LJs_mom

Tania,

  I hate to break it to you but I still get teary and my daughter has been been for 2 years!  I teared up just reading your post.  You will get through this and I do think that pride is a big part of those tears.  When I look at my daughter in uniform, I have to fight tears otherwise I get a "knock it off Mom!"  I think she secretly is going to tear up too so she makes me stop.  Tania, that's a big thing, when you get your phone calls, don't cry until you hang up.  I used to start every call with "don't cry, don't cry, we don't know how long we have..."  We would both suck it up and have a great conversation.  Take a big box of tissues to graduation!  He will be a stronger, more mature young man when you next him.

Keep writing everyday and get others to write as well.  I addressed envelopes and put stamps on them and gave them to her friends.  They only sent one letter but I always felt she was getting sick of hearing from me.  I nagged her aunts to write as well.  She still has every letter I sent her and she wrote me at least 3 times a week.  She is beautiful and I am so proud of her.  You will never look at your son in the same way...but you will still look at him with as much love and pride.  You will grow through this too.  It just will be the longest 8 weeks of your life.  Once he gets to A school, you will be able to talk everyday.  Then it just seems like he's on an extended vacation.  And you can go visit him if you so choose.  Lean on military moms....they get it.

You are very welcome.