Anxiously Awaiting

[momcarla]

I am a mom very new and unfamiliar with this process. I feel so lost and unfamiliar with all of the navy terms and process. My son left last Thursday and I am anxiously awaiting "the box". I keep thinking "today is the day" but as of yet, the day has not come. I keep thinking, if I just had an address and could write I would feel so much better. I read the posts and find comfort in the fact that I am not the only mother shedding tears. Thank you for all of the posts and words of wisdom. Godsped to all of your soldiers.

[annafornavy]

Jordansmom: It can be VERY overwhelming trying to understand all the terminology. We are here to help you with that.. : ) Ask away... YOU ARE SO NORMAL with the feelings you are experiencing. You will find love, understanding and acceptance here. We are a UNITED family of the MGIHTY NAVY.. We will raise you up when you are feeling your lowest. Sometimes people mis-understand your pain as not wanting to let your son fly away. But that has nothing to do with it... It is just so hard because it feels like your umbilical cord has been severed and they have been plucked out of your grasp, because the communication is NIL for several weeks. That is not the NORM for us up to this point. There were many days I was driven to the edge of my ability to cope and then I would get on here and feel all the hugs and understanding and I would climb back fromt he cliff. Those of us that have done this before you are here to grasp your hand and help walk you through. Anytime you need a question answered or just to vent know that someone will be here to answer you and surround you with tender loving care.. Thank you for raising a son that wants to serve.. We are proud of him and thank him for his commmitment to our country.. Hang in there.. I can promise better days will lie ahead.. You can also call his recruiter to get the address. That is what I did and it was very theraputic for me to write everyday and send the letter off... BIG NAVY MOMS ((((( HUGS)))))) TO YOU!!!

[momcarla]

Thank you so much annafornavy! It is officially one week now and still no box. The hardest part is turning on the news and hearing about all of the discord in the world after having had no contact.  You are so right about it not being about not letting go. My son has been in college for 3 1/2 years, just 2 credits from graduation, we are used to him not living at home. It is more the lack of communication and the fear of the unknown. Of course people like to tell you the horror stories of basic training so I just keep watching the basic training video for comfort. My son is not a strong swimmer so I have been worried about that as well. We are proud of our son, he joined on his own and is thrilled to be a part of the Navy - especially since they are helping him pay off student loans and complete his degree, what a wonderful gift. Plus he will get to travel and serve his country. Because he did this on his own from college, we have had minimal contact with the recruiter so this is why I feel so lost. I will definately contact him for the address.  I am also concerned about graduation as his father and I are not together and are both remarried - I understand he is only allowed 4 guests so this will be tough as my daughter will be with us and is missing her brother terribly. Again, thank you for all of your support, it is such a comfort to have others validate my feelings and offer understanding and support. Godsped to you and your soldier.

[annafornavy]

jordansmom: First dont sweat graduation ALL of you can attend... so smile and breath a sigh of relief... : ) I had 12 family memebers with me when we went to gradauation and Dustin's dad and I are divorced. The four names on his ticket were me, his dad, his brother and my dad his grandpa.. What happens is: you will not receive tickets in the mail your names will just be on a list under your sons name and you show ID and they let you through. The others will go through but they will just have to wait in a room until all the ticketed vistors are in and seated and then they let the others in. They may have to stand during the ceremony if there is alot of divisions graduating that day but at least they are in their experencing it.. I hope that helps.. : )

 

My son was not a strong swimmer either that is minimal compared to the regular PT they need to pass.. As long as your son knows how to swim and swims it under the alloted time he will be fine.. Forget ALL the horror storeis about boot-camp you hear.. This is a new ERA.. If they have wisdom teeth 99% of them get them cut out within the first 2 weeks. Just to avoid any potential problems in the future when they join the fleet so they dont have issues with that when their is no dentist around.

 

Do the RDC's (Recruit Divison Commanders) yell.. INDEED they do.. But like anything in life this becomes normal and they learn not take it personal. They take very breif showers and have a limited amount of time to eat but they are served good food just very bland.. When one steps out of line theya re punished as a group not just the person that messed up. And their punishment consists of being PT'd (physical training) for hours. Sit-ups, pushups chin ups ETC... My son said the yelling starts the min they arrive and as the Divsion starts coming together the yelling is less.. : ) And the campus at great lakes is incredible. I was so relieved to see where he was the past 8 weeks when I arrived for graduation. And their dorms are very clean and nice..

