mama bear

Female

Osage, IA

United States

Profile Information:

A little about me:: Out of the blue my 18 year old daughter decided to join the Navy. It has been hard on me due to health reasons, and believing that this was just something she did to blow my mind our relationship has been rocky at times. I need to be around people so I do alot of volunteering with children activities or elderly activities. Due to health reasons I haven't been unemployed for many months. I have another daughter and son, her dad lives on the farm I stay with his mother. I have a older brother who had been in the Navy many years ago, and another older brother and sister, my parents are deceased
I am here to support my: Son/Daughter
Stage of (Sailor’s) Navy career?: Enlisted
When I heard “Navy,” I...: Was concerned or afraid
The Navy offers opportunities that...: I haven't had an experience with the Navy until my daughter joined,and this is all new to me and scary as a mother. The unknown is the hardest for the parents I believe, did they make it there okay, are they sick, will they graduate,when do I get to see them again, how is their mental state doing and the list just goes on and on. I realize boot camp is hard and why they do the things they do but that doesn't ease the unknown feelings.
Our Navy experience so far...: It was positive and maturing. Our relationship has grown stronger.

Comment Wall:

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May 13, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Hi Mama Bear,

I don't know a whole lot, but I'll share whatever info I can with you.

May 13, 2011
abbyblue

Im doing ok today have a good week.abby

May 16, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Hi Mamabear,

There seems to be several people on the Boot Camp for Moms forum whose loved ones left around May4/5 but who have not yet received any information. Your recruit must be in that group. Hang in there. Write letters and just hold them to mail once you get the address. When I finally got the address, I mailed off 10 envelopes that day (all the letters I had saved up). Here's a link that you might find helpful:

http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/fam_guide.asp

and this one too:

http://hubpages.com/hub/US-Navy-Boot-Camp

May 17, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Oh mama bear, I feel your pain. You and your daughter are in my prayers that she perseveres and is able to find the strength to pass the run. There are all sorts of platitudes that cover this situation, but I won't use them on you. Just know that you and your daughter are in my thoughts. Please let me know as soon as you hear anything either way.

Soothing vibes and hugs are being sent your way.

May 19, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Oh my. You sure have your plate full - daughter AND mother in law. You are ALL in my thoughts and prayers. Remember, they want all the kids who came to boot camp to succeed and they give them extra help. I have not heard from my son, so I don't have a clue how he is doing. He could be in the same situation for all I know. Please keep me advised on how your daughter and your MIL is doing. Be strong but take care of yourself too.

May 20, 2011
MidwestMom

Hi, from another Iowa mom! :)

May 26, 2011
MidwestMom

Did you daughter graduate and move on to A school or is she in medical yet? Our son has only been gone for a short time so he has most of 6 weeks to go. He's in as a reservist--will head to A school after BC and then possibly C school and then return to Iowa to finish college. We're hoping he is back for Spring '12 semester, but only the Navy will know whether that happens or not.

May 28, 2011
MidwestMom

I sent you a private message.

May 29, 2011
MidwestMom

If you look at the top right of the screen, just below the Navyformoms.com banner, you'll see your screen name and an icon that looks like an envelope. Behind the envelope, you should have something like (1 new). Click on the envelope and you'll get to your letters. It is a way to communicate without having your message posted on the web for all to see. It took me months before I figured out how to do it and only because someone sent me a message. :)

May 31, 2011
MidwestMom

So far, I haven't received a response, but computers are NOT perfect! Sometimes it is the connection and sometimes they just do not operate like they are supposed to. I hope your daughter is doing better. Does she still train or is she still in the medical area?

Jun 1, 2011
MidwestMom

I'm happy to hear your daughter is able to do more and healing. Hopefully she will soon be able to join a div again and get back on track to PIR! My son is doing well so far and should graduate in 12 days. Do you watch their weather like I do? I usually think they have similar weather as we do so I'm happier every time we have a nice day or a cool day instead of a miserably hot day. We've all been lucky lately, but I think our luck is going to run out later this week.

Jun 26, 2011
MidwestMom

Happy 4th to you as well! Did you get to talk to your daughter over the weekend or has she been put back in with a div now? My SR is doing BS tomorrow night so we'll be in Chicago by the time he places his 'I'm a Sailor' call. We haven't talked to him for a while now. Today is his birthday. Wish he would have done BS last night because getting capped would have been a 21st b-day to remember!

Jul 5, 2011
Valtameri

CONGRATULATIONS!

I am so happy for both of you! I hope you get to see your daughter soon.

Aug 12, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Hi Mama Bear!!! Thank you so much for letting me know the good news about your daughter! Huge congratulations!!! Where is she now? Thank God miracles DO happen. Will you get to see her soon? Is she on her way to school? For what? How is your mother-in-law doing? How are YOU doing? You didn't miss anything big at the PIR of 07/01/11. In fact, I personally was disappointed. But was thrilled with my Sailor as I am sure you are with yours too. Your daughter should get extra points for being at Great Lakes for such a long time! I admire her commitment. You raised one tough cookie. She's really done something to be proud of. Above and beyond! Did she PIR or go straight to school?

