Sub Moms

Today is our son's Birthday. We could not have been any "Luckier" he was able to make a phone call to us yesterday. I wished & sang to him a Happy Birthday.

Thanks Gaileann,

Happy B-day to your son JerseySusan!

Anyone with a son based in Hawaii? I need to travel there and am looking for sugestions on airlines, hotel and stuff to do that wont break the budget.

Hawaii travel, go to this site - much info posted already.

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/hawaii

Hmmm.....don't want to sound like a stupid mom, but here goes:  What would be a good Christmas gift to give someone on a sub?  Specifically - a Nuke.  Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!

becci the befuddled mom!!!!

Dear Becci,

There is a skirting like thing (navy rack pack) you can buy for your son's rack.  It has lots of extra pockets for storage.  And it helps darken their area.  I have forgotten what it is called. You need to know if your sub allows them and also what kind to order. Also lots of moms buy a fleece liner from L L Bean to sleep in.  They keep the subs cooler. I found both ideas somewhere in the list next to this, but cannot find it now to give to you.  Help ladies??

Becci, How about Challenge Coins or a Leatherman??

BecciQuilter: If he doesn't already have a Kendle fire, they can have those because you can't take a picture with it. I got one for my Nuke last x-mas.  if he does have one you can get him mag subscriptions or books to load.

Thanks Navy Mom's for my son's B'day wishes today! ;))

JerseySusan- I'm so excited for you that everything worked out perfectly with you being able to talk to your son on his Birthday. I wish you son a Happy Birthday and send my Best Wishes too!

Holiday gift idea for a Nuke sailor.  My nuke son requested a leatherman with a belt clip.  The leatherman needs to contain a phillips & straight screwdriver, wire cutter, wire stripper, crimper, and a belt clip case.  Also, a minimum 200 luminars flashlight with a belt clip case.  I did some research and bought him a Leatherman Charge TTI, which has titanium handles.  I am hoping that this will uphold the use that they will need. 

I was actually wondering about theft on the boat.  Both the Leatherman and the flashlight that he said that he needed we expensive.  I was wondering if getting his initials engraved in them would be helpful or just a waste of money?

BTW I truly appreciate the love, support, and TONS of information supplied on this site.  I love the close knit family of sailor's loved ones.  Thank you all!

Mary - I've answered your question over on Nuke Moms...

Mary(MMnukesmom)- I chuckled when I read your post. I too have a hard headed/butthead son. Lol  I agree the girls would think that any man with a Mom tattoo would be a sweetheart. Plus, studies have shown women are attracted to men who have a close,good relationship with their moms and/or are good with children. Just saying....

Well Rebecca, I would Love to see that Study. Both my husband & I have great relationships with all 3 of our kids, but I have to tell you,because of that reason unfortunately, there has been a lot of heartache with our older son & his fiance. She has never liked the relationship that we "All" once had with our oldest son.

AND Speaking of both good relationships with children & "Tattoos". My husband has been joking his "Entire Life" of getting a Tattoo. Soooo.... our 2 youngest children decided to call him on it for his 55th B'day this year. Just before our youngest son deployed for Afghanistan this fall, he & our daughter begged & asked him to finally get a Tattoo & that would be their B'day gift to him from them. Now mind you, he's Irish, so all he's talked about is getting that "Short little Irish Guy" with a pipe hanging out of his mouth. All I said to him was "If your finally going to do it, make sure it is tasteful & has meaning behind it,& DON'T come home with that "Ugly little Irish Troll". Lucky for him,it turned out to be exactly what 'ALL" of us wanted. He has a Celtic Cross with an Irish ribbon draping & the Words, "Family First"! I have to tell you"I LOVE IT"!!!!

Hi Moms, my son is on the USS Ohio and getting ready for his next deployment. I don't have a clue on what to put in his halfway bag. Or for Christmas? How do you all handle the holidays when they are gone? Have Christmas when they get home? Send things in their duffle bags for them to open? I'm at a total loss and its even harder when I don't live in the same state so don't get too much info from him. My DIL helps ALOT with my questions but was just wondering how some of you veteran moms handle things.

Susan, thats a great idea! I love the recordable card idea. I do have a few little things I'm sending to my DIL to put in his bag just so he'll have a couple of things from us. Some honey grams and also we won the Christmas Day calendar day and we decorated shapes for them to put up in the mess. So he should have lots of things to keep the morale up. What things do you put in the halfway bag?

Susank,

Thank you for the ideas. I love the recordable cards. I looked at the halfway bag ideas too so got some good stuff from that. He's coming down for a couple a days in a week so we're going to have Thanksgiving and a small Christmas all in one and then have another Christmas when he gets home so we can celebrate with my DIL too. Yes, we do have to be adaptable for sure!!!

