So proud but finding it very difficult...

[Timsmom97]

Hello everyone...
I'm a new Navy mom and my son left for boot camp today! I know it's still very knew and only the first day however he is my first one to leave home and I'm having an extremely tough time emotionally. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I have read many of the comments and it looks like letter time varies. Any help is appreciated...

[RJNavyMom]

Hello Timsmom97 Welcome to the page! I understand how you feel. My only Son left five weeks ago. It's hard but it gets a little better. I started to write letters for my Son on the day that he left. As soon as I got his address I started to mail them. Just try to keep yourself busy and stay positive.  Best Wishes to you Guys ! This page is a great support system I check it daily, it has helped me to take it one day at a time.

[Timsmom97]

Thank you so much for your response. I thought of starting to write him right away so it would feel like I still had that communication with him each day. It's hard when we've told them every day for 20 years that we love them and now we can't! Thank you again for the ideas.

[BL]

As fast as time usually flies, these next 7 weeks will be painfully slow. That 8th week flies by. I'm in that 8th week right now. Looking back I would have 1. written letters as soon as he left, everyday, and just hold them till you get that address. 2
Photocopy family photos on the back of the letter. They love getting photos. Also, check out the Sandboxx Military App, It works well. You can send a photo and they include an addressed envelope for your SR to write you back. My son Ioved it. 3. Read ALL of the OPSED rules, cause I broke a few accidentally. 4. Read all about the activities for each week of boot camp (so you know what he's doing every week)and watch a graduation ceremony (with tissues in hand) and finally 5. Trust God that he is right where he needs to be, and trust the Navy to watch him like a hawk, because they do.
Best wishes on this wonderful journey!

[pkiwi70]

Hello question to Whitwoo you said you sent stamps? We were told that is provided. We wrote 6 letters have not got one. The sandbox military app how does it work. This is all so new to me and my husband. Both of our dads were in the military but way before our time.

[Billington01]

It is hard. My son left on July 24th and I cried so much but writing him everyday helps. I also send him an encouragement card everyday too. I copy and paste pictures in the letters to remind him of home. When I did get his first letter he let me know how much he appreciated the letters and it is helping him so much. He asked to please continue to write to him everyday.  He also requested that I send him envelopes and stamps. I think they give them a certain amount when they get to boot camp but you should probably send him more. I am counting down the days till his graduation in mid-Sept.

Good luck - it does get a little easier.

[Mattsmomma]

I sent my son with a book of 20 stamps in his wallet.  He's not really much of a writer, so I'm pretty certain that he will have most of them left when boot camp is over, like 17 or 18 - lol.  Do the Sandboxx app return envelopes get sent postage pre-paid or do they need stamps for those?

[Mattsmomma]

As far as how to deal with all the emotions, I basically just cry anytime I feel the urge (which I am happy to say has dropped from every 5 minutes to maybe being able to go a couple of hours. No sense holding it in, and it actually makes me feel better.  I'm just trying to stay busy - cleaned his room, re-folded all of his already folded clothes, organized his closet, decided to re-arrange the whole room, then decided to paint it, then decided he might like new bedding and pillows, then decided it merits a full re-decoration as a surprise when he decides to come home...  I've been writing every night when I go to bed and find its a great way to feel connected to him because I know he is likely sleeping at that point, and I draw some of his favorite tv and cartoon characters to slip inside his letters in the hopes that they will make him smile when he finally gets mail. Going through the week-by-week activities on the internet and getting some insight into what he's doing and learning has been good for me too.  I have been doing a lot of running to stay busy and it helps to clear my head. This web site has been a godsend - its so nice to connect with people who have been in the same boat, so to speak.

[Counting Fridays]

Good for you for reaching out. This site has been a huge, huge help for emotional support, insight, and knowledge. Honestly, I'm shocked by how emotional these weeks have been - it's definitely intense. Definitely write. I found as I try to be positive for my son's sake, I feel more positive myself. This whole experience has definitely enhanced my prayer life! I learned on this site about the blue candle tradition, and I use that kind of like a meditation tool. As others have shared, it does get easier as you become more acclimated to the "new normal" of Navy mom :)

[Timsmom97]

Mattsmomma... I have to say we are doing the exact same things. Since he's been gone I have been doing all his laundry left behind, reorganizing his drawers, cleaning up his room, ordering new bedding. I want to make everything perfect for his return, even though it's short lived, until he gets stationed somewhere.
All the support and advice I have been receiving is priceless on here! Thank you EVERYONE! This is a very difficult time to get through and just knowing I'm not alone helps.❤️❤️❤️

[Timsmom97]

Whitwoo... I am having an EXTREMELY difficult time with the same thought of him probably not living at home again. All these thoughts are what makes us feel the way we do and only we understand. Thank you fir sharing that! I thought I was going crazy.