he leaves. We will just make a day of it so the kids have good memories when dad leaves. As fun as it was I cried when I got in the car and am still teary eyed.

The mom wish list was fun. It was actually a list I created. On mine I put Nikki's chinese food(his favorite), an oreo cake (he makes it), brunch at the 95th, a favorite movie (he picked All Dogs Go To Heavan), a game of RISK, a entire two-player level of Halo 3(video game) in legendary (hardest level), and a big home cooked breakfast. We got to everything but the chinese food and the oreo cake. He was only with me for about 28 hours so I think we did good.
this is pretty long...sorry...sort of...it's therapeutic...

I had a heavy heart when Stephen joined the Navy and being in Italy is so far away but after my visit with him, I know he is ok and safe and doing great so I feel so much better about him being there. Just thought you would like to know. LOL

Michelle did he get his written orders, if not that could change. BUT that sounds so exciting, I heard Japan is just wonderful, I know a few sailors over there and they love it. WAY TO GO !!!!! How does he feel about this? C school that is so wonderful. I am so excited for him and you. Yes we have to talk!!!

Cannot wait Diana for the get together, we are going to have so much fun.

Paula that would be so great if your daughter is coming, now I have to act like an adult, I think I can do it. LOL