Justin's Mom

Female

Ravencliff, WV

United States

Profile Information:

A little about me:: My name is Terri, and my husband, Greg, and I have 3 children: Justin (almost 20 and the sailor), Miranda (11) and Dalton (9). I am extraordinarily close to my children...especially Justin. He has worked so hard to be eligible for the Navy...he lost 50+ pounds. We live in WV and I teach history at Wyoming East High School. One of the coolest things I did in class this semester was invite Justin and his recruiter to my classroom to teach the students about Navy history and...learn to tie knots... The students really seemed to enjoy it!
I am here to support my: Son/Daughter
Stage of (Sailor’s) Navy career?: Enlisted
When I heard “Navy,” I...: Was proud and encouraged it
The Navy offers opportunities that...: ...so far my experience has been limited...but, the advice that the Recruiting Office gave us was extremely helpful... especially NOT to send a mom "care package" to him during basic training.
Our Navy experience so far...: It was positive and maturing. Our relationship has grown stronger.

Comment Wall:

Navy for Moms Admin

Welcome to Navy For Moms!

You will find this site very helpful and full of members who are eager to answer your questions. Browse around the site and check out the featured forums, groups, blogs, photos, videos, and even the other member profiles!

If you haven’t already, please make sure that you review our Community Guidelines to learn the “Do’s and Don’ts” of the community.
Also, check out this OPSEC Internet Safety Video

Enjoy your time here and we look forward (along with the community) to
reading more about you! :)

Elizabeth and Colleen

Jun 14, 2010
Navy for Moms Admin

Welcome to Navy For Moms!

You will find this site very helpful and full of members who are eager to answer your questions. Browse around the site and check out the featured forums, groups, blogs, photos, videos, and even the other member profiles!

If you haven’t already, please make sure that you review our Community Guidelines to learn the “Do’s and Don’ts” of the community.
Also, check out this OPSEC Internet Safety Video

Enjoy your time here and we look forward (along with the community) to
reading more about you! :)

Elizabeth and Colleen

Jun 14, 2010
Heartluvin

Welcome to N4M. Your key to adjusting is finding support groups – Click on the underlined links:
1. New Moms Stop Here group. Think of this group as your orientation station. We have experienced members who can answer questions and point you in the right direction.
2. Depper’s… in but not yet . is a group for those just waiting for bootcamp to start (Delayed Entry Program)
3. Boot Camp Moms group. Is your son/daughter already in bootcamp? This is the group.
4. OCS Graduate Moms or the NROTC Moms. For those going to be an officer or going to NROTC?
Read this blog on how to use the N4M site.
Welcome to New Members
Learn to use the “Search” function. Search in blogs, forums, discussions in previously posted threads BEFORE adding a NEW blog/discussion. Finally, it takes time to learn how to use this site. Be patient.
Check your page & status box regularly.
Best of luck, From Heartluvin and her Son Casey,who graduated 5/21/10

Jun 15, 2010
San

Hi Terri, I left you a message on the BC website, but here it is again, please do not stop writing. Your son will be looking for the letters from home, My son just finished BC the 11th of June and one day he did not get a letter and he was so hurt, he said that it seemed like we forgot about him, so from that day on I would write 2 letters a day. Trust me no one will consider him a mommy's boy. Letters from home help them get through so PLEASE write.

Jun 22, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

JustinsMom, hang in there. Like you said, no news is good news. I have to say, it was a bit unsettling how my son sounded one day and 3 days later, was totally different, not as upbeat. So while getting phone calls is great, it also can insight worries as well. And believe me, I'm a big worry wart.
Keep writing letters, they are good therapy for both you and your seaman.

Jun 22, 2010
diannep

Join your PIR group. Go to "Groups" and type in PIR8/6/2010 in the search box. Type it just like that so the group comes up. It is very sensitive...for some reason, it has to be exact! Then join it. You will share alot of info with the moms on that site in your son's division.

Jun 22, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

Yes, we plan to go to PIR, My son isn't sure if he is a grad n go. If he is, he said for us not to go to his PIR. He'd rather us meet up with him later in the year in Pensacola. We were planning on doing both. We are going to try to reserve a room at the Homewood Suites in Lincolnshire.
Are you going to PIR and if so, where are you going to be staying?

Jun 22, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

That is too funny. Yes, we could be neighbors and we were planning on staying the same days. Did you call or reserve your rooms online? My navy sons girlfriend of 6 mos. is going with us as well as my other son who just graduated HS. We are looking to get a two room suite so she can have her privacy. Did you already book your flight as well?

