Happy, sad, proud, miserable

[MichelleMamamiciru]

My son shipped out 9/10. It has been his goal and dream since he was 5 years old. I come from a Navy family (father&brother) and extended military family but still not handling this as well as I thought I would. He is my youngest and the one who shared most of the same interests with me. We were odd balls together. We got to say goodbye at the airport I bawled my eyes out he told me to stay weird. Our pet phrase to each other when things get tough. I am trying but so many daily things have me bawling again. I am happy and proud he is living his dream and I know he will succeed he always does when he puts his mind to it. I am sad and miserable because staying weird has become almost impossible right now.

[Sailormom96]

Hi I understand how you feel my SR is also my youngest and we to are very close he's my rock . He hasn't even left yet and I cry all the time I hope I can get a grip on this before he goes.

[MichelleMamamiciru]

Hi, my advice spend every minute you can and take lots of pictures. My SR bought me a Sally doll from a Halloween store to keep me company. Halloween has always been our holiday and going shopping at the Halloween store and decorating was one of our biggest things together. He knew he would not be home for the first Halloween ever so he went early the day he was leaving and got the doll and gave it to me at the airport. Sally keeps me company when I cant sleep. 

[Sailormom96]

• Halloween is our favorite to even at his age he still like the theatrics of the whole thing . Thank you for sharing your thoughts it helps a lot to no I'm not the only weird mom on this site

[Jana]

We weren't allowed to go to the Airport. For me I think it would of been harder on me. Just now watched the 6th episode of "Making a Sailor" great series. Makes me feel like I have a better understanding on what she is going through. Its been exactly two weeks since I got to hug and kiss her goodbye. It's definitely a new normal in our house. 

[Sailormom96]

I hope I can go to the airport I don't think they could keep me away probably the only way I won't go is if my son tells me not to. Those making of a sailor episodes are great but they make me cry

[Chipmunk]

Sailormom96 - I hope you are able to go with your son to the airport. Here is my suggestion, even if they tell you no at MEPS, if you are able to drive to the airport (which you do have to drive separately) meet your son before he gets his boarding pass and ask if you are able to get a guest gate pass. You will need all proper ID as if you were flying yourself. It is my understanding in all areas that the recruits are just dropped off and left to get their own tickets, etc.  - It is a good learning experience for them, but this Momma Bear did not handle that information well and almost missed my last hug, because I was fussing with the Navy personnel in charge at MEPS because this was different than what I understood from our recruiter.

[Sailormom96]

Thank you so much for the info 

[Chipmunk]

Jana, I am sorry you were not allowed to go to the airport. We were told the same thing and so waved good-bye to our son as he went off in the shuttle. The interesting thing was the recruiters had told us that we could go meet them and stay with them at the airport, but it was the shuttle driver and the MEPS people who told us that we could not. So, I am wondering if there are various areas who try to be more "cut the apron strings" than others. Because when we took our son back to the same airport at Christmas for him to fly back to his "A" School, the airline had no issue with us going to the gate with him and staying until his plane left. In fact, they let us go through the security check with our son and not wait in line with the regular passengers.

[Jana]

please, please tell him to sleep on the plane! My daughter was on her phone the whole entire  flight! She said that nobody was really sleeping because they were so anxious. I am sure they all regretted that real quick! Haven't talked to her yet but that will be one of my first questions. He really needs to focus on rest and sleep the entire way there.

[Chipmunk]

MichelleMamamiciru-  Navy Hugs!! My best advice, do whatever you can to keep yourself busy, find a project to work on and write as often as you need to and put all of your letters together to mail when you have your son's address. Hang out with the ladies on BCMom, they get this!!

[Jana]

She will graduate on the Friday and more then likely fly out on Saturday. We may really only get very little time with her. At MEPS we were told we had to say our Goodbyes there. It was sad! Still waiting for a letter and a call. Hopefully next week sometime. We definitely will be following her bus to the Airport. Can't wait to see her! 

[Chipmunk]

Jana, in BCMoms discussion I have a post that is labeled. What PIR might look like for those flying out of GL. (?exact title)  This will explain how the process works, to some extent. Things can always change and it has been over a year since we had PIR. I will try to bump it back into the top mix where you can see it on the home page of BCMom - but it is also usually visible if you go to "all discussions" on BCMom.

You won't be able to follow her bus to the airport, she will have to report back to RTC earlier that evening on Friday and sleep there,  then get up for one of 2-3 very early morning bus transports from RTC to 1 of 3 of the area airports, depending on what flight the Navy has arranged for her to be able to fly out. She will know her leave time from RTC and will have to give you her flight information and then you may meet them at the airport, as early as the bus arrives.

Sounds like you had a similar experience at MEPS as we did.