JerseySusan- First of all let me apologize if I upset or offended you...or anyone else. I am so sorry to hear that your eldest son's fiance doesn't like the close relationship your son has with his family. I can only imagine the horrible heartache this has been for you and all of your family. Maybe she is jealous of the tight bonds between your son and the rest of the family? I don't know...but I do hope& pray that things work out one way, or another for the best.

As far of the study goes, it was something I read when I was taking psychology classes in college. In Theory, a woman would be attracted to a man with a close, good relationship with his mother and/or are good with children. The reasoning behind it is that he would most likely be a wonderful, attentive boyfriend and/or be a great father. (That is at least the Theory).

Also, I loved the story you posted about Husband's B-day gift from your two youngest children. Your Husband's tattoo sounds amazing! In addition to having a  great looking tattoo, it holds a lot of sentimental meaning. =)

Oh Rebecca... Absolutely no offense taken. That Theory couldn't be more true. I along with the rest of our family, truly believe the theory you speak of, is why she is so attracted to him.We do hope & pray someday we can all be blessed with a good healthy relationship with her. Her parents are two beautiful people in Spirit and we all value some of their good attributes she has inherited from them. She just has to practice them. It will all come in time, probably when they start to raise a family, she will then begin to recognize the true meaning of selfish vs. unselfish.

PS. Mary, "Loved Your Story."

O no! I just made one side of a quilt for my son and my DIL is making the other side. I was getting ready to send it up to them in Washington so she can finish it before he leaves for deployment. He said he was freezing on the sub so that's the reason for making it. And now he can't have it. :(

Gaileann, The quilt is made a little smaller than a twin bed and is made of cotton but the batting might be the problem. We'll still give it to him and I'm sure they'll let him know if he can have it or not. Thanks for the heads up though!

I just wanted to mention they have a big sale going on at REI on these men's Polartek long underwear, they are very warm and lightweight and keep you dry, I can vouch for that.  And, they cam double as pajamas.  Wearing a pair of these you don't need an extra blanket that's for sure, they are made for mountain climbing Lol.  I wear them for shoveling snow under regular pants.   Another big plus is they are not bulky at all they are thin actually, but very warm.

http://www.rei.com/product/802280/rei-midweight-polartec-power-dry-...

Whatever we put on or around our boys should NOT melt into plastic goo if it catches fire.  Have you ever singed your hair?  Yes, it smells hideous, but it just turns into ash - nothing sticks to you.

Ladies, think "natural fibers!" We knitters know them:  bamboo, linen, wool, silk, merino, cotton, angora (but don't think you'll get many sailors into angora).  Use two layers of preshrunk wool fabric as batting in the quilt.  It ISpossible to have a wool shirt which isn't itchy, but it won't be the cheapest - because it uses longer strands than the itchy kind of wool.  Also, did you know wool clothing stays warm, even when it gets wet?  And if you've never worn a pair of 100% wool socks in the winter, you're missing a real treat!

Silk long underwear is the warmest (so says the school ski team & Boy Scout troop).

Try to think of a natural fiber alternative when shopping!

Mary(MMnukesmom)- I loved reading your post about the beautiful  lady you meet in a nursing home and about your sister's DIL. It's wonderful that your sister and her DIL get along. But, most of all I'm glad to hear that your sister DIL has realized how wonderful a MIL she has! Because from what you told us, she is one heck of a lady! =)

Our youngest is in Special OPS & deployed at the moment. I just sent him out a package of long underwear from Sports Authority a product called 'Hot Chillys'. Honestly, he already has special under garments issued to him. I'm not even sure if he will be able to wear these. I believe I read there is wool woven inside of them. All I could think about was keeping him warm in the snowy mountains.  I even sent him a blanket. Not sure if he can have that either. Just sending it to him gave me peace of mind. I wrote to him & told him if he can't have it, donate it to someone who needs it.

The ones (REI Polartek) I linked to are "Machine wash warm, tumble dry low, do not iron.  Do not dry clean".   My wife washes them and they come out fine.

JerseySusan- I was relieved I didn't upset you. I do hope that it is Sooner, rather that your son's fiance sees the error in her ways.

She will have a better understanding from where you are coming from when she becomes a mother herself. It is easier to understand another person point of veiw,when you 'try on their shoes'...so to speak

May God protect each and every one of our service men and women who serve, past and present, this country in which we live.  I thank you for your service to our countty and your protection to our land whether you serve on land, on the ocean, or under the seas. 

I am the proud mom of a submariner and an aunt to two other sailors. 

God Bless All those who have served & are serving now. Please protect & give them strength of courage,bravery & pride.