Jun 23, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

Aww, that is cute they miss their brother. My son who is still at home is now getting all my attention, good and bad. In that respect, he probably misses his big brother. They are only 17 mos. apart.
Oh and my name is Lisa. We are from CA.

Jun 23, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

My sons name is Oren. Should be the only one.
I sure hope Oren isn't a G n G. But he may want to be so he can get on his way to A school.
We've only received the form letter and he didn't mention mailing any other letters out, I forgot to ask him. The only reason my son got to call was to ask us to fax docs to someone back there so he can get special security clearance. How he managed to get a follow-up call is anyone's guess. He also called his girlfriend both of the times that he called us.
I have to tell you, I'm doing much better this week.

Jun 23, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

Hang in there Terri, it will get easier. It's good you're writing lots of encouraging letters. It's good for both of you. Does your son know where he will be going for A school? My son will be in Pensacola, FL until December. He will be trained as an IT (Info. Technician) I think.

Jun 23, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

That is such a cute picture of you and your son for your profile picture. I wish I had done one of those before my son left. Will be sure to get one taken at PIR.
Today was a good day for me, I went to the beach and read the whole paper from front to back. Did absolutely no housework. What a great day!

Jun 23, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

I can't stand myself in pictures either.
Your nine year old is a crack up.
Reserved our room last nite at Homewood Suites.
Oren called this am. Needed to get more security names/ph#'s. Woke me out of a dead sleep at 5am. I haven't gotten up that early since I worked. He confirmed he is a Grad n Go and will leave Sat. after PIR. He said, "Mom, I have good news and bad" Then proceeded to tell me about leaving Sat. He then asked if we would still come to PIR, I said "definitely". He seemed to cheer up at that.
He said quite a few kids in our sons div/ship have bad colds. My son felt like he was just coming down with it. I guess with the close quarters and all, it's bound to happen.
He also said they got privileges this week to write letters, not only just on Sunday. Lots of kids write close to lights out time and even after. He said recruits letters got picked up on Monday to be mailed out. Hopefully you and I will get some special mail this week.
I hope my telling you these things doesn't alarm you or upset you, but thought you might want to know till you get caught up with mail from your boy. Let me know and I'll stop.
I asked Oren if he knew someone in his group named Gregory and he confirmed what I thought, they only know the last names, which are printed on the back of their uniforms.

Jun 24, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

Our last name is Pursley. Hope today is a good day for you. Any letter come?

Jun 26, 2010
Loquax's Mom (Ship 12 Div 264)

I have been fighting cancer this past year and I meet with my doctor on Tuesday to see if he will release me to travel. I want to go so bad but my son and discussed the possibility that I might not be release to travel. Keep your fringers crossed that I can go. and thank you

Jun 28, 2010
Loquax's Mom (Ship 12 Div 264)

I have not heard from my son either. I just read somewhere that you can order to copy of the cermony if you can not go. A friend has offered to drive but I am not sure I can afford that after losing my job this year soooo... we will see about graduation.

Jun 28, 2010
Kevin's Mom (Ship 12 Div 264)

Hi Teri, my name is Pricila and my son is Kevin Gran. We are from Cincinnati area. Yes we plan on driving up in Aug. Haven't made reservations yet but will soon. How about you?

Jun 29, 2010
Loquax's Mom (Ship 12 Div 264)

thanks so much for the prayers....

Jun 29, 2010
Loquax's Mom (Ship 12 Div 264)

That is so sweet, thank yoiu so much for all your help and kind words and offering to help with my son. That is so sweet.

Jun 29, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

Hi Terri, I was beginning to think the same for you since I hadn't heard from you.
No new calls lately. Oh I hope you get to talk to your son soon. I think I read somewhere that they get to call on their 3rd week, but don't quote me. Did you get a letter yet?
It's been very quiet for me lately. I'm trying to get used to everyone being gone. Been busy with stuff around the house and looking for a new job. I was laid off in January. I was very upset at first, but began to look at it as a positive because it allowed me to be home as much as I could until Oren started boot camp. Not that he hung out with me that much, but I got to see him more than if I had been working. Now I'm ready to head back to the workforce. I have a phone interview tomorrow morning, so wish me luck.
I hope you're enjoying your summer. I envy you that you have younger children still at home. They keep you busy I'm sure. My younger son just graduated HS and is off enjoying his summer. At that age, they don't want to do things with Mom and Dad.
Good to hear from you. Let me know what's new with you these days.-Lisa

Jun 29, 2010
Loquax's Mom (Ship 12 Div 264)