 

I am sending you a friend request so I can send you a letter a father wrote about his experience in bootcamp and it helped sooth my heart so mych when I read it. But it is very long to post on here.. : ) My son is now over in the middle east where all the uprising has begun. Let me tell you it is a WHOLE NEW LEVEL of stress and he was part of the Fleet that was also involved with the whole pirate situation adn the 4 Americans killed a couple of weeks ago.. My heart has stopped beating a few times. He deployed in Jan and this is my first expereince with that. SO it will be  6-9 months of emails only.. : ( and when they are entrenched in serious matters all communication is shut down... I do the best thing I can do for him and that is PRAY everyday that God will protect him and his fellow Sailors... When you accept myfriendship request I will send you that letter I just mentioned.. I hope I helped in some small way... Anna

 

[momcarla]

You have helped emmensly! Thank you so much. I will be praying for Dustin and his group.

[AprilRDMom(ET Nuke)]

I hope you receive your son's box soon!  I received mine on Monday of this week, and he arrived at GL late on 2/22.  I am now anxiously awaiting the form letter with his address and have been writing to him "diary" sytle daily.  :)  Anna is a sweetie and has already been a great source of support for me!  I am keeping her Dustin in my thoughts and yours and my son as well as all sailors.  Turn to this site for support.  I'm here if you need someone to vent with!  :)  I'm new like you, we will get through this.  Anna and I have wondered how moms made it through before this site was around!  ~April

[momcarla]

I received "the box"! I had contacted the recruiter before it arrived and he was very helpful. I now have his address and ship station.I quickly addressed the letters and ran to the post office only to return and find the box on my deck! I am a bit more comforted. My son arrived late on the 23rd so they will be close in their journey. I am so thankful for this site and you are correct. Anna is a godsend! You can't even imagine how much I needed the sweet words of comfort as I sat typing though my blurry tears. I have no idea how mothers survived before computers. Will be praying for your son as well, and too, fell free to vent anytime you need. We are all in this together, our children are learning to be a unified group and as parents, we can learn alot from them. Carla

[AprilRDMom(ET Nuke)]

Oh my gosh!!  YAY!  I'm so glad for you!  Did ya smell his clothes?  I do -- it's my baby :) I think I will take your lead and call his recruiter tomorrow -- I just can't wait anymore! I need his address!  I cried a bit when it wasn't in today's mail. I'm thinking we can make some money inventing a "tear-proof" keyboard!  What do ya think?  :) ~April 

[momcarla]

Now there is a thought! My son is located at 3/148. And yes, I did hug and smell his clothes. He is the oldest of my 2 children but will always be my baby boy. The address was a biggie. It was comforting to know he had a "home". I tried to be very careful about making sure eveything was in plain envelopes, no stickers or decoration...Don't want his mom getting him in trouble with the first mailing of letters. ~Carla

[AprilRDMom(ET Nuke)]

I have 2 sons and it is also my oldest at boot camp.  I wonder if our sons are together -- chances are not, but wouldn't it be neat if they were?  Yes, the plain envelopes, no stickers or decorations...that's a biggie.  Also, I'll be telling people who may write my son to be sure not to get those musical/talking cards either.  Nothing that would draw attention to him. Be sure to let me (us) know when you get your first letter -- or call!  :) ~April

[annafornavy]

You ladies are so sweet thank you for your kind thoughts on me.. You know I have to pass on the knowledge and comfort I received while I was sitting where you mama's are.. : ) It brings me great pleasure to help others on their journey. YEAH... YEAH... YEAH... For the boxes arriving... You know when we are giving birth it is the only time we feel true joy and severe pain at the same time, well bootcamp does the same thing.. LOL.. You will be in severe pain in your heart and then BAM you walk to the mailbox and see your babies hand writitng on a letter and INSTANT joy pours over you.. My mailmain was so sweet he would always have Dustin's letter on the top of the pile so I didnt have to shuffle through the bills and grabage to find it : ) I also wanted to let you ladies know that some of the RDC's will joke with thier divisions as well. Dustin had heard all the horror stories  from my dad about boot-camp as he was a Marine so Dustin went in expecting the worst and he said Mom it really wasnt and bad as I was expecting.. He said would I want to go through it again NO but it is survivable and you can cope with it.. My son never sent a letter home that said mom I hate this I dont think I can make it through these next 9 weeks.. My son was in for the longest. Bootcamp is anywhere between 7-9 weeks.. If he would have sent letters like that I would have been so broken hearted. But I did have friends on here who's sons did write those messages but then the next letter would be better and they had better spirits...

And the best thing you can do when you get those letters is let them know you understand that bootcamp is tough but they are tougher and will be so thankful for pressing on and getting it through it. The letter the Navy dad wrote about bootcamp I am going to send you, please send on to your Sailors.. It will help them so much. My son was most appreciative about receiving that... HUGS to you ladies today.. Everyday is one step closer to graduation.. : )