Daughter Enlisting In Summer...need advice from mommas

[1Proudmamma]

I am new to the site and could use some guidance and support from other proud mommas. I have a 19 year daughter enlisting in August. I am so proud of her choice and decision to become a sailor! I show nothing but support and encouragement to her. While behind the scenes, to be honest I do cry, often. I have so many questions and not knowing what all to expect is hard. I joined Navy for Moms for support from moms to moms. Please tell me I am not alone in these feelings.

Sincerely,

1Proudmamma

[B'sNukeMoM⚓️MMN(Vet)]

Welcome 1Proudmamma!  You've come to the right place for guidance and support.  Your best bet will be to hop on over to the Boot Camp group - I left the link in the welcome message on your page.  You'll find lots of helpful info there - and families in different stages of boot camp.

Here's a link to some FAQ's - go to that page and look around there for lots of useful info.

Bootcamp.Navy.Mil

Also, belovedbyHim has a good post regarding what to expect:

Welcome to the Navy, everything will be ok!

Don't be afraid to ask questions!  We've all been there and someone can help out.

What will your daughter's rate (job) be?

[Chipmunk]

1Proudmamma, I shared a link to this blog in one of my other groups. I see you posted a meme on the BC Mom group. The Comment Wall area is the best place to ask questions. Sometimes the more specific question you can ask, the easier it is for others to reply. Once we all muddle through BC and come out on the other side, it can be difficult to remember just exactly how we were feeling, especially when it can be several years ago for some of us. 

B'sNukeMom shared some great links. And more and more is changing with the way BC handles some things. I think there is a possibility that your daughter might be allowed to have her cell phone to make calls. I don't know the exact details, but I have seen it mentioned. Sandboxx App for BC   allows you to at least receive your SRs mailing address a little sooner than we got it in the past. 

When you go to the BC Moms group, be sure to open up desktop mode, if you are on your mobile device and look at the information pages on the right side as well. 

[DsMom2020]

Welcome Proud Mama

This sure will save your sanity!! My sailor enlisted during Covid. We had a backyard protest before he deployed. All food had cute nautical theme. Everyone who wanted got a swipe at shaving his head. Not recommended for your daughter tho!! Before the head shaving, we hired a professional photographer to take nice family photos. 

I leg my sailor know I wanted the biggest photo package from boot camp. That being said, he did not buy the cover mug or the dog tag. I  got those on my own after. I may have ended up with a few too many photos of him. It seems I gave 1-2 on display in every room in my house!! There are only two poses. Smiling. Serious. 

My sailors letter home with his bootcamp “ships address” never arrived. So although I wrote him almost daily (numbered the letters so he could read them in order), it wasn’t until he phoned home that I was able to get his address. He watched his shipmate recruits getting letters while he got none. Let your daughter know you wound never neglect to write her…. Things happen  

this sure has good ideas for how to cheer them up. I wrote him a letter from his car “Giulia”. Gave his address to his cousin and best friend  they write letters too. 

we didn’t get to go to graduation because of Covid, but I hear that for those of you that now do get to go to graduation, many parents decorate an anchor and hang it on their hotel room door. I bought one anyway, knowing that we couldn’t go, and decorated it. Got it from Hobby lobby. It’s on display my living room.

I was so sad after he left, I spent the first two weeks, cleaning up all evidence of him in the living room, entry, laundry room, and anywhere I would walk in and cry when I saw his things because they weren’t there he wasn’t there. Camping gear was the hardest! And then I built a memorial in the living room with all sorts of pictures and navy memorabilia items to remind me of him. It’s been four years and it’s still there.! Get a blue candle to keep lit. 
 
Most of all, come here when you’re sad, happy, celebrating, etc etc. Good luck - may your daughter make you very proud!!! BNMH.

[belovedbyHim]

1Proudmamma -- I see that B'sNukeMoM already suggested my blog.  (I was traveling and have just now had a chance to get on.) I hope you have taken a minute to read it.  I PROMISE you that YOU are NOT alone in your feelings!!! I have been where you are and I can promise you that you will survive this and get through this.  We have never lost a mom to bootcamp and we will not start with you.  I Highly recommend that you post on the main bootcamp page.  If you need help with how to do that please reach out to any of us to help you.

[Lara]

1proudmama - My sailor joined last year and he was 20 years old at the time. He is my oldest child and while he was going to school the last 2 years locally and living in the dorm, when he left for boot camp it was the first time he had been away from me and home ever. 
 
Navy for moms had been awesome for support!! I don’t know any others moms whose children are or have been in the military so only this site has been a huge benefit to connecting and listening to other moms and their experiences. Day to day that is a huge help! I like to seek out lots and lots of info as a way to stay connected to what my sailor is doing so I have used the internet and YouTube a lot for that especially during times like boot camp. 

I have to say though honestly, that what has been most difficult is in trying to adjust to the experience of just him leaving home and him being my first of 3 to do so. That has been and is really harder than I anticipated still. I have tried hard to separate the “Navy” out of the equation as much as possible and I have talked often to a few coworkers whom have had children leave home already too, to connect and gain that perspective which has helped. It’s hard though. Be gentle with yourself and give yourself the freedom to feel what it is. Navy moms will help! 

[1Proudmamma]

Thank you so very much everyone for taking the time for advice and words of kindness. I truly appreciate it and would love to be a part of this community with you. My notifications i think were turned off, i apologize for just now replying. 

 After she had moved home from the dorm Dec 2022,  then moved out in end of our house January 2023, i guess the not being home part may make it a little easier...a little. She is very good about texting or calling me everyday. That i will be definitely missing. Being able to drive 30 to have dinner together or her randomly showing up at home for dinner and visit....i will miss so much.