If it ends up with me not being able to go then I will make sure he know. I ask him in his letter if he knew a justin so we will see what he sends back. His letter said that it was kinds of crazy still and he really had made friends yet. Thank you

Jun 30, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

Hi Terri,
Sounds like you are busy lady in WV. How fun it is to work with kids. I worked for the YMCA as a counselor a few years during and after HS. It was good times and gave me lots of training for when I decided to start raising a family.
I had my phone interview early this morning, they called from NY-my time 8am. It was a preliminary interview with Prudential. The job is out my way, it's for an assoc. mgr position in their pension administration dept. They have their HR do initial telephone interviews before you sit down with with an actual hiring manager. Hopefully I passed the phone interview part...Check this out, the gal interviewing me, come to find out was in the Marines, well that started a whole talk about military, so the call went longer than normal. But she had a lot of great things to say about military life. She was fun to talk with.
Hopefully that gave me an in for the next phase.
My hubby is out of town until Friday and my younger son is always out and about, so I know the feeling with the house so quiet
Well, I've got to get started on some chores I've been putting off and I want to get card I bought sent off to Oren. Three weeks tomorrow that they've been gone. I still get sad and miss the boy, but after I send off a letter, I cheer up. Have a great day! I'll probably be back on the site later on today. Take care, Lisa

Jun 30, 2010
Lisa (OP's Mom)

Sorry it's been a few days. My husband has been out of town so much so we tried to catch up as much as we could on the weekend and the 4th of July gave us an extra day. Did you have a nice 4th?
I'm so glad you got to talk to your son. As far as crying after the call, that's ok. We're moms and we miss them. I just tear up out of the blue at times. It is getting better now that Aug. 6th is only a month away. The first month went by so fast now looking back.
I understand about saving for PIR. We still haven't bought our plane tickets yet. My husband wants to see if the airfare comes down some. Right now it's around $400 a person. We need to buy 3 tickets. There goes Christmas. I don't see it happening with it being summer but am keeping my fingers crossed....

Jul 7, 2010
refof4

Hi Terry, your wall is great, my son is also in the same ship and div 12/264....It is nice to see all the support here. I too find myself getting teary eyed just walking past Garretts room. Time has passed quickly and I can't wait to see him. I just learned in his letter today, he does not get liberty as long as I thought. If I don't attend PIR, Thanksgiving would be the next time I see him. Just ain't gonna work! But, the price of tickets for the other 3 boys and my self, would mean, as you say, there goes Christmas.
Thank again for opening up your wall.....hope to stay in touch. Chris

Jul 9, 2010
refof4

Yes, 4 boys, including Garrett. Thankfully, he took the approach during his high school days, (he is only 18; July 30th -19) not to be tied down to one specific girl. So, I tend to get my letters answered weekly. I am not sure how you can stand it and know it must be terribly hard for you. Since we live in Texas, driving is so not an option. My oldest son is a helicopter pilot, but he is in contract with an oil and gas company here and stays on call. Although the other 2 boys would want to come, it may come down to them staying with my brother and me attending alone. Practicing that senario with them lately. Jaws hanging open over that one.
As I was reading your wall, I see you are going thru health issues, and pray you are keeping your strength upthat you will be cured and back to good health soon.
Chris

Jul 10, 2010
Kevin's Mom (Ship 12 Div 264)

Still no call. Just his letters that he is doing well on his tests and keep sending letters. We are staying at the springhill suites on Waukegan as they had a nice suite to accomondate kevins girlfriend. Very sweet girl and misses him dearly. I hope we make it to meet and greet pending Chicago traffic.

Jul 12, 2010
Kelly/Austin's mom ship12div264

Hey, I have not found the link to see T-shirts. Guide me please.

Jul 21, 2010
Sandy's_sailor son

Good Morning Teri. I have not heard back from my son. I am going nuts worrying about him. I have been reading some of the posts left by others in division ship 12, Div 268. Only one of the recruits got to call home, and it was for security purposes. My husband keeps telling me that no news is good news. I will just have to keep praying for my son and his division.

Jul 22, 2010
Sandy's_sailor son

Hi Terri. Did your son say that his last PFA was this Weds, 7/21/10 ??

Jul 22, 2010
Sandy's_sailor son

Hi Terri, I just added you as a friend.

Jul 22, 2010
Sandy's_sailor son

Hey Terri. Not long for you until Battle Stations. 8/1 Do you have to work 8/1 or 8/2?

Jul 30, 2010
Sandy's_sailor son

Battle Stations tonight Terri, HooYah!! I have my candle lit praying for your son and his division.

Aug 1, 2010