Very Proud Navy & Air Force Mom

I just viewed a very unique idea on another N4M's site. There is a wife who turns military fabrics into wreaths,table top Christmas trees, & other crafts. She is listed under Noelle's Front Door Fabrics.

From personal experience, long underwear is definitely the bomb on cold water deployments.  Happily, Silverdale is due to get it's own REI in the near future too...

Thank you for all who have served and presently serving. Proud mom of twin sailors :) 

Just wanted to add my Thanks to all veterans and to those that are currently serving. May God protect and bless you today and always.

Also thanks to Gaileann for the clarifications about what types of materials would and would not be allowed on board the sub.  Still trying to decide what to get my son for Christmas and this info has been very helpful.

hello all!!

i too would like to say thanks for all who have served and who are serving.  may God bless them all!!

im a daughter of a marine (WWII) and the mother of a sailor!!!

My son's orders changed; he's going to welding school in Groton, then on to the Missouri. I'm happy, I think ... am assuming this translates to an even better civilian employable skill someday. He's on the fence about re-upping for another 2 1/2 yrs, added on to the basic nuke 6 yrs (he started Aug. 2010 at age 18). My thoughts: the nice bonus $ could be a house down payment someday, or seed money to start his own business (a welding shop??). His worries: he'll be at sea for-evah... goodbye, girlfriend. Anybody else in the throes of listening/advising their sailors about re-enlisting? 

Does anyone know of a good (rate wise & cost) International Calling Card that can be used in different Countries? I thought a calling card would be a good Christmas gift for my son. Especially, since he doesn't have International Service on his cell phone. I've done a little reasearch and most of the calling cards are Country specific (for example; from Italy to the U.S.).  Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. -Thank you 

Cabela's also offers silk long underwear.  Thank you all for the suggestions did not know it got cold on the sub...but it makes since.  And since my son is deploying before Christmas for the1st time that is something to keep in mind for him.

Mary, I just had a knee replaced 3 weeks ago; claim just for 4 days hospital was $55k... without insurance I'd never have had it done! Holy cow, it's just a little piece of titanium!
William, I was amazed about your post elsewhere regarding sub duty pay dating back possibly to boot camp ... my son requested sub duty at the recruiting station .. does a sailor have to speak up/complain to get this? He's just now done with proto and has been assigned to a sub. Also, I think you sent me a "friend" request but I can't find it ... not being rude in not replying, just techno-challenged (or maybe it's those "new knee oxy's" I've been taking!.

My son is graduating sub school, and will be stationed at Bangor Washington on the USS OHIO. Are there any moms out there who could let me know how that base is?  People have been telling me the weather makes people depressed it is starting to scare me.

Thanks for the info Gaileann I checked and they are only machine washable air dry.

Connie the upper right corner of the has a link called Friends and if you click on it will show who sent you a friend request then it lets you accept the invite.  You are excused for the pain meds Lol, hope you feel better soon.

My understanding now after I looked at the  Navy regulation is that nukes who make it all the way through the 2-year ordeal of nuclear training and finally graduate prototype, get back-paid their submarine pay, back to the first day of Nuclear Field A School.  However it shows up in their paycheck  "after they report to the submarine".  So don't expect it yet.  They will get it when they actually report to the boat.  Sometimes the regs are hard to read, but they do not get sub pay paid for their  time in boot camp.  Non-nuclear ratings I believe, are allowed to get back-paid submarine duty pay to the first day they started the BESS school.

My son was always a sub volunteer too even when he first went to the recruiting station before he entered the DEP program, he signed the sub volunteer statement.  So, both our boys joined the Navy to be sumarine nukes.  

William,

First, let me say that I'm happy you're here and glad for your participation.  I try very hard to have a "laissez-faire" (hands off) approach to being administrator.

BUT, all of us must remember our audience when posting here.  Mainly, we are new Navy moms, still apprehensive of the military and our children's experiences with it.

In that light, I very politely and respectfully ask that you delete your post regarding criminal behaviors associated with the five submarine bases.  I'm not questioning its validity, but feel it may do more harm than good here.

There are tens of thousands of sailors, stationed at the same bases, who adapt and thrive in their new environments.  The likelihood of a sailor to succumb to criminal behavior results from many more factors than just location.

I hope you understand my predicament, will not be offended, and continue to converse with us.  Sincerely, Kaye

When you think about how many hours,days,weeks & months they spend inside a sub, adapting to the weather with their free time when they're on land, is probably a piece of cake to them. Our son always quotes "It is what it is". Our Sailors from living sub life are smart & tough. They learn to make lemonade from lemons.

Don't worry Babs about the climate, I'm sure your son will do great where ever he is.