Bootcamp: The First 10 Days

[wvnavymom]

The past couple of weeks have been the most difficult for me.  Sending my youngest daughter off to boot camp turned out to be much more difficult than I ever imagined.  I cried for days.  I kept thinking of her short 15-second phone call letting us know she had made it to GL . . . she was crying which is not at all like her.  It made me worry and constantly wonder what and how she was doing.  She left on Tuesday and arrived at GL on Wednesday.  We got "The Box" the following Monday.  My husband, son and daughter stood around the box with me as it was opened it, almost as if we were expecting her to pop out of it.  But it was only her cloths and a few belongings.  It was a solomn moment.  I just tossed her cloths in the laundry and put her purse away.

 

Finally, on Friday we received the form letter.  This lifted my spirts more than anything (well, except a phone call of course).  Her opening line was "Hey! I'm doing great!"  There were no discouraging comments, only optomistic.  Telling us to write often, be strong for her and how much she loves us.  It was such a relief to know all was going well.  I now know her PIR is December 02, and I've already made the motel reservations.  I can't wait to see her then!!

 

So now that I have her address, I'm sending off the three letters I already have written.  We couldn't find a phone card for her to take with her, so I sent one in the first letter in the hopes she gets it before she has a chance to call home.  I know the mail can run slow.

 

I know this information doesn't mean much to anyone, except maybe another recruits' mother.  I'm keeping this blog so that as she moves along in this journey, I can keep a record of feelings, emotional highs and lows, and memories that I will always want to keep.  My youngest child, our only son claims he will go to college.  However, I have a feeling that when he sees his sister succeed in the Navy, he will change his mind and chose to join the military.  I can revisit this blog if that ever happens to help me go through all of this again.

 

If this does help some mom find comfort during the first couple of weeks of bootcamp, then I'm so glad I could be of assistance.  It's a difficult time, but I've made it through and so has my daughter (no news is good news). 

 

 

[Moskate]

At least you didn't throw her cell phone (along with the clothes in the box) in the laundry by mistake! How horrible I feel!!  She took it all the way there, called me on it to give me the 15 second call, put it in the box, mailed it back and I put it in the laundry! By the time I got it out, it was ruined of course.  I only hope that by the time she graduates, she'll want a different, newer, fancier phone anyway.  I enjoyed reading your blog.  My daughter wasn't crying when she called, but she sounded scared.  I expected that.  She wrote a short note on the form letter that they yell at her, "FEMALE" all the time.  Strange, but I understand why.  She graduates (if all goes well) the same day as your daughter 12/2.  

 

[wvnavymom]

Moskate 07/009 . . . here's to our daughters keeping their chins up and graduating on time!!