BC Bound on 8/16 and I'm struggling.

[Vicki B]

Ladies- My my oldest of two is shipping out and the void in my heart is already so painful.  People say they understand and sympathize but I don't see how.. Only another Navy mom will truly get it..  Help!!

[BunkerQB]

We empathize and get it. But if you want your son to do well, then put on a brave happy face and tell him, "We are proud of you. We know you can do this. We look forward to seeing you at PIR."  Do not cry endlessly in front of him. He too is struggling to adjust to being away from family and friends on top of going out to doing something he has never done before. Do not let your emotions run away. Choose to be happy for him for getting into the Navy and having the opportunity to make something of himself. Yes, you can cry here with us. But NOT w him.

[Vicki B]

Thank you for your comment and advice.  He's had been out doing concerts and dinner etc with his college bound buddies so he's not been home a lot which is a blessing in that he hasn't had to see my tears..  Have to find the silver lining in everything.. Thank you again for your time.

[Ojaysproudmom]

I understand completely! I have tried my best to not cry in front of my son as well. I keep telling myself he needs to stay focused and not worry about mom. He told me before he left for bootcamp that the hardest thing for him is to see me or his sister cry, so I put on my brave face and voice and try to encourage him. It may sound cliche, but this is what we raised them to do and he will succeed and be a better man for this experience! I truly believe it, but my heart cries everyday! Hang in there! You did a great job mom! Go Navy!

[Michigan Cindy]

Vicki, you will be fine.  This will be a difficult transition.  But it is a very good transition.  I expect you raised your offspring to be independent.  No better place than the World's finest Navy!  Your kid will do fine and have great adventures.

 

[Vicki B]

Thanks gals..  My mom came over today to say "I will miss you" to Corbin and I was strong..  Thank you ladies for your support. It's nice to feel so "not alone" in this journey and I want nothing more than for my son to happy and successful!  Thank you again so very much!

[BunkerQB]

You are definitely NOT alone - just pop in here anytime. BTW, after he leaves, you may find the rush of emptiness unexpectedly at the most inconvenient times - like when you are at the grocery store and see a juicy rib eye on sale and your immediate thought is, "Oh, he would love that for dinner." Then you remember you daring boy is thousands of miles away. You eyes suddenly wells with tears. You hope no one you know is at the store.

Please drop in to our group created just for newbies New Moms Stop Here.  Look at the reference material under PAGES located just underneath the member icons. We have videos, links, Navy acronyms, survival guide and more.  I am mostly there as an admin. We have a great group of experienced moms to support you.  All are welcome.

[Nautical Mom]

i was in your shoes on Father's Day, when my Sailor left for RTC.  The emotions are overwhelming...I cried so much and didn't sleep well and sometimes I went without sleep overnight.  WELL, he graduated this past weekend and I am a member of the MOMs forever.  You will get through this and believe me when I say, lots of prayers will be answered!  He will be taken care of, he will be fed, he will learn what it truly means to be a brother to other shipmates and learn SO much in the next 2 months.  There will be days when he feels despair, lonliness & confusion.  But, there will be days that he feels pride, accomplishment, satisfaction & a sense of belonging to the best Navy ever.  My Gunner Mate was 1 of 1003 that graduated last Friday and I would not have missed it for the world.  We drove 2104 miles from the Dallas area to Chicago.  The excitment that you feel when those doors open and they all come marching in - well, is better than childbirth...Write ever day,  encourage ever letter and most of all tell him you love him and are so proud of him and his decision to be a member of the World's Finest Navy...God Bless, Cindy

[Buggy'sproudmom ship 09-div 338]

I dropped my son off yesterday at recruitment center to be driven to New Orleans for departure to boot camp.  I put on a brave face and tried to keep the crying out of my voice.  He texted and called alot yesterday-Today he will board his plane to go to bootcamp.  I can't stop crying and just want to rush over and grab him and bring him back.  I know all understand how I feel.  I grew up navy so I do know what to expect but it is all different when it is actually my son going.  He is barely 18-I am so proud of him and the decision he has made-I just want to know how to stop crying..

[6Idahoans]

Vicky, I know what you are going through.  My oldest son leaves in one week.  And I am feeling the void. One minute, I'm fine, then I'm on an emotional roller coaster.  This is hard!!!  But we can feel thankful for the support of others through this site. I was so thankful to find it last night.  We can look forward to the proud moments ahead. Today, I began talking to family who might be able to be at the graduation and looking ahead to that, and it's helped me.  Blessings to you, Cammi

[Vicki B]

Well God blessed me with an extra day with my SR.  This is my way of finding the positive.  His recruiter sent all his paperwork to Columbus, told us to go to Columbus, booked a hotel..  All is good.  10:30 the morning of, the recruiter tells us to go to Cleveland instead.  Could not get the money back from hotel, alot of bickering on the phone with the hotel...  Only to find out HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN COLUMBUS.. They had him spend the night anyway and this morning, while everyone was doing their physicals he had to sit out in the waiting room.  We got to MEP's shortly after he did and had to wait for the Navy liason to come in..  Now he is shipping out of Columbus tomorrow..  I am scheduled to start a new job tomorrow and it's imparitive I am there..  I will miss the Oath of enlistment but his dad will be there..  A very upsetting situation.  The recruiter was very apologetic and all I could do is stare at him because if I blinked, tears would fall down my face.  I didn't want to do that to my SR.  So he is now nuzzled up in bed one more time taking a nap before we leave.  We are going to Columbus and hanging out for dinner and will spend as much time as we can there..  He said "Mom, we already said our goodbye's.  Don't worry about tomorrow."  Which I appreciated but I still have an ache in my tummy..  Navy mom's HAVE TO BE TOUGH..  Learning many life lessons through all this..