March 1, 2012 - The 'box'

[MattsMama Ship 02/Div 924]

Got the box today.  Hard to imagine that a brown corrugated box weighing less than 7 pounds can pack into it so much emotion.  Matt has been gone only 4 days and today I feel like a part of him was shipped home to me minus my 6'4" son. 

I opened the box as if it were a special gift nicely wrapped that should be tended to with care.  Inside were all of Matt's belongings, everything that he wore on his back on that cold windy night 4 days ago when we said a tearful goodbye.  I took each piece of clothing out with care and silly as it may sound, smelled all of it, taking in his scent as best that I could.  To the non-military mom this would probably seem kind of strange but I know that each of you can appreciate what my heart is feeling.  Who knew that Matt shipping off to boot camp would hold so many powerful emotions.

I suspect that the next time that Matt and I meet, he will be changed.  Before me will stand a man who in the course of 9 weeks will have matured some, maybe even grown some.  I also know that within him will remain the strong confidence and warm heart that he has held true to for so many years.  It is that thought that sustains me...knowing that 9 weeks will pass and that Matt, his dad and I will reconnect, if only briefly, to share hugs, love and laughter.

[jjopple]

that is so funny, i was reading your post and i did the exact same thing by taking out his clothes and smelling each item. i immediately put his sweatshirt on that was in the box and haven't taken it off yet!! we will have to keep in touch with each other to see how each boy (or should i say man) is progressing. zac is going to b a submariner, what is your son going for? i think this site is great and i feel even better being able to chat with someone that is at the exact same stage as me.

[LA-BriansMom (Ship 3 Div 116)]

Omg, I did the same thing too...I went further I walked passed his bedroom when I got home from dropping him off and refused to make or touch his bed he slept in for two weeks. Then I went and took his sheets pillow etal off to wash and smelled every part of them as I was doing it..Although it was not a good smell, it was a typical male smell it was my sons and SMELLED LIKE A DREAM! I finally washed all including his clothes he wore to boot camp and folded them all neatly in his room. I go in there almost every day and just sit and look around...I received a letter today from him and he is for sure homesick..I hope it passes so he can concentrate on what he needs to do..I say prayers every night for my boy! I miss him so much!

[Conny Ahoi]

hallo, my son Malcolm left on tuesday,  you are not silly at all, or we all... but since he left, i sleep in his room, i wear his hoody that he left behind to be washed, which of course i did not washed, because i want to smell him... it is the hardest thing i ever experience in my 51 years of life... i moved to the states from germany in 92 when Malcolm was 4 month old to be here with his dad... i thought back then that was the hardest thing in my life to go through...but i was wrong... people tell me it is the empty nest syndrome... it might be part of it, but him going in military was all his life when i raised him a big no no for me... and yet he choosed it.... i am falling apart, i am crying constantly and trying imaging what he is doing right now... he has 2 younger brothers and a sister and they tell me to be strong ... but i just dont know how right now... i am looking forward to "the box" and most of all also the address since i started writing a letter to him ... i also have a lady in our town who left yesterday to see her daughter graduate from GL today.... she told me it went by fast... i just cant wait to hold him in my arms and see him again ...

have a great day and may GOD GIVE THEM ALL THE STRENGTH THEY NEED

Conny