Leaving for Boot Camp the Week of October 25th 2010

[KLMkathy]

I thought it would be nice to start a discussion for our children leaving the week of October 25th 2010.  Welcome everyone.  Kathy   

[ElizabethC]

I can only say wow, that has touched me so very deeply, thank you so much for sharing.

[Nancy]

Tears in my eyes reading both passage and quote. Both put words to the emotions that I am experiencing.

I have to say thanks to all of you who shared the idea of doing something special with your recruit before they take off. I am thinking about stealing a couple of the ideas (love the massage one). I really want to spend some one on one time with my son before he takes off. There is SO little time left.

And I too am trying to think of something to send with my son that will fit in a wallet. Religious medal sounds great to me, but won't fit with his views. Maybe I could find a poem and type it up on a card for his wallet. I am also typing up a card with all the contact info and having it laminated at Kinkos so it will last.

Have a great evening...I have to go back to the Giants game. LOL

[ElizabethC]

Betsy....have a great time enjoy every minute, we are having a "shipping out" party next Saturday for Taylor....Let us know how perfect everything is :o)
E

[NC_Susan]

Wow. I am seriously boo-hooing now. Great poem. I am going out to buy those books today!! Susan

[ElizabethC]

Funny little story for all of you, I did alot of shopping today for Taylor's party next weekend. I went to my bakery to order a cake and asked the lady if they had the Navy emblem to put on the cake, (great idea by the way) she wasn't sure but had me look through the book, nope no Navy emblem, but she said let me ask in the back. So I wait, I hear her talking to the cake decorater lady and then I hear "Oh Yes we have that", so here comes this sweet lady with the emblem to show me.....what happens next......I start crying in the middle of the bakery, poor lady I don't think she knew what she was in for when she got up to go to work this morning. She was the sweetest little thing, telling me good luck to my son she will keep us in her prayers, I hugged her (yep in the middle of the bakery with a boatload of other shoppers milling about) She's probably said to her boss "I need next Saturday off so I don't have to be here when the crazy crying lady comes to get her cake" Just thought you all would get a great little chuckle out of that.....once again RAOC it strikes any time any where :o)

[Lori_KingsBay_USSRI_Radio]

I didn't chuckle; I welled up and cried with you. That was so sweet of her to console you; I'm glad the bakery had the emblem! Perfect :-) Its amazing how quickly something or someone can cause us to choke up. Its crazy emotional! Our eyeballs will be the cleanest they've been in forever. I NEED TO ORDER MY CAKE! Yikes. I worked in the yard all afternoon and just have come in so I'm too pooped to go out and shop. I will have to do it tomorrow.

[ElizabethC]

I went to the party store after the bakery....they didn't have a Navy balloon, thank goodness who knows what I would have done and the poor little girl working there would of probably flipped.

OK now I have a question, I know all new recruits get the Navy hair cut when they get to BC, but lets say they get the Navy cut before they go.....is that OK will they just trim them up if needed???

[AngieFromWA:BUDS Mom/ HM alumnus]

"Our eyeballs will be the cleanest they've been in forever." Now THAT made me chuckle Lori! :) They need to issue you new Navy Moms some special eyeball sized windshield wipers at the same time they hand you your Proud Navy Mom bumper sticker! LOL

Elizabeth, I smiled when I read yours, only because it was so sweet, and typical of the kind of thing that happens during this period of time. You are all very normal. :) I know of one mom who burst into tears when she saw another lady with a Navy Mom shirt on; 2 perfect strangers held on to each other for dear life in the middle of a store isle, in a motherly embrace of complete understanding and support. The other Mom's son was heading out for deployment soon. Think you've coined a new acronym, RAOC-love it! I'm sure you touched that lady at the bakery, and I bet if she can be there to see you exclaim over and pick up that cake, she will. She'll probably put a little extra love and effort into it now. =) Lots of people support our military, but it doesn't really touch their day to day lives, (I know I didn't get how hard it was for those I knew) you made it very real to her.

As far as your question, any video I've ever seen of the first days of BC, shows them just running a clipper over the guys heads. (look at the featured video on my page, made by another N4M Mom named Becky) some of the before and afters are amazing!) I know one mom who's son wrote on the three lines of his official Form letter "Bootcamp isn't that hard, I'm fine, I'm bald, but ok. I really miss the dog, and cheeseburgers. Love you all." So, I'm sure it will be fine if your son gets a military cut. If the Navy doesn't like it, if it's not up to standards, they'll just shave it the Navy way. :)

[AngieFromWA:BUDS Mom/ HM alumnus]

Betsy, I really liked your quote too. I've always agreed that Roots and Wings are two of the best things we can give our kids. :-)

Hope you all won't mind if I share with Becky how much her book has touched you all. She'd appreciate the feedback, and the encouragement. Now, I just have to make time to read it. The stack on my nightstand is ridiculously high!

[ElizabethC]

I am really touched by anyone in the military (any branch) or anyone who has a family member or friend in the military, when I was a "civilian Mom" I really didn't think much about it, now I totally get it. I went to the grocery store today and they asked me if I would like to donate $2.00 to send crackers to the troops, if I could afford it I would have sent them a case of crackers and drinks to go with them, not that I didn't support them before, but now my eyes are wide open to the sacrifice they and their families go through....God Bless each and every one of them.

The reason I asked about the "Navy hair cut" is because our "family hair dresser" (the sweetest person in the world) is coming to Taylor's "shipping out" party and I said to Taylor what do you think about getting your "Navy cut" with your family and friends around you...? Believe it or not he said YES, I said what do think about your mom doing it, he said "YES" I almost feel honored...I think it will add a little bit of quirkiness to the party....which if you all haven't guessed I am filled with "Quirk" but I keep everyone on their toes :o)

Angie...you are wealth of knowledge and great support, I hope one day that I will be that kind of support to other new Mom's, Super HUGS to you..... :o)

P.S. - I ordered "When the Eagle Invades the Nest" today I am looking forward to receiving it

[Lori_KingsBay_USSRI_Radio]

Elizabeth - I also; my perspetive on what it means to be in the military and a family member is changed. My eyes are wide open. I'm glad buying the balloons was easier than the cake!

All - You all have such clever, supportive ideas. I love the idea of getting his military cut in front of family and friends. Really special. And PMGcakes - sending the last of the balloons off with a prayer, just you and your husband.....so, so touching. I feel so blessed to have joined this site and found each of you; your friendship, openness and support have just been amazing.

Lori

[pmgcakes]

I Love your story about the bakery, too cute. It made me smile. What we did with the ballons, I got Silver Star Ballons and put the round navy stickers on them, they looked really good, actually, today I had the last two, my husband and I said a pray and let them go.. It was very symbolic.