Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

Ladies I love it! thank You for sharing these awesome Pics.

VintageMom Much Love and Respect to you, hang in there all will work out and you will endure a lifelong of Proudness! Hugs to you Momma!

Warriorprotector:  Happy birthday to your son.  My son's b-day was two days after Christmas.  He had just gotten to A school, and we just got his new address two nights before Christmas.  I sent a package filled with things wrapped for Christmas and birthday.   I also sent a Christmas card and a birthday card separately. It took quite a while for him to get his package, but he finally did.  He still hasn't received the envelopes.  And I mailed those separately thinking he would get them before his package!  Lol  Oh, well!  

Yay! for the letters some of you have received.  It's funny!  My sailor is now in A school, so we can communicate better now.  But I miss those letters!  The anticipating of getting one in the mailbox, all the news he had inside, his funny jokes, etc.  We can face time him now and text, but it's just not filled with as much information and emotion as his letters were.  I almost want to ask him to write letters again, but I don't think he would go for that!  Lol  And I don't know how much time he would have for that after he classes up.  Although probably more than he did in bootcamp.  

Oh Vintagegal! I remember how hard it was seeing my oldest empty out the room I brought him home from the hospital to. It was his room from before he was born and I decorated his nursery to when he was 5y/o and wanted it painted Buzz Lightyear green (think brand new tennis ball green-oh the brightness but he loved it!) to becoming a teenager and finding his more sophisticated side and painting it a medium grey to display his 35mm black and white photographs he took as his new found hobby. I would also joke with people (who knew the questionable dynamic of his 'career') who would ask if I worried about him 'partying' and I would say, "No, he is really into 35mm photography so he has no money for that!" Haha. The the day he took down all of those photos and and his closet was empty. The only remaining bit of 'him' was the height chart painted on the closet trim....that stays forever! Whenever I lament the strength and independence of my children I think about the alternative and take comfort knowing that they are handling their lives well, just as we taught them, and I wouldn't want anything else but to see them happy and successful. I haven't changed anything in SR room and likely won't for a very long time. I'm sure at some point he'll start taking things out to wherever he ends up and likely wouldn't come back home after his 6 years other than to fully pack it up to his own home. 

On a brighter note....pun intended, haha.....I have challenged myself to create a blue candle with  things I have around the house. I found a blue glass at Dollar Tree yesterday and melted down a candle and re-poured it into the blue glass. Going to print out the poem and dig around for something to decorate it with. I have all 5 dogs today so wish me luck on actually completing this challenge today!! 

Mama Bear, glad you got the form letter, I just got mine yesterday as well. 

C's mom-yes, I think those who have been through bootcamp style academies have a much easier time. My SR had done 2 at a military base for the fire service as a teen as well as going through Fire Academy serving in leadership positions. He made a comment to me that it is easier for him that some of the others because he 'knows the game'. Not meaning that it is a game but that he knows it's not personal and the reasons behind it. I can see how it would be a big shock to a kid who has never had a job or been away from home. It isn't something that I would enjoy, haha, but my kid is having a great time knowing this is preparing him for the next step. 

Mom2blondies, I loved your bedroom story, my kids bedrooms and are still called by their names. My daughter left my husband wouldn't of dare gone in there but one week after my son's departure into the Navy he was tearing his room apart. I blew a casket and a major melt down. I was totally in tears when I came home and seen what he did. He hasn't been back in that room since, it's been a year but I am still waiting till he comes home before we make any decisions on his things. We all have to do wants best and I think it is our way of hanging on until we're ready.

Vintage, yep, when our hearts get too full they spring a leak, here is a big Navy hug to help bind up the hole.

AWWWWW, VintageGal your making me tear up! You will be ok.

NorthwoodsMom so funny you mentioned tearing up the room. The ladies on here at the time I began with my Son, kept telling me to stay busy so that way I could stop crying, so I took a few days off from work. it had been 4 weeks since bud left I hadn't been in his room since he left. so One day instead of crying all day I decided to go into his room, hubby's at work well I went in and gutted his whole room took the bed apart threw it outside took the Window stuff down packed everything out my daughter had come home and said "OOOOH dad is gonna be mad what are you doing? I said Keeping busy! so then Husband came home walked in the house found me and said "Woman what in the heck are you doing"? I looked at him and said the ladies told me to stay busy so I gutted buds room and started bawling, he laughed at me and hugged me and said ok what is the plan! He called me a crazy lady, my daughter said that was an understatement. LOL! so we redid buds room and when in A school he was able to come visit for Christmas and the room was done and when he walked in he walked out and said Mom is that my room, I said it surely is he loved it!  best surprise for him and a good keep your mind busy for me!

