I know exactly how you feel! My heart aches all the time. There's not a day that goes by that he's not in my thoughts many times. My phone is always with me especially when he's at sea, you never know when a call will come! Seem to get more when he's at sea than when in port, think he gets bored, needs to hear my voice. Little does he know, I need to hear his just as much. Just remember you've done an amazing job raising him, establishing all those morals and good sense. He'll use what you've taught him, make good decisions, most of the time. He'll see places we'll never get to see. He'll be fine, plenty of support. You have support too - here! Lots of great info just ask a question, someone will have the answer for you.. Hang in there Vanessa! It's ok to miss him. :)

Thank you Carol, Luke's Mom, JGMom and Timbosmom. Your responses made my day! I am feeling better knowing I have great people who completely understand what I'm feeling right now and should I say, who travel the same journey with me. I'm so grateful to all of you. 

What happens to my son, he just got there and I've read somewhere that their ship isn't in the port? Is he going to undergo INDOC or he'll be flown out right away to the ship? I admit I have a lot to learn about all these.

Again, thank you everyone! 

Hi Vanessa,

As previous posters have said, its normal to miss our sailors very much, especially when they go to an overseas command. You can't get in the car and just go see them, their time zones are so different, etc.  My son has been gone about 18 months now and we really miss him. He is getting some leave in January for two weeks, and we plan on going to see him next March for a few weeks. But its not the same as having him close by.

Keep in mind he is doing great things and will have the chance to see and do so much! Also, they don't take just any sailor for duty on the GW, there are some that don't qualify or have been in trouble and can't go, so its something to be proud of that he has been approved to go.

I don't know what he will do when he first gets there, as they are out to sea now. My son was in an Indoc status for a few weeks, and was in that status when the earthquake and tsunami hit. They kind of threw everybody on board and took off so I think his Indoc was cut short by a bit.

The biggest complaint my son has is there are not enough sailors in his division so they work a lot when out to sea, but that isn't such a big deal. He says he is glad he went there because he has got to visit places he never would have otherwise, and he loves Japan. Hang in there, he will do fine and so will you.