Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones)

This is an Antarctic "spring" blizzard. (This earns a snow day but they still have to get out in it at times!)

Welcome Jasesmom!  My sailor graduated BC 3 months ago!  He is in GC now!  I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people on this website.  I visit this site daily!  They have helped me so much with all of my questions.  Can't wait until you get the first call!  Thinking about you and your family!

Hi Seahawks 12!!  - Thanks for sharing!! 

Jasesmom - You are welcome!! - Something my mom told me years ago when my husband was gone for a two-week training (he was ROTC in a different branch), "Chipmunk, you have your family around you and all the support you need! (We also had a toddler at home.) Your husband is out working in the hot sun, and doesn't have anyone to talk to, misses you more than you realize" Her words helped me to change my perspective, even though it was hard for me I learned to focus my attention more on prayers and good thoughts for my husband versus my feelings of loneliness. These days and weeks of silence are not easy. I did not know about this site when my son went off to BC, I did not know what to expect other than the little the recruiters had told me. My husband found a timeline someplace on the internet. It turned out to be incorrect, but it helped me have an idea of what my son was doing. BelovedbyHim has put together a timeline that is more accurate, to the best of her knowledge. I wrote emails to my son every night until I had his mailing address. I know he could not get my emails, but it is how I write messages to much of my family and so it was what I was comfortable with. I also saw his profile picture every time I wrote and seeing his smiling face, helped me stay confident he would do well. Once I had his mailing address, I printed out all of those emails and sent them off to him. I continued to email and then print all of my letters to him, so they would be in both places for him. 

We have all been where you are now and no matter how you deal with this time of separation, someone has most likely gone through it very similarly. You are not alone!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: JANUARY 2025

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

PIR: NOVEMBER 2024

Hi Chipmunk, thank you for sharing your heartfelt words "Focus your attention on Prayer and Good Thoughts rather than Loneliness".  It made my heart feel calm to read that!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! My sailor left for boot camp about this time several years ago. Will be thinking about you all at this point of the journey. FYI - at boot camp they got a better than average meal for holidays and if they had been "good" they even got dessert. So take comfort they are not eating MRE's while you enjoy a feast. 

Seahawks12 - You are welcome!! 

Congratulations to all of our new sailors today!! 

Happy Wednesday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR 11.27.2024

Happy PIR day to the newest sailors!! Just thinking about my son's PIR day makes me tear up!! Can't wait for his time to come!! Wishing everyone a great Wednesday and happy Thanksgiving!!

jasesmom:  We always watched every PIR while my Sailor was in BC.  Just made us feel closer to where he was.  He said it was nice to see the new sailors marching into PIR.  He made some of his best friends in BC.  He missed it when he left 3 months ago!  Some of his friends in BC came with him to GC and that was a blessing!!  They all help each other!

B'sNukeMom:  I love the Turkey crystal ball!  Thanks for making me laugh today!! 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Just wanted to say I'm so thankful to have found this group!! I was browsing the recruit training center social media one of the posts had put up and actually saw a picture of my son! It was so neat. So grateful for the info and comradery in this group!! Makes me miss hubby's Navy days and all the wife groups I was a part of. 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

jasesmom - What a wonderful surprise!! I am so glad that you saw your SR!

Seahawks12 - I am very thankful to this site and the different people I have meet over the years. I am especially thankful to those who have been able to befriend my sailor and his family because of the connections that I was able to make with them through this site. 

Hello fellow Mom's!

I've been reading but tied up with many medical issues this year. Wanted to stop in though, and say Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families, near and far. I am thankful that you are all here and supporting each other.

My sailor son is still in Japan, daughter with me.  My husband lost his cancer battle on Christmas morning and I've been fighting my own as well as the side effects but still here, plugging away!  Luckily all of the side effects are mostly gone or light enough now to be dealt with.

Hug your families tight!  You never know when it will be the last hug you can give, so make it a good one!

Henry's Mom, I am pretty new here but can't express enough my condolences. You sound like a very strong woman with a good support system. I hope the best for you and your family this holiday season. 

To Chipmunk, B'sNukeMoM and all the other moms who have been so supportive and informative a HUGE thank you.

