It's almost time! :(

[TysMomKY]

My son swore into the Navy in February and will be leaving for boot camp on October 26th.   While I am very proud of him and the decision he made, I dread it with everything in me.  I know there are lots of parents that have experienced the same thing and would love to hear from you.  Please help me prepare for what is going to be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.   

 

Tys Mom, Angela

Kentucky

[jancl58]

My son ships out on the 26th as well. He is 28 years old and married with no children at this time. I am very proud of him and know it is a great opportunity for him. I am going to miss texting or talking to him on a daily basis or going to visit him and his wife once a month or more as they are only 31/2 hours away. It is going to be very hard for me as we are very close. Even harder for his wife, they are like peas and carrots. But I know in the long run it will be great for them. I don't think it will actually hit me until he is unreachable. Look forward to hearing from you. Hope they get to know each other