NUKE moms

Thanks for the ant remedies everyone! A friend of mine says she uses Comet cleaning powder. It doesn't so much kill them as form a protective barrier, dissuading them from coming in the house. I already have a bunch of Borax (which I use in my homemade laundry detergent), so I think I'll try that recipe first.

Glenni, I will send you a pm about my where my sailor is going to school. I try to be very careful about OPSEC, so I don't want to put that info on this very public forum.

Grannyofnine - I also like the idea of challenge coins. One thing to think about however: When I asked my son if he was interested in challenge coins, he told me he didn't want to buy any, he wanted to earn them, sneaky handshake hand-off style. I ended up giving him gift cards to Target and Best Buy. Not a very personalized gift, but one they love to receive. Another good idea is an e-gift card for Amazon. When he was in A school I sent him a gift card from one of the restaurants near NNPTC. I put enough money on it for him to be able to treat some of his friends.

Samsmom - buying challenge coins that show your sailor's progress is a nice idea, sort of like patches earned in various boys programs.

PacNWmom - I do understand also that for our sailors they would probably like to "earn" their coins. I haven't totally gathered the entire way they work, so I purchased the 3 Div bc coins at the NEX booth in the Great Hall at PIR. Then Grannyofnine I also found out that at the NEX picture area they have challenge coins for the states. Not all states are readily available but ours was. Our sailor went off to GC with that coin while we kept the others at home until we could figure out how the challenges all worked.

Another thing that I managed to buy at the NEX photo shop was a photograph of their division flag. I don't think my son realized they had this available and he was really glad that I had purchased that for him.

Another thought on a graduation gift along with a gift card, is money towards a computer, that was our high school and bc gift for our son.

When my son graduated boot camp several people recommended a G-Shock watch. My son really had not been into watches - would just check his phone if he wanted to know the time. But I went out on a limb - thought since they couldn't have any electronics in class that he might appreciate a watch. And he does. Wears it all the time to class. 

Erin - Thanks for answering my question about the essential oil. I wonder if that would work to also discourage spiders? I get spiders around my mailbox.

Hi all - Happy Monday!

Lots of chatter this weekend!  I made a note of the tips for the ant control.....I like the idea of the peppermint oil.  

As to the gifts for PIR - we also got B a G-Shock watch - he liked it because they weren't allowed to have their phones in the Rickover.  Of course a gift card would always be good too.  Best Buy is always popular there.

PattiP - wow!  Can't believe your son is almost done.  Be sure to have him check into taking the CLEP tests for college credits before he gets out.  Do you know what his plans are yet - work/school? 

Still keeping a close watch on Hurricane Maria - as of right now it looks like it's going up the coast by NC and then making a right turn and heading out over the ocean.  Hopefully it lessens in strength - how are our FL & TX mom's doing?

I'm heading to Las Vegas Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.  Any Navy moms there?

Welcome to our newest members ~ workingatit and samsmom.  Please be sure to read the pages to the right (10) under the member profiles, especially "Your Sailors Schedule Upon Arrival to GC" and familiarize yourself with OPSEC.  The discussion forum above also has lots of good info (hit "view all").  And of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have ;p

B'sNukeMom, what incredible timing, I'm you're huckleberry!    I'll pm you.

B'sNuke, did you post the pure heart graphic because you're in Sin City? LOL Have fun! JayDee, does that mean you are in Vegas too? I wanna go!

PattiP, I cannot believe your sailor is almost done! I see other moms getting their sailors back and mine is ready to start his latest reenlistment. Oh well, I want him home but I'm proud of his more. I'm happy for you, PattiP. Best wishes as he starts planning for a non-military life. Please keep in touch with us when the time comes!

J;s/S'smom, I'm sad on your behalf because your sailors are both gone. It is nice knowing they are ok though, isn't it? I know you loved having them home.

NancyJo, I'll just be there on vacation.  The timing just happens to be perfect.  I wish you could join us!

