My son left for bootcamp today

[Navy Mom Lisa (Ship 11 Div. 128)]

My son just left today for BC.  They picked him up at 9:30 am.  He's 18 yrs old and I am very sad.  I don't know how to deal with the sadness.  I tried to be brave in front of him because I didn't want to make him feel sad.  He was suppose to go to Cal State Pomona when he graduated high school, but he told me 2 weeks before his orientation that he decided to join the Navy.  This was in August.  They took him to San Diego where they tested him and he got a score of 96.  He picked his job and his A school and signed up on the spot.   I am going to miss him terribly.  I found a letter under my pillow that said not to open until he gets to bootcamp.  I love him and I am going to miss him. :( 

[Navy Mom Lisa (Ship 11 Div. 128)]

Ok, my 16 yr old son just called me at work to let me know that I got the "Kid in Box" today.  I couldn't hold back the tears.  He wanted to open it and I said not to.  I want to be the one to do it when I get home.  That's if  I can.  I still not not opened the letter he left me.  I can't stand not knowing what he's doing and not being able to talk to him or text him.  We have never been ond day without talking or texting each other.  Even when he has gone away to visit his grandparents for a week at time, we would alway text each other.  I know eventually I will have to suck it up and deal with it.  What's done is done.  I have to learn to let go, but I'm not ready. I miss my son and it hurts my heart not having him around. 

 

LG

[Tina - socalnavymom]

Hi Lisa,  Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing Cody.  I've been going crazy without him home.  He is my baby and the last one to leave home, it sounds like I have all kinds of kids, but I really only have two 1/2, the 1/2 is a step daughter who doesn't live with us.  But my daughter left in 2006 to Oklahoma for college, she's back now, but has an apartment down in Orange County.  So Cody, not only being my one and only boy, but the baby as well. So not only am I going thru Cody withdrawls, I am also going thru the proverbial "empty nest syndrome".  Its been hard.  At one point my husband told me to quit going on to this site, cuz everytime he looked over my shoulders were going up and down... yes I was crying, once again.  So anyways, you're from Fontana right?

[Navy Mom Lisa (Ship 11 Div. 128)]

I know how you feel, Tina.  It's been pretty nerve recking for me and it still is.  Today has been really hard and I don't know why. I should be excited that we get to see him, even if it's only for a little while. Well, here's my story in a nut shell; I have four kids. My oldest is a girl 23 yrs old she's from my first marriage. We had always shared custody, then when she was junior high, she didn't want to move with me an stayed with her father. We are still very close, but I never had to experience her actually leaving our house. that was many years ago. Anyway, Sean is my second oldest and he's 18 yrs. He has always been my support system. He's my go to guy. He keeps me leveled. I don't know what I'm going to do without him here. I have a 16 yrs boy and a 5 yrs girl.  My 5 year old doesn't understand why he left. Yes, I'm in Fontana.  We moved her about 5 yrs ago. I'm off the 210 and Citrus. I work in LA though. My drive sucks :)

[Tina - socalnavymom]

Yeah, I know how you feel, when Cody was in 8th grade, he decided he didn't like the step dad thing and thought it would be better if he went and lived with his dad in Covina, talk about devastating, it felt like someone ripped my heart out, but when Cody left for the Navy I knew someone ripped my heart out, it was Cody and he has it in Chicago with him:-)  It's really tough being a mom.  we shoud get together sometime soon, maybe before pir if possible.  I live off the 10 and Euclid, not to far from you. I think a little support group would be good for our hearts.  Did you get the 3rd week call from your son?  I didn't, in my letter he said he was working, when they were able to call. :-(  I'm so glad I found you.

 

[Navy Mom Lisa (Ship 11 Div. 128)]

Hi Tina, How are you this morning?  I feel your pain totally.  Our pain and saddness is something that a father, step father or any male in general could understand.  I could honestly say this is the hardest thing I've had to endure in my life. I know it's a great opportunity for them. So that's what people keep telling me.  But, when you don't expect it coming, it's like a punch in the gut. I don't know about you, but Sean never talked about joining the service. He graduated from Ab Miller 2010, he was going to do two years at Mt. Sac then transfer over to Cal Poly Pomona.  Two weeks before his orientation he said he wants to join the service.  I didn't take him seriously. I know there were a lot of recruits that came to the high school, but he never showed interest.  Then he goes and does this. I would love to meet you and sit down and talk. Let me know how your schedule is like. I'm usually back in my area around 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Weekends I'm usually just cleaing.  Let me know.  I did a get a 3 week call.  It was very short.  He had got the flu and sounded terrible. He said the place sucks and I had so many questions ofr him, but I went blank. Then I heard them yelling at them to hang up.  He sounded so sad when he had to go. I cried for days on out. Then, his division earned a call and I got one on a Saturday. That lasted for 14 mins. I've got 3 calls and 4 letters since he's been gone.

[Tina - socalnavymom]

I'm jealous, I have not received a call at all, well with exception of the "I'm here call", I've gotten 4 letters as well.  Cody decided he wanted to go into the Navy at the end of his sophomore year.  He had a pretty tough Junior and Senior year.  He thought he could just get a g.e.d. and go in to the military, well, at the end of his sophomore year he found out the Military doesn't accept g.e.d's anymore and he had to have a diploma. so he really had to work his butt off by taking rop classes and night school.  But he did it.  He was in the DEP program.  So he signed up in May, right after he graduated and left for Bootcamp in Feb.  From BC he will be going to Pensacola, FL. for A School for at least 5 weeks.  Where is Sean going after BC for schooling? 

I work in Chino and get off at 5:30 and then on the weekends, its usually hit & miss of what we are doing.  We could meet after work on Thursday or even next Monday.  Or we can meet up for Coffee or breakfast on Sat. morning.  Whatever is good for you.  What hotel are you staying at for PIR?  I;m so excited I found a Navy Mom close by. :-)

[Navy Mom Lisa (Ship 11 Div. 128)]

Ok, I wrote out a whole email and it vanished :(  My computer sucks!!!   Call me anytime, 323-919-9419. I live by my phone. I will be on the road around 4:45 pm heading home.  It's takes me an hour and half.  I have a head set :)  Call me if you like. 

[Navy Mom Lisa (Ship 11 Div. 128)]

Ok, that message made it!! 

[Navy Mom Lisa (Ship 11 Div. 128)]

Our boys are growing up.  I get that. I know we will have to find peace with it some how.  I just don't know how yet. It's still too new. I wish I would have had more time to digest all this. What makes me even sadder is that I didn't really realize that that day they picked him up, that was it. I stayed home from work, but he didn't want me to drive him to San Diego. I couldn't stay at the house when they picked him up. I had to go out for breakfast and wait for his text to let me know they picked him up.  We were at IHOP and it was 9:39 am on Tues, Feb 8th. I went into the restroom and couldn't stop crying. I didn't cry in front of him when we said our good-byes, but in my mind it was so surreal that it didn't really hit me until after I got that text. It was so weird. My husband thinks I'm nuts. I told my husband I don't think I made a big enough fuss over him leaving. 

[Tina - socalnavymom]

We definitely need to talk... I'll call you.