Am I the only one here who's totally relaxed about sending my child to boot camp?

[Arwen]

There are a LOT of posts from mothers worried/stressed about their sons or daughters going to boot camp, I'm just looking for a little reassurance that I am not the only one who has no problem with my child leaving?

I've helped him study and "encouraged" him to keep up his PT so that when he goes he will be ready to take that test and make E-2 right away. I'm very comfortable with letting him go.I feel he's ready. I'd send him tomorrow if I thought he was ready for the test and was sure he could still get the same job.

Is it because we did this once already, sending him off to college last summer (2008)? I was just as relaxed then, too. A hug and a goodbye, a minute of tears as I watch him leave, and he's gone. Out of sight, out of mind, except for letters or phone calls.

Is it because I went to boot camp myself, I know what it's like, so it holds no fears for me?

Mostly I'm eager to hear about what he learns, how boot camp has changed from my experience, fun and outrageous stories, and to hear of his future adventures.

So, is there anyone else out there who feels the same way I do: pride that my son is ready to make a major step towards independent adulthood with a touch of relief that he isn't going to stay home forever?

[Viki]

I was fine with it.
God has a plan
Fear is the opposite of faith

p.s. Jenna is living in Hawaii, doesn't get better than that !!

[Marty (Kelly's mom)]

WOW - was I ever glad to see this discussion. I, too, thought something was wrong with me because I wasn't wailing and tearing my hair out. In my case, it may be becase my son is 29. He left for a year right after high school and spent a year on his own in Brazil. I knew a lot less about what was happening down there than I do in this situation. Then, he spent a year in California. Hee has really been out of the house for 10 years or so, and married and totally on his own for nearly 2 years now, so why would I fall apart, for pete's sake?

[bryan]

He learns about Navy Heritage, PT's 5 times a week, Learns firefighting, gets to do some target practice, learn about mass casualties (all this stuff is simulated). He could go in as an E3 if he did a few more things while in DEP. Tell him to make sure he doesnt stand out. It lasts 9 weeks (P days are included). It was a fun time for me and battle stations was fun. Let him know to most important rules in the Navy are 1. Be where your suppose to be when your suppose to be there. 2. Do what your suppose to be doing.

[Arwen]

My boy's a 6'5" giant, is a volunteer firefighter, football player and has had a military bearing (we refer to it as being born with a silver rod up his rear) since birth that the Marines would die for. I'm not sure he has a chance of not standing out.

As a veteran the stories I most want to hear are how things have changed since my husband and I were in the Navy two decades ago. He's heard all of our stories and is ready to live his own.

[bryan]

Well its like a regular job after boot camp and "A" school. And when you join navy you have to put your pride aside. Depending how long ago you got out Utilities finally went away and the fleet now has NWU which are the blue digitals. I was in a f/a-18 squadron and now im with the seabees the organizations are like night and day. Lynn when people that come in that dont grow up usually get processed out for a pattern of misconduct. They dont last long.

[NotAChance]

Interestingly enough, I was feeling like the odd mom out because I wasn't crying my eyes out the day I took my daughter to the recruiting office to send her off to boot camp.

I believe my husband (Marine Corps) and I raised an intelligent and strong young woman. I think the Navy will make her that much better and she will have a nice career if she so chooses. This is something she wanted to do and I support her in that decision. I believe she was as prepared as she could be. Water polo, swimming, cross country, hunting and target shooting, academically sound, common sense, better and average ASVAB score... it all weighs in her favor so I had no reservations when I took her to the recruiting office for her trip to San Diego MEPS and flight to GL. No tears, just encouraging words and asked for a text when she landed at O'Hare and would have to turn her phone off for the last time.

I look forward to receiving more letters and hearing stories and getting phone calls from boot camp. I am anxious to see her November 13!

[Bflogal]

I totally agree having been through boot camp myself through the Air Force, I knew my son needed to go the route he has taken. He needed something to boost his confidence and gain his independence. He is 21 and now has a family, and we always told our boys you are responsible for the life you make for yourself. College wasn't the answer, and we live in an area where jobs aren't easy to find, other than minimum wage jobs, which you can't support a family on. I too was not worried, other than the fact that he left his wife, and twins behind and is missing them, but he knows he is doing the right thing for his family. I really believe the military is the way to go for young people who don't know what they want to do with their life. I was in the Air Force for 11 years, and was fortunate to meet my husband, and make life long friends. And, because of that I now have a wonderful government job with the National Park Service. Sometimes I think what my life would have been like if I didn't go in the Air Force, and I know it wouldn't have been the good life I am living now. So no I was glad to see my son go, he's doing the right thing for his and his family's future.

