Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

I know the feeling about having not being told I could attend MEPS. I did receive the arrival telephone call and am very thankful for it. I am so very proud but I am anxious about all of our kids being treated in a way I would probably be angry about, but that is why God made me mom. I keep telling myself that he is an adult now and I have to let him make his own way in life, on his terms, not mine. PIR can't get here soon enough for me.

Thank you for posting PIR dates lemonelephant, sadly I believe I well be told August 25 will be ours. I am still waiting for the letter. It is a hurry up and wait experience for sure. So very difficult, but so very proud. Just when I think I am doing okay, I have a melt down. Will this feeling ever stop I wonder, I love feeling so very proud , but I hate being a blubbering idiot, and I can't let him know it, for fear it will make him wish he didn't join. I need to be strong for him, but I am still just a mom, missing her only son.

Six days to BC!  Wednesday he was singing in his room to music so yesterday I wrote my first letter to him to tell him about it. And how I will miss it.  He is getting so excited. While I am getting a little bit weepy, I am trying to focused on the excited.

I hear ya Michele75, the days prior to my son leaving I tried to spend every moment I could with him, long hikes, swimming and BBQ with his friends. It was hard not to miss him before he was gone, I was just trying to soak up every moment. I had my breakdowns for sure- just soak up the time.

Also, he will be able to keep his wallet if its slim and black, I made a poem with a little personal note on the back from me and laminated it, it was just the size of a credit card, but I could tell it meant a lot to him, something he could pull out and read until we can get those letters to him. Its hard letting them go, what made it a little easier was how excited my son was, - definitely hard to walk away from him at MEPS after his swearing in.

Depending when your SR left for BC, the recruiter should be able to tell you. Being summer, probably a quick turn around. Our daughter left on the 7th, from Germany, which was a Wed, and by Friday afternoon her recruiter knew PIR and if she was a Grad 'n Go.   So check with them if they are even working today. However, if staying at the Navy Lodge.....go ahead and make the reservations in your SR name.   Once the PIR goes up, everyone is calling.  Hope this helps. 

LoL, I won't have any trouble continuing to blubber. Thanks for the smile Esti'sMom. I think our PIR wil be 8/25. Trying to understand when, where and all the rest of the particulars of flying up for that. Still waiting for the first letter and the box, so I can start planning arrangements. So much to learn. Thank you for the hugs, and right back at you. 

Black belt mom when did your son ship out for BC. I am guessing my sons PIR date will be Aug 25 as well, he left on wednesday June 28- just trying to see if its the same to give me an idea

so its on the 9th Friday right? So you are thinking the 18th then?yah take the earlier Friday for sure!! As long as its the 9th Friday and not 9 Fridays and then the following Friday is Graduation. What do you think

Nice! Hopefully Ill get the form letter next week then. lets hope

Black belt mom, I only know the 9th Friday, son shipped out Tuesday 17th. I am thinking it is the 8/25 for PIR. Do I need any other information? Haven't received letter yet.

Sorry, Black belt mom, I was asking about the Navy Lodge reservation, and how easy it was to reserve a room.

I meant to type 27th Black belt mom, I am so sorry. So then I should think the PIR will be 8/25, right? He did call me on the 27th late in the evening too. Is that all I need to reserve a room 

Great thanks. I did get the American Red Cross letter today, he jotted a note on the outside, I cried like a baby, but I love seeing it. He seems very happy. I feel better knowing that.

Thank you jennifer, I just tried to book a room, but I can't find the place to register an account with the Navy Lodge, help please

Can anyone tell me what the "sin" box or envelope is? I keep seeing it mentioned, but I don't know what it means. I haven't learned the Navy terminology yet. 

Awesome Melanie, definitely want to utilize that. How do I get started using it, or where do I go to find it? Thank you in advance for your help.

TrueBlue Yes Sandboxx is a mobile app. I just learned about it a few seconds ago. I just Googled it and it was there, ready to download to my phone. I have started an account, ready and waiting to get my son's address to start sending real time photos/words of encouragement back. Check out the website, it is pretty awesome.

Sandboxx is just another tool to send real time messages, it doesn't replace hand written letters from home, but just think about how much more comfort from home you are sending to your loved one and they are sent with a self stamped envelope and sheet of paper to enable them to jot back a quick note. I say the more things received, the more our loved ones feel the love, especially if they are in a down mood over something, how nice an encouraging word from home would help. Going to check out the newest one I just read about.

TrueBlue, I Googled Sandboxx, and the app came up, I went to it and the very first little video showed how our text messages with pictures attached gets remade and sent to our loved one. It looks pretty awesome to me, and like you, I am going to use any and all tools to stay in touch. At least that way, I am thinking, if any does get lost in the mail, with so many resources at our disposal, most, if not all are sure to reach them. From the video I watched, it gets turned into a post card type thing, they tear that off and keep it, then what is left, is a piece of paper, and a pre-stamped envelope to allow them to send a quick note back. No worries about having to carry them around, and allows them to write their first feeling about receiving the "text" message. Just go all through the site, it will answer all of your questions.   :-)

Just dropped my son off at the hotel for the night. He leaves tomorrow, things just got very real.

Thank you ladies. @Jennifer yes I will be at his swearing in and there all day. @marchella yes we are. Thank you and same to you. We are strong, we are Navy Moms.

Dragonmom it will be okay.  You have a huge support group here.  We all are in various stages of boot camp with our SR's.  We understand how you are feeling.  Don't be afraid to reach out for support or as questions.  We are here for each other.  It will go by faster than you think.

Thank you ladies! We spent as much time as we could together, including the USO. He just let me know he landed at the airport. Next call will be the I have arrived call. Not gonna lie, glad my bartender made my long island strong tonight. I very rarely drink but today I felt I deserved it. I tried once with him and then in my car. Gotta be strong for him.

Here are the current PIR groups:

PIR: July 7, 2017 TG 35 - 7 Divisions (209-214 & 935) 4 guests

PIR: July 14, 2017 TG 36 - 9 Divisions (215-220, 815, 816 & 936) 4 guests

PIR: July 21, 2017 TG 37 - 8 Divisions (221-226, 817 & 937) 4 guests

PIR: July 28, 2017 TG 38 - 9 Divisions (227-234 & 938) 4 guests

PIR: August 4, 2017 TG 39 - 11 Divisions (235-244 & 939) 4 guests

PIR: August 11, 2017 TG 40 - 8 Divisions (245-250, 818 & 940) 4 guests

PIR: August 18, 2017 TG 41 - 7 Divisions (251-256 & 941) 4 guests

PIR: August 25, 2017 TG 42 (Keep checking and join when it is up.)

Click on the date of your recruit’s PIR and join the group to connect with others with loved ones training with your recruit.

Stressing about the call. My son landed @ 7:30 our time and not a word since. How do we not end up with a full head of silver hair during this wait?

when my son arrived in Chicago it was 3.5 hours later I received call

I swear I will be gray by the time BC is over. Good thing I already dye my hair..lol.