PhoenixMom:  I can just see you doing the mass destruction!  I'm sorry. But I had to laugh!!  But you are motivating me. I think I will paint his room this summer. Too cold out to try to paint now...  his walls are a kelly green. OMG have i hated those walls since i painted them!  He wanted it to match his high school colors. Then he hung up his high school flag on one wall and a Michigan State flag on the other wall. Painted a huge Spartan S on another wall. Did I mention I hate the color?  Now to find a color I like and paint that will cover bright kelly green!

Shanny - Go Green!  B&C just graduated from MSU last month!

B’sNukeMoM:  I am also a Spartan!!  But a lot older than them!  Class of 1998!  GO WHITE!  

warriorprotector- Whoo hoo letters!! I love it!! I'm so glad you have received more letters!!!

momma bear- Whoo hoo on getting the form letter. Now you can mail those letters out!! 

mom2blondies- Whoo hoo on getting your form letter too!! Yay!! 

My son's room is the same as he left it. He brings things home and then takes other things with him. :) And that's ok. :)

Love seeing all the pics and reading the stories!!! Have a great evening!! Until tomorrow and another day closer to PIR ladies!!! 

I was really hoping the glass would look more blue and it isn't exactly what I had envisioned but it was something to do and I think it's cute. I'm going to order a lantern though I think. I really like the fairy lights idea! 

Mom2blondies- I love it!!! It’s perfect!! BNMH <3 

mom2blondies:  I LOVE IT!!!  I think it looks really cool!  

All your blue candles are beautiful.  I haven't completed mine & he is now in A school... I have the blue vase I ordered (actually ordered 2 so I had one and sending the other to my Mom)....but we don't do "real candles" do to animals in house sooo still looking for battery operated ones with a timer.  Not going into stores for most part due to co-vid does make it a touch difficult ...

I haven't touched my sailors room since he left for BC...he said NOT to go in it or mess with anything before he left...so I am respecting his wishes (for now)...think he wasn't quite ready to give it up or ??? maybe his way of saying he wasn't quite ready to admit that he is moving on or ??? 

But I am respecting his wishes...I did wash linens & took out his dirty clothes to wash those... our 1 rescue who used to sleep with him had been relegated to her bed at the foot of his but, when he was home for a few days for Christmas break she was sleeping with him again...she had the missing him blues/crying/whining again when he left but has settled back down...but moved herself back to her dog bed at the foot of his... I didn't strip bed again when he left this time until she was ready to return to her bed...think she needed a bit more time to readjust to him gone again.  Hard enough for Momma to deal with him gone again until who knows when let alone her...

Yeah! for letters and phone calls to come... Glad address' have arrived And yes, Mail those letters/pics and collages...

Prayers for all.

NewMilmom-- This is the Battery operated one I have.  It's just a plain pillar candle with no decor but you can make it yours.  It is real wax on the outside and takes 2 C Batteries that last about 3 weeks when on 24/7, Or you can set it to the timer and it is I believe a 10 hour run 14 off cycle.

Sterno Home MGT814307NB00 Navy Blue Wax Pillar with Timer

Good morning everyone!!  It has been weeks that I have been on.  With 3 kids still in the house, I kept everything around Christmas the same.  Not always easy, but the best I could do.  LOL  I mentioned taking down the Christmas tree this week and my 15 year old objected.  "Not yet!"  Oh well.  We will see.  My SR was able to call on Christmas and the Sunday afterwards!  So grateful to be able to talk to him him 3 times in 3 weeks.  I am guessing no more phone calls until the "I am a Sailor" call.  I can't believe we are down to 2 weeks when he graduates.  I remember a time when I thought this time would come!  I can't believe what the Navy has done for my son already!  I thought he would never write.  Not only is he writing when he can, but he wrote to each of his siblings separately, his grandparents, to his father and I.  He talks or writes about all the stories he has for us after BC.  It sound like he is enjoying BC and the friends he has made. It just warms my heart to know he is doing well!  

I was trying to catch up on the comment wall but got totally overwhelmed, so I am just jumping in.  I apologize in advance, because I am sure I am or have missed some big events that have taken place while I was out.  

VintageGal- Thanks for posting the blue light poem!  I made a blue light but didn't realize there was a poem to go with it.  :)  I have my blue light on a timer that comes on every evening and shuts off  when we go to bed.  It just makes me feel like my family is all together when it is on.  