AmbersMom - I know it seems like you can't NOT be there for your daughter's PIR.  It broke my heart too when the Polar Vortex of 2014 hit Oklahoma/Texas the morning I was supposed to drive to Chicago with my husband and my dad.  We made the difficult decision to turn around once we started passing Diesel Trucks flipped on their sides and plowed into the center median.  Our progress was slowed to a crawl on the ice and we didn't have the hours necessary to get there on time, let alone get there at all safely.  In our case, my son would have not only not seen us, but might have had to be worried sick that we were stuck on a highway somewhere in the ice & snow.  I did get to see the ceremony online.  When it was overloaded with people trying to watch it, another website popped up to deal with the overload.  I hope that it works out for you.  It won't be the end of the world for either one of you, if it doesn't.  Prayers.  God Bless.

Ambers Mom-I would fully understand your heartbreak.  But there is still hope for your PIR!  

Ambers mom you can also order a PIR DVD.

I did that to show my father who physically wasn't up to the trip and technically couldn't understand how to stream.

The video is nice because it can be played on the TV and they do a pretty good job of showing all divisions. I actually ordered it after the ceremony by calling the NEX.

It was $30.

Ambersmom - hang in there and hopefully something will work out.  Maybe you could do a quick road trip like BlanchMarie did.  Worst case you watch it online and buy the DVD and then plan a road trip to SC after he phases up - and you'll have more time with him.  Praying it all works out.

WooHoo - Navy mom's take on Vegas - getting to meet up with JayDee and another Navy mom!  Watch out Vegas lol!

AmbersMom, it just kills us to not be there for those big events. I made it to PIR but was not able to be there for his wedding in SC. I would have made that trade-off but it was not meant to be. In the end we do what we can and always let them know how much we love them. I hope things work out in your favor. Mother Nature is a tough thing to overcome. {{N4M hugs}}

I'm going to watch the news from Vegas online. I don't want to see a headline like "Navy Moms Get Wild and Mayor Asks Them To Calm Down". LOL ps It only means I'm jealous I can't be there too!

I just found out that my son is being dropped from the nuke program. He is a little disappointed because he doesn't like failure. I feel terrible for him. I told him he's not a failure and just wasn't right for him. He said he will be moved to DTP sometime soon. Does anyone have any information on the process?

NancyJo - you won't see us on the news because remember "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!" lol .  Boy, I wish you could be there too! ;p JayDee, don't worry about your hair - my hair appointment is set for the Tuesday after I get home!

joshsmom - Your son is still in the top percentile.  He's above average to even be considered.  My son made it but I can go 5 months or longer with no contact from him.  It sucks!  He might be disappointed to know that I almost wish he had to go another route in the Navy.  I would give almost anything for him to be stateside.

It will work out in the end!  Continue giving him your unconditional love and support.  There is no failure in this, just another path.

joshsmom - Sorry to hear this but everything will work out for your son.  Please remind him that he is NOT a failure - there's just a different plan for him.  There's a discussion up above titled "Almost Made It" by WearsLargeHats - I think it might be about 3 pages in.  Take a look at it as there is some good info there.  Stick around, you don't have to leave our group.  Give your son a hug and tell him it's onward & upward.  Everything happens for a reason.

joshsmom - I don't have experience with a timeline through DTP but I do know that it all seems like "Hurry up and Wait!".  No matter what you are in the Navy.  lol

Welcome to our newest member ~ kathryn.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

My son completed his first day in ELT.  I checked on him and he said the first day was good!

bigsky21 - I had read some info about watches they could have.  I tried to find the source but could not.  Thought it might have been in a gift ideas for PIR document that had been posted on the PIR or boot camp group.  I found the link but could not get into it.  But I do remember that they needed to be pretty conservative - like black or maybe silver.  It's possible that dark blue was OK too - that I just don't remember.  If I come across any more on this I'll let you know.  Definitely no bright colors.

PattiP - congrats on your son nearing the end.  Thank him for his service and all the best to him in his next adventures.

bigsky21 - I think the watches are to be all black. As I recall at the NEX when there in Aug they were all black, and our son had to buy himself a new watch before bc was over. The one he already had was a black and evidently didn't have to return it when he got to boot camp. He is rather frugal, so was glad they had some inexpensive Casio watches which is what he usually buys at Wal-Mart. Or I should say, I buy and this time he was buying his own, so didn't want to spend money on the fancy ones.

Also, if you wait to get it at the NEX, your son can pick it out and if he is there when you purchase it, I think someone said there is either a discount or no tax. Not sure, our sailor was busy with getting his orders for liberty when we were in shopping.

