Letter-Writing Navy Moms

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Show support for your Sailor and express yourself with a hand-written gesture. Have any tips to share? Feel free to add your comments and experiences to help other moms and loved ones! 

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Dad needs ideas

by portside

Mar 25, 2014

Hi Moms. I need some advice please.

My future sailor hasn't yet left for BC but I wanted to get a jump on writing letters to be sent after he is at GL.

The issue is, I suffer from those very common afflications of Dads the world over - namely, Donttalkmuchitis and Acute Writeevenless.

Mom can't help me much on this one as I am widowed so I thought I'd ask the experts. I raised my sons myself since they were pre-teens and while we communicate well face to face, my skills drop off talking on the phone and sadly, are even worse by letter.

Any ideas for subjects or things to talk about when I write? I want to build up a supply of notes for him before he leaves because I know it'll take me a week to complete a letter so I'd better get ahead of it.

I've asked some of my women workmates but they just don't understand the BC experience and have suggested "Why don't you just text him?".

Umm, no, that won't work. :)

Thanks!

Tonypete

 

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  • up

    pamnavymom2015

    One thing that I know I am doing as my son leaves in 17 days for BC, I have had a lot of feelings to deal with (as I am sure everyone has) - as well as my son - so I decided I am going to journal a little each day to let him know [a little] of the feelings I experienced, how I am seeing it through his eyes [maybe some things he may not want to share with me, so I won't worry ;)] and just things I've learned about the Navy.  I've been talking to him about different things that are going to happen and stages, and he has been really impressed that I have made the effort to figure it out.  It's funny, the other night we were at my in-laws spending time with them and he made a comment about a Navy site that he knew about but thought to himself, 'No, I'm not gonna tell mom about that' - then I found the Navy For Moms FB site and this site ON MY OWN may I add ;) - which has given me a wealth of information - then he said 'and YOU found it on your own' and smiled. I think it made him happy.

    You will do great!  Since you are a man, you will understand the things that you need to hear as a man and what your son will need to hear.  As you, I want to make sure to have a pile of letters to send, so I have already started as well.  I know that this will be a difficult time for him adjusting, so I am keeping it on the light side.  [The journal I am saving for later, when I know it's safe for him to see].  :)

    Jan 3, 2015

    • up

      JoesMom

      Hi Pete,

      I have made copies of pictures and then use that paper to write my letter on. It may be a picture of my son with his childhood best friend or a picture of him fishing with his grandad etc. I just write about daily life and then write a little line to encourage him and tell him I'm proud of him. My son loves it and said it reminds him of when I used to make up bedtime stories. He said he reads a letter every night right before he goes to bed and then he feels at peace and can go to sleep. I'm thankful for that, because he's very family oriented, and it's hard form him to be away from all of us. 

      Hope this helps and take care.

      Jun 27, 2015

      • up

        MrsAFJ

        Hi, I wrote him as if he were sitting in a room talking to me. I thought about what I would say after work, he came in for the evening, whatever. He loved that I just gave him a run down of what was going on at home. {Lots of rain this week, Had to to run Pickle to the Vet for update on vaccines, your sister has been a complete idiot this week} Hope that helps

        Oct 30, 2015