New Navy Mom

[AJVNavyMom]

Hi all. I am so excited to be a part of this group. Our son joined the Navy July 13 and is leaving for Boot January 4th. He has been training all summer and has lost 30 pounds. We couldn't be more proud of him, and know that he will have an amazing life. I'm just so sad for the day we say good bye. Any advise on how to prepare myself and still be strong for our daughter saying goodbye to her brother? I look forward to all your feed back and Thank you in advance!

AJVNavyMom :)

[kathyron]

Just be there for him - Listen and don't say too much - He will be just fine - Love him and Tell him you love him - and it will be good - I worry every day about my son's - but they are just fine - He will make it thru boot camp - you will miss him and tell him you miss him - but when you go to see him - you will be proud of him and he will be proud of you

[kathyron]

Just be there for him - Listen and don't say too much - He will be just fine - Love him and Tell him you love him - and it will be good - I worry every day about my son's - but they are just fine - He will make it thru boot camp - you will miss him and tell him you miss him - but when you go to see him - you will be proud of him and he will be proud of you

[AJVNavyMom]

Thank you everyone for all your support. Thank God for this site! I have learned so much so far and look forward to keeping informed every step of our Sailor's journey. Anyone who knows how to slow down Father Time, let me know! Thank you all again!
Kellie (Adam's mom)

[Kat (MM Nuke)]

My son left for bootcamp on Sept 13, 2010. He graduated on Nov. 5, and is now at Nuke school in South Carolina. I have to say, there is no easy way around it, you will cry. My best advise is don't feel ashamed of your feelings, don't try to hide it, just let yourself go through the process. I sat here for about 3 days calling everyone I knew, reconnecting with old friends who knew him when he was little, and just talking and crying about it. The best thing any friend can do for you is listen and understand your emotions, because things will come out that you never imagined, but it is normal. If anyone says to you "oh, but it will be so good for him," just thank them and move on. They don't understand your feelings. I think what helped me most was when people said they understand and that I just needed a hug.

My son actually put on weight before he left. He said he wanted something to lose during boot camp. ha. He actually lost 15 pounds in bootcamp while a lot of the guys gained 7 or 8 pounds. Now he looks great.

The weeks will seem long, but honestly, before you know it it's graduation time and you will think wow, where did the time go. If you are going to PIR, all of your waiting and worrying will be so worth that day. the pride you feel, the joy that it is over, and when they finally say "Without further ado, Liberty Callllllllll" your heart will just burst. It's truly an amazing feeling.

Once he has graduated and can have his phone and computer, life will be much easier and you will feel so happy that he is now off on his life's journey. Good luck to you all.

[Milmomof2]

As a mom new to the site I wanted to say I am so glad that I was not alone!! This sounds silly, but when my son left a wave of emotions swept over me. Everything from crying to not sleeping, for awhile I thought I had lost my mind!! Funny, my son now knows that mom is not only supportive but I find myself trying to do everything positive to help him. Watching his favorite movie, baking his favorite food, or shopping for items that were needed. These things can help anyone get through those initial waves of emotion. Support is absolutely critical in helping them. If we support them then they do not worry about us, positive thoughts create positive reactions..The tears will always flow, let them fly we need to release our pain to. However, this sight is a positive step for any mom struggling as I do. Thank you everyone for all your support!!!

[Kimbv(S007Div055)]

Hello AJV Navy Mom, My son left for BC 11/23/10 and had signed his contract in May of this year. I cried off and on, for the first month. Then I was great until he left. Those first 7 days were very teary for me. As I now look back on the past 6 months, he began to withdraw slightly from his relationship with me and bit by bit, most everyone a little at a time. He never, ever said good bye to any of us, constantly reassured all of us, "I'll see you soon." He is by far so much stronger than I and I am able to gain more strength from his. The more women I talk to on this site, the more common it seems. Mine lost 70 pounds over the course of a year, almost 2 years ago. He continued to eat healthy & exercise and grow stronger right up until he left for boot camp. He also studied the booklet his recruiter gave him and memorized a great deal to make it easier on himself while in BC

[CastonguayShip02Div912]

Hello, Not sure where to start, but i am sure most of you have been where i am at in life or have been here. My son will leave for boot camp this evening, sitting with tears, not sure if i am typing the right words because of the tears that are falling, I have read the comments that everyone has posted and has been a great help! Was worried about showing emotions . Did not want to discourage my son with my tears.So proud of him! Had a sister and brother-in-law that were in the navy both have retired and loved the navy life, they got my son to join and he is so ready to start his life in the navy. I am not ready for him to leave nor do i think any of us are every ready!
Again thanks again for the support, soooo glad that this web site is here :)

[DONNA/MOM/EM3 NUKE/CLASS 1107-2]

AHENRY14-Just know you are definately not alone. My son signed up at least 10 months prior to shipping out, so we had alot of time to adjust. It didn't make the goodbyes any easier, but we are comforted by the thought, that this is something he really wanted to do, and he is doing exactly what we raised him to do, and that is move on with his life. He is only 18 so he will get experience beyond his years. I'm just not sure if my sadness is totally because he went away, or the fact that when he comes back he will not be the same. He will be a strong independent man, and not my little boy that depended on us so much. Whatever the case, he will remember our sadness at missing him, but he will also remember how proud we are of him, and have helped him along the way. I know all of this is not very comforting right now, but after the tears slow down a little, and you get your form letter, a letter from him, or a call, you will feel better. Keep logging in, and reading everything it really helps!

[Kiki's mom]

Hello Navy Moms, How I wish I would have done this a year ago when my son left for bootcamp! I could have pour my feelings here instead of bottle them up inside, trying to be stronger for my son, you know ever since he was 5 years old he dressed himself in cargo pants and shirts, including the hat too, so little, but one thing was clear in his mind; he wanted to be a soldier, that's what he used to say, everyday, every year, We thought he would forget about, but no, he didn't, I was against the idea, he's my only son, my life he's a mama's boy, (well, was) so he begged and begged until I said ok, you should have seen how happy he got, he was old enough to enlist without my consent, but he wanted me to support his decision, It is be far the hardest thing I had to do, for months before bootcamp, I will cry just thinking about him leaving, and a week before he got strep throat, soo bad that he lost 15 lbs. that week because he couldn't swallow, not even water, and he didn't want to take medicine either until we had to force him to, he had a very high fever for 4 days, and you know what he worried about? not being able to make bootcamp, can you believe it? somehow he got better and he left still recovering from strep throat, and he graduated from bootcamp this past january, and now he's in his first deployment for 7 months, it's been hard to let go of him, but we are so proud of what he has accomplish, mama's boy is now a man, a great one.

[Sheryl M.]

My son joined in February but just flew out for basic to GL on Dec.14

I cried alsmost all day the day before. I would be ok and then someone would ask how I was doing and then I would lose it. The day before he left we went to the bank and added my name to his acct. so I could take care of anything he needed me too. (A good idea if you have not done that). I wrote him a letter tonight even though we dont have an address yet. I have 2 daughters 13 and 2. My 2 year olds nickname for her brother is "Spiderman". She says Spiderman went to the Navy. (Even though  I know she doesn't understand yet. My 13 is really missing her brother. I know its hard her room is across the hall from his. I am really glad I found this site.