NancyJo how did your weekend go here in OKC?  I thought about you before then, but once it was upon us, I forgot to see about connecting with you, my apologies. Hope all the ceremonies went well.

In regards to ants, eucalyptus oil works also.  

Also meant to mention that my daughter loves her baby G-shock watch.  When we gave it to her she said that she almost bought one for herself at the NEX.  She did tell me that she got to use the time zone features while she was on deployment.  Not sure if it helped, she would still call me and say "what time is it there?".  Maybe she was just checking to see if the watch was accurate!

Bigsky21 - I am going to have to look up the G-shock watch to see what is so special about them, but I finally started learning with my son, it was best to let him pick out what he wanted, especially in watches. Even when we were just shopping at Wal-Mart!! Enjoy your time with your sailor!!

Chipmunk, GShocks are hard working, multi functioning tough watches.  My daughter thought she'd lost hers during deployment and was really bummed out.  Fortunately she found it, slipped under her mattress on her rack.

joshsmom, it sounds like you are saying all the right things. I can only echo what everyone else has said. He's already proven to be one of the best to even be picked up for nuke in the first place. It just didn't fit.He'll be happy in the end. Please stay with us and keep us posted on his journey. I'll keep you both in my prayers.

A couple of you talk about ELT. My son was ELT also and it has been great for him. So glad he was able to go that route. For him it was a good move.

PattiP, my SIL was a navy nuke, ELT, and after 6 yrs left the navy and got a nuclear engineer degree. He met my daughter who was also in that program at the same university. She wasn't navy so I think it was just the hand of God. Anyway, his first job out of grad school was at a place that was a contractor for the DOD and designed and made submarine components. When they wanted to get closer to home, he got a new job at a nuclear power plant. He makes a fantastic living. So, school after the navy isn't for everyone but the potential for great things is there.

Chipmunk, the weekend was awesome beyond description but so action packed there wasn't even time for proper meals. My sister who is hilarious said we sure had a churchy weekend: prayers and fasting. There were 20,000 people there and my brother's family who came in from Alabama did not get inside. They watched on big screens somewhere else. There was no way I was going to be able to meet with anyone. We drove 7 hrs to get there Fri, events started immediately, and we returned on Sun. You were on my mind but it wasn't meant to be. Drat! I may need to make another trip. I have lots I wanted to do and couldn't. We may meet yet!

Hi all - Happy Tuesday!

Patti - have your son look in to Excelsior College.  A lot of nukes take online course with them and they have a nuclear engineering degree.

Chipmunk - yes, items purchased at the NEX are tax free.  Your sailor will have to make the purchases though (unless you have a military ID).

Just a reminder...we're  74 days away from the Army/Navy game!  The NFL should take a lesson!

CSW - that's on my bucket list!  I need to find a way to get to a game ;p

I found this link from lemonelephant:

If you are looking for gift ideas for PIR, check Gift Ideas for PIR.

It does mention watches, says black and silver are most popular but they can be other colors as long as they are professional in appearance.

Ant update: Night before last they discovered the compost bin that sits on the kitchen counter (where we live we have weekly curbside composting as part of the recycling and yard debris pickup). I put the compost bin on the back porch. Then the ants continued to march in the front door, under the dining room table, through the kitchen and out the back door to the compost bin. LOL

I think I've discovered an unusual solution, though. We are in the midst of having the outside trim and front porch painted. I think when the front porch was painted yesterday it disrupted their pathway. Not a conventional solution for sure, but I'll take it!

In terms of graduation gifts, I tried to find something that wouldn't take up precious space in my son's room. When he graduated from Power School I gave him a AAA membership since he was buying a car for the first time. It was both useful and gave me piece of mind. For PIR graduation I gave him a Kindle Fire, that he uses all. the. time.

Good wishes going out to all those impacted by the hurricanes. I hope Mother Nature gets over her tantrum soon and the devastating weather patterns subside.

I'm not much of a Vegas kind of person, but hanging out there with N4M folks sound like a blast!

Glenni, I tried to send you a message, but couldn't because we're not N4M friends. I sent a friend request.

PacNWmom, I'm not a gambler and not a Vegas person either. I'm with you. I just want to hang with my Navy moms!