Our daughter is loving A school despite being on hold forever. We are sonorous of her and all our Sailors.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

jasesmom -- WOW!!! Congratulations on seeing your son's photo!! That is a rarity!!! (Just and FYI for everyone, DO NOT ask for your sailor or their Div to be photographed.  Doing so will ensure that they Avoid that Div for the remainder of their time at BC.)  Their FB pages are another good place to stalk!!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: JANUARY 2025

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

Welcome Cindy!! How can we be of help to you?  Has your SR (Seaman Recruit) left for Bootcamp yet? The more you chat and share here the better we are able to answer your questions or point you to the right resources.  This is the wildest adventure that your kid has ever signed you up for.  We are glad to have you aboard.

Welcome Cindy. Glad you found us. Is this your first military endeavor? It was for me.. nice you can write already. 

Hi Cindy!  Welcome to this great place!  I come to the site often.  If you have question.....Someone will be able to help!  Great days ahead!

Henry's Mom - It is good to hear from you. I saw your message in my email feed, but I am just now catching up after the holidays. 

Cindy - Welcome to the Bootcamp Moms and Loved Ones group. We are here to help in any way that we can. 

So how was everyone's Thanksgiving? I was going to post yesterday, but I am still playing catch up. I have the fall decorations out of my windows, but they aren't exactly packed away. (I have single pane windows and there was some slight water condensation, so I was letting the dry.) Now, I have to stop and actually pack them up and pull out the Christmas decorations. 

It can be hard to feel festive when your loved ones are away, but there are things you can do to remember them and honor their service. Here is one of our discussions we put together to share the Blue Candle Poem and ideas. 

Blue Candle

One of our members - Gigi - shared this picture several years ago. It stays in my memory bank now, so I searched for it in our photos and found it to share here with you all. - 

Color of America Tree 2021 - Navy For Moms

Click on the link and it will take you to the photo on this site. 

Our Thanksgiving was very low key. Just had a few of the traditional foods and hung out together. We did our big family Thanksgiving the weekend before our son left for bootcamp. I  have not brought out our Christmas decor yet. Usually it's up the day after Thanksgiving, but this year with our son not here it's been hard to get motivated. Hopefully this weekend I'll get it done.

Oh how cool! I love the blue flame candle idea!! Will definitely be adding that to our home ASAP!! Looks like we are getting our form letter from our recruit today! (thank you informed delivery!!) :)  I believe this is the first time our son has ever mailed anything LOL. Excited to get it and open it up. 

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: FEBRUARY 2025

PIR: JANUARY 2025

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

Moms whose sons have an S.O. Contract headed to BUD/S there is a group for you.

It is called, BUD/S and SQT (Stages of a S.E.A.L.)

Interested:

Send a friend request to NavyMom(J) for more information.

(Click on the highlighted links.)

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: FEBRUARY 2025

PIR: JANUARY 2025

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

It's PIR Eve!!!  Do we have any moms at GL for PIR tomorrow??
Don't forget to let us know when you get that "Sailor" call... We love Celebrating with you!!

Happy Thursday and Happy PIR Day!

Watch today's PIR live:

LIVE PIR DEC 5, 2024

welcome to anyone I have missed.. how's everyone holding up with the holidays;; I will say that once they are out of boot, most commands do their best to give holiday leave.. it may be anywhere from Nov to Jan,, but we can celebrate anything at anytime.. navy moms are strong yet flexible

Good morning!! Happy PIR day to the new sailors!! What a great accomplishment!! 

Something we did knowing my son would not be home and would be in bootcamp for the holidays was celebrate early. We took a vacation to Key West in September as our Christmas present and the weekend before he left for bootcamp had our family Thanksgiving. This will be our first year without both kids home for the holidays which is tough, but we learned to adapt when hubby was in, I know we will with our boy too. 

Being flexible is definitely key!

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: FEBRUARY 2025

PIR: JANUARY 2025

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

Be sure to join your PIR group.  Here are the links:

PIR: FEBRUARY 2025

PIR: JANUARY 2025

PIR: DECEMBER 2024

Happy Friday!! Another week down :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!