Any moms with sons arrival in Chicago 7/14?

[NavyMom1013]

My son arrived in Chicago on 7/14/2020.  We haven't heard from him since 2100 on 7/14.  Is that the "I'm here" call?  Or should we receive another call after the quarantine period is over???  Any advice would be great.  I'm new to the military family life.  I am missing my son greatly.  Do the tears ever stop flowing???  Does this get easier???

[partyofseven]

Kmr5+1- Hey, It is good to see you on here. I was thinking about you. Yay. for getting the form letter another mom or two moms I think got their form letters as well. That's ok to. I still cry and it's ok for us to do that. When you need to cry, let it out. It's good for the heart and soul to get it out.  :)

I know right?  I still miss mine. It's a whole new life that they signed up for. Very proud of them all but I still miss mine.  Have a nice evening.

[DonnaCatLover]

You’ve already gotten some great advice but every time I read a post like yours, I am instantly transported back to April 20, 2016 when my only child left for boot camp. It felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. When his “box” came home, it was like the child I knew had died and they were giving me what remained of him. I feared that boot camp would do him in. I feared that I wouldn’t like the person the Navy was turning him in to. I knew the life of knowing what he was up to daily was gone and I wasn’t ready for that to end. I missed him something fierce. The first three weeks I couldn’t open up the door to his room. It’s tough what you are going through and all of us moms can relate.

What I can tell you is you will treasure the letters your son writes (and these will be the only time you will get them so treasure them!). I can tell you that you will be so stinkin’ proud of him when you get the call of “I’m a sailor”. I can tell you that you will see a newly matured son with a proud look on his face because he did what he maybe feared inside he couldn’t do - he made it through boot camp. 

My son thrived in boot camp despite my fear that it would eat him alive. He is now under the water someplace in a submarine. He has grown and matured and yet he is the same quirky son that lived under my roof. I get the privilege of living where he is currently stationed so I do get to see him every once in a while. He talks of wanting to go overseas for his next duty station so I won’t get to see him every often. 

Write newsy, encouraging letters to him. Don’t tell him how much you miss him - he needs to put all his emotional energy into making it through boot camp. Tell him how much you love him, that you are rooting for him, that you know he can do this and if you pray, tell him that you are praying for him.

Eventually it does get easier but recognize that a relationship has been newly ripped apart and grieving is okay and normal. He will change and you will change and the relationship will be different and also stronger. Hang in there and let yourself cry.

[partyofseven]

Hi DonnaCatLover,

Oh my gosh. I can so totally relate. It was like you were talking to me as well.  :) My son has been in almost 3 years next month and it has been an emotional, proud, sad, happy all those emotions at once. And you are right it is different and he's finding himself and I'm so proud of him, but miss him fierce. He is my youngest and the last one to leave the nest.  :)

Thanks for your encouraging words. God Bless you and your Sailor and your family. Stay safe and healthy out there.  :)

[DonnaCatLover]

Such conflicting emotions, right? I think I miss him more than he misses me but that’s the way it should be when they fly. Blessings to you and yours as well and stay healthy!

[Catherine]

Yes, my son arrived there on the 14th.  Last time I heard his voice is when he called to say he had landed and was heading to the USO room at O ‘Hare which is where they were supposed to meet up for transfer to quarantine hotel.

Just received the infamous form letter from him today, Aug 10.  It was postmarked Aug 7 so it made it to us in Arizona in pretty good time.  He is in Division 327 with graduation Sept 10/11.   Even though there was no real news from him, it was nice to see his handwriting on the envelope and know he is progressing through RTC and half way through the 8 week ordeal this week.

[belovedbyHim]

Catherine -- I'm glad you got the form letter.  I hope you have also joined us over on the Boot camp Moms Main page.  There is lots of support for all the boot camp moms there.

[NavyMom1013]

We’ve received one REAL letter from our SR. His div is 323.  Letter was a little vague about what’s going on but it was in his handwriting.  Anyone opened the PIR groups for September yet?

[partyofseven]

Good Morning NavyMom1013,

Yay for your letter. That's awesome!!!!

If you post on the main page you will find your information. Phoenixmom just posted the TG(training groups) up to 9/24/20. Yes the PIR groups are up until 9/24/2020. 

Come and check it out ok.   :)

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

NavyMom1013 - the training groups are up on the RTC website but Ellen hasn't made the September PIR group on here yet. 

Keep watching for it - as soon as she has it set up she'll post the link on the main bootcamp page.

[4korcan]

Hi NavyMom1013-our son's RTC dates were same I think. He is in Division 328. Unfortunately, his division was sent back to ROM last week. We received three letters from him two before the ROM, and one after. He was upbeat about the BC, but so depressed about the ROM. Originally they were supposed to graduate on 9/11/20, but now who knows....my heart is aching!

[Catherine]

Three days after the form letter we received a hand written letter from my son. Very upbeat, looking forward to the tougher first half of boot camp being almost over, thought his RDCs were “pretty chill”, looking forward to upcoming RTC exercises and to graduation.  

Today got a call from him that his poor bunk mate tested positive For Covid so their bunk and recruits in the bunks on both sides of them were being sent back into ROM (quarantine) on the RTC campus. He was very sad about it, frustrated, teary, dejected, wanted to graduate with his Division (327). I am heartbroken about this (hopefully only) 2 week delay and how it’s affected him - just put an encouraging letter to him in the mail box. Hopefully tomorrow he’ll feel better emotionally.   Apparently there have been several outbreaks recently, including one entire Division that has been quarantined (Div 328?).

Makes you wonder how those Covid germs are getting into RTC. Initial 14 days of ROM not long enough to catch recruits that fly in with Covid?  RTC staff?  Also wondering if those that test positive during RTC are being isolated from others (like recruits who were sleeping near the one who tested positive) when they go back into ROM. 

Hoping and praying my son, and others sent to back ROM because they were housed in proximity to someone who tested positive will  stay healthy and don’t  develop Covid symptoms.  Would really hate to be seeing lots of sick recruits!

Discouraging,but what’s done is done and need to look ahead positively.  Thanks for letting me vent,

[Chipmunk]

Good Morning Catherine,

I wish I could give you answers but all I have is my husband's own frustration that this is a virus and germs are everywhere!! I have my own personal opinions of how things are being dealt with in the Navy and out so do my best on here to keep those opinions to myself. 

As you said, the only thing you can do as mom from far away is to keep encouraging him for the positive and to keep looking ahead. This is really hard on them, they start bonding with their division and setbacks can be tough, so it is up to us to remind them to look ahead.

Thanks for sharing.