My son is in Pensacola. He had to wait a couple of weeks to class up, but he started his A School 2 weeks ago. His rate is CTR (cryptology). I think he's having a good time. He had it easy until classes started. Now, he has to work harder, but that's good for him. He enjoys going to the beach on the weekend (for the babes). He says class is intense but he's keeping up. The changes post-boot camp are amazing.

Thank you so much for letting me know about your Sailor.

I've stayed in touch with a mom I met at PIR. We email separately from N4M, but the rest of the PIR group has peetered out. I had lunch with 3 Navy moms that I met on the Tampa Bay Area Navy Moms group. It was nice, but I didn't feel a real connection with them.

All the best to you and your daughter. I look forward to hearing where your miracle Sailor is headed.

Aug 13, 2011
abbyblue

Aug 15, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Yikes. I am sorry that Navy life continues to be a challenge for your daughter. I have emailed a very knowledgeable and trusted friend who is retired Navy and described the situation. I will share his reply with you as soon as I receive it. I am hoping he will direct us to the appropriate "office" your daughter can go to for help with Navy Federal.

My first instinct would be to throw some cash in an envelope and express mail it to her (no signature required! and be sure to let her know that you are sending mail or she won't know to go to where ever she has to go to pick up her mail - it is not delivered).

This all sounds like a horrible bad joke! I hope everything gets better for you and your daughter.

Sep 2, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Here's the reply I received:

Just find out what rating she is (have the lady look at her contract or ask the recruiter) and I will be able to give you a phone number.

She can always write a check for cash at the NEX. I hope she has checks. Also have the sailor call NFCU and fix the card. She can have new one in two days if needed. It's probably just locked because they think she a hacker. Just have them unlock it. NFCU - 1-888-842-6328

Hope this helps. Let me know what her Rate is.

Sep 2, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Rate means the "job" they signed up for. My son is in Cryptology. what did your daughter sign up to "do" in the Navy?

Sep 4, 2011
Paula (was Capricorna)

Did she get the NFCU account straightened out???

Is she settling in better now?

I hope things have improved.

Sep 6, 2011
MidwestMom

Congrats! Sorry it took so long for me to check my page and see your post. I hope the rest of her career is a breeze compared to the pain, agony and time it took her in BC! My son spent 2 months waiting to class up, but finally started A school last week. Now 5 mos in A school, 3 weeks in C school and, oh yeah, they added 49 WEEKS of additional training after that! He'll be in some sort of training for almost 2 years...but he's loving it so far!

Sep 16, 2011
Valtameri

Hi mama bear!

Yes, I'm sure your sailor can have an alarm clock ... I will ask my son the next time I get a chance, but that seems reasonable. So nice to hear you talking about your daughter at A school!

Sep 21, 2011
MidwestMom

Sorry to hear about your daughters blisters! If anything, I think their runs are longer in A school than they were in BC, but later it sounds like she'll be able to take a swim test instead of the run when she qualifies annually and the swim test might be easier for her to pass. Big equipment?? What is she driving?

Sep 22, 2011
MidwestMom

That's great that your daughter is driving those huge machines! I'll bet she loves it. My sons have operated some of those while working for construction companies. They loved them, but said they take some time to get use to when working at steep angles. :)

Oct 10, 2011
Valtameri

Hi Mama Bear,

I saw your post on the bootcamp group -- I don't know the answer, but I know that this Christmas isn't feeling too cheery here either. Son is deployed, my Dad passed away in November, a friend passed away a few days ago ...

Dec 10, 2011
Much Trouble

Hi Mama Bear...Thank you for adding me as a friend. If you are feeling the panic we all have felt when our kid proudly announced (s)he was taking a little trip to Afghanistan, please come join the group "Anyone with Sailors/Soldiers/Marines in Iraq & Afghanistan" . If you are still handling things, you can wait until she leaves...but this group saved any sanity I may have had. If I can answer any questions or just listen to you do a "Mom rant" please let me know. Good luck...and strong "mom hugs" for you. You WILL get through this!

Jan 8, 2012
Ruth, Gun's Mom

Try this to join the facebook Iowa moms--https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/177777552327118/

You'll have to request to be added when you find it.

Feb 22, 2012
scobbymomship2/952

Sorry I just checked this site. Things are going well so far. Our son was home for several days before he headed to Norfolk for his next journey. He has been gone about 1 week. He is still in the process of checking in. Don't know what his next step will be. He talked about more training. The weather sure has changed today, I just covered some of my flowers, Hopefully it doesn't freeze here as the apple trees are in full bloom. Hope you have a great Easter holiday. Scoobymom ship2/952

Apr 5, 2012
MidwestMom

Hang in there Mama Bear! Your daughter's journey has certainly been enough to give any parent more than a few gray hairs! My son is home now and enrolled to go back to college this fall (he's a reservist). There were MANY times during BC and A school that he regretted signing as a reservist, but now that he's home again, I think he's back in the original mindset of finishing his degree and then deciding whether or not to enlist full-time. Your daughter will be in my thoughts and prayers...along with all of our military.

May 8, 2012