[Lynn]

So happy you said something about this. My son was so happy about joining that it was hard for me not to be happy for him. Now he is on the USS George Washington and works hard daily to progress quickly through the ranks. I am so proud of him and happy he has a career he loves. Also, I am very lucky because he contacts us as much as daily if it is possible. What is nice about this day and age is that we have the electronics to keep in touch.
My son says that a lot of these guys act like little kids. When i read some of these posts i know why.

[mikem's mom]

I feel the same way. Whille it was a bit emotional at the airport, I don't seem to be too worried about him at boot camp. I did get the formal letter and he wrote a comment, and I sent him a letter the next day, with one probably this weeken. Of course I think that every parent does have some worries the way the world has been going with all the unrest overseas. i am looking forward to graduation and a chance to see how he's changed. Also I was an Army wife for half of his career so maybe that puts me at an advantage, though it's totallydifferent from a spouse to a child.

[bonnie]

I was relaxed about sending my daughter off to boot camp. It was the disconnect from her that caused me stress! I had always sent her away to summer camp and any activity that gave her a broader view of the world outside our home. Of course I could talk to her if I wanted to but boot camp was different!!

My brother was in the navy when he was younger and I was very close to all that occurred in and out of boot camp and beyond. He enjoyed his time spent in navy and had great training that he has used time and time again. I remembered the Navy as a positive experience for him so I encouraged my daughter as she moved along in her choices. She signed on in high school with the Navy Sea Cadet Corps so we were involved in some of the structure of expectations in the Navy. She enlisted after some time in college.

The Navy continues to be a positive experience for her even now after a year and a half. (bootcamp, A school, C school and off to her assignment overseas). So no, you're not alone!!

[Christine-OS2 proud mom]

I sent my son off to bootcamp this past Jul 28, 2009 just over a month after he graduated high school. His PIR was 2 weeks ago Sep 25, 2009. When my husband and I went to MEPS to see him swear in and say our goodbyes there were no tears for me. He had been wanting to join the Navy since he was 8 years old and now he was fulfilling that goal. How could I be sad and weepy? His dad was in the Navy many years ago and shared stories. Although today's Navy is much much different, our son felt the calling to serve.

On the last night of liberty weekend, we were saying goodbye again, and that's when my waterworks started. I wasn't sad having to leave him behind, he made it through bootcamp and was a better man for it. I had tears of joy, my son is now a US Navy Sailor, he's so proud of it, we're PROUD of him, he grew up so much during bootcamp. Bootcamp gives them a confindence that they can't get at home, one of self reliance.

We helped prepare him by having him in Boy Scouts, he earned his Eagle Scout and by the time he left for bootcamp he was already E-3. His dad and I felt that the boy scout experience helped him learn to set goals and obtain them. Each rank in boy scouts is a goal and there's a lot of learning in between obtain that goal and while you may not reach it in the time you think it should take, it's not impossible. So, no, you are not alone in feelinging the way you feel. You've raised a fine young man, he's going to fulfill his calling to serve his country. You should be proud, not stressed out with worry. He's only doing what thousands of recruits before and many more to come have been asked to do by the US Navy, serve with PRIDE. God bless you and your family, God bless ALL Navy families.

[Jan, (A Southern Belle!)]

I think we all have pride in our sons, but some, like me, wasn't so happy with our son's decision,to join the Navy. In fact, to be quite honest, I had a "come apart" when he did. I was hoping he'd stay in college, not join on a whim. Having said, that, I'm glad he did now, but the missing and worrying and all will never go away. Is my son an only child? No! He is one of 5 children of ours (all ours, no step kids) and all of my children I have "let go" (4 are married). However, going into the military just brings with it that "mama worry"! LOL I do know you will have those moments like many of us do, and when you do, Navy Moms will be here for you! Hugs