Hope you all have a wonderful Thurs.!

Good Morning Ladies and welcome to all of our moms and dads,

We are glad you are here.

cgtrk and halfpintdynamite  We are glad you are here. No question is ever dumb and someone will answer you!! Please read thru this link as it tells you a lot about boot camp during COVID.

.. First Things First-- The Quarantine Edition 

Informed Delivery® 

This is another good link as you can sign up and see what mail is coming every day!! I love this one!!

Let us hear from you and welcome again!!!

proud and grateful- Good Morning, it is so good to see you on here. I am so glad you were able to talk to your son and that he is doing well and making friends.

I know right and that's awesome that he's been writing to all his family!! 

I know it won't be long now. I still have my tree up to!! Lol

You have a great day as well!!!!

cgtrk and halfpintdynamite-

Here's another link: 

Boot Camp First Weeks Timeline

proudandgrateful - That is so wonderful that you have received some phone calls and your SR has been able to write letters. I wonder, if they had a little more down time (which is usually very little!) during the holiday stand down and he was able to write more. When my SR was in, each letter started with "I only have 10 minutes to write this!"  :-)

Leaving the Christmas tree up still is totally okay - especially if it comforts your other children. Your candle lit during the evening time sounds like a nice way to remember your SR. 

Good Morning Everyone!

It is perfectly fine to jump right in wherever you need to! I am doing that myself, although, I read most of your messages and it is great to see some of our new members posting and others answering questions and sharing their blue lights.

May you all have a wonderful day!! 

I don't know if they are doing a virtual PIR (graduation) this week or not but here is the RTC website link with the information on where to view as well as a list of the Training Groups (TG) their Divisions and graduation dates. 

RTC - Training Graduation Dates 2020 / 2021

Good Morning All, Happy Thursday to you, hoping this morning finds all well!

I Love all the candle pics, its all about making it yours. they look Fabulous! So many things you can do.

ProudandGrateful Wonderful News!

Good Morning to all our Wonderful Admins. Have a great day!

VintageGal AND Shanny it took us a bit to get the room done we purchased a new bedroom set, New window fixtures, New Blinds all the way to grinding and sanding the concrete and sealed and painted it .new base boards the whole works so we also bought a Area rug to put down it came out really nice looks like a hotel room with flat screen on the wall that pulls out. he liked it so much he wouldn't come out the room. HAHAHA! That is my Sanctuary for when I miss him I go in and Pray! It was a  big remodel. after it was done Hubby said no more of your Staying busy Ideas ok because I end up doing it all! LOL!

Proud and grateful, never worry about not staying caught up, goodness girl you have other kids at home. Gosh when I was in your place I was lucky to leave the house with the same shoes on. I am so happy for you that your son has found his handwriting skills and that is so remarkable he spent the little valuable time he had to make sure everyone got a letter. Makes a Mom extra proud to know she had helped shaped such a noble character in her child. Yeah for 2 more weeks, will be praying!

Good morning!

Welcome cgtrk and halfpintdynamite! Jump on to say hello when you're ready! Ask questions and let us know where you're at in your boot camp journey. We'd love to be here for you for that extra support if you need it! 

Proud and grateful ~ Hi! We're just glad to see you on here! 3 phone calls in 3 weeks? That's wonderful! I'm having flashbacks of the feeling that I'd get when I saw that number pop up on my phone. Talk about the stomach flips!! I'm so happy for you! That's so sweet that he wrote his siblings and grandparents. I bet that made them feel extra special <3 Your household sounds like mine in regards to not wanting the Christmas decorations down just yet. It just makes the house feel extra spirited and it's all about the kids! So sweet!! BNMH to you and your family while you wait for PIR and having back that communication and FaceTime! 

It's special having that blue candle on or lit! It's like having a piece of them shining there with you! I would always say - I love you - when I blew it out, like he could hear me - tears! lol Big hugs to all of you! One day closer to PIR!!

Phoenixmom ~ The room sounds like a very inviting adult kind of room. I bet he does love it and sees it as a gift, especially after sleeping on ship! :) 

Good morning Chipmunk, Northwoodsmom, Partyofseven, Belovedbyhim, Warriorprotector, Mom2blondies, Shanny, NewMilmom, Doribry, and to all of our new Navy moms!! 

Some More photos.

A set of photos from inside the USS Marlinespike Seamanship Trainer at Recruit Training Command.

check out https://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand and http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/.

Good afternoon Ladies!

14 days until PIR for my SR, DoriBry and ProudandGrateful!  Hooyah!

Phoenixmom: I see my son! Yes!  Mom allergies are rampant! 

VintageGal: When do those bells ring?  Thinking about you!

I know I'm forgetting something so I'll hop on later!

Hi to the new mom's!  

Hello to the new Navy mommas! I'm still finding my 'sea legs' but feeling pretty good to be halfway through bootcamp! I sometimes think this journey is going to be way harder on me than on my SR! 

I only worked one day this week (Monday) so have a list of things I want to accomplish at home.....I'm pretty bored and lonely here just me and the dogs so I've bought way more on Amazon than I should, haha! I found myself in a 'blue candle' obsession and ordered the candle belovedbyHim posted as well as an old fashioned style lantern to put it in. My SR likes really old things so I think it will be perfect and once I have photos from graduation I'll put one next to it....for now maybe I'll put the photo of me, hubby and SR from the day we dropped him at the hotel. I also ordered a hanging blue star to put in his bedroom just because I thought it was cute. VintageGal, I love the idea of saying "I love you each night". 

Oh ladies!!! 14 days?? Home stretch!! How exciting! 

Ok off to try to start crossing some things off my to do list. Have a wonderful day!!! 

Thanks vintagegal,  it is a special room with his flag from BC and all his Challenge Coins displayed.

WarriorProtector So glad that you saw your son! YAY!

mom2blondies Amazon is making a killing on you Navy Mom's LOL! very pretty star I like!

BelovedbyHim I used fairy lights in my lantern...  found them at Party City. I think they were $5 per string. I have 2 strings in there

Mom2blondies:  I am in love with that star!!!  Very awesome!  

warriorprotector:. I am so happy for you that you got to see your SR!!!  It does a mom’s heart good!!!  

For those of you who are new - don't forget you can join your local Blue Star Mothers group.

Here's the link - you can look for a group in your area.

Blue Star Mothers of America

Here's the Wikipedia link:

Blue Star Mothers - wikipedia

And here's the link to the Blue Star Mothers group on here:

Blue Star Mothers - Navy for Moms

mom2blondies - your Blue Star is awesome!

Warriorprotector-Was he in the big group pic?  My husband and I think we see our son also but of course the division number is not posted.  Sometimes a parent will confirm in the comment section.  I have been squinting and zooming but cant be 100%.  I even used a magnifying glass.  After a while you swear every one of them could be your son.  Oh well I enjoy seeing the pictures.  I would love to see the signs you had made for PIR that you mentioned earlier.  I want to do something myself and of course I have procrastinated as usual.  

Shanny-I think I took your idea in regards to the lantern when you posted it not too soon after I joined this group. I had a hard time finding blue fairy lights but found some that plug in instead of batteries on Amazon.  I had my husband drill a hole in the bottom so I could run the cord.  I love it so thank you for the idea.  

mom2blondies-  That is very pretty. I like the blue color much better. I have a red one like that.

Enjoy the rest of your day!!

B’sNukeMoM:  my grandma was a Gold Star Mother. She wore her gold star pin every time she left the house.  She rode in area parades as a Gold Star Mother. When she passed away I told my brother she would be buried with it. And he didn’t know what it was for. He hasn’t even noticed she wore it every day. So I made sure it was on her. 

DorBry:. I was initially so angry I couldn’t find blue candles. Everyone had these awesome looking candles and I couldn’t even find a simple blue one to decorate. I was looking at Etsy for ideas and saw a lantern with a blue candle in it. Decided I wanted a lantern. Then found the fairy lights. My sailor told me I was weird when he came home and saw it. Told me to stop being superstitious. But I love it and the meaning even if I burn through batteries like crazy!

Hello and WELCOME to all of our new members!

you have come to the right place!  The ladies here will support you in any way we can to get through this crazy journey!  Please feel free to ask any questions you may have!  Someone will answer and help!  If your question gets lost in our chatter, please ask again as we will never intentionally ignore you!  

BelovedbyHim:  yes, my uncle passed in Vietnam. He was a corpsman in the Army 

Warriorprotector:  make sure you right click and save that picture!  I swear one of my favorite pictures of my sailor was the one I could while looking through RTC photos. There was no mistaking him. And if I zoomed in enough o could read his name on his uniform. He may have had a mask on but I know those eyebrows and he looked exhausted and stressed

look what I found on pinterest looking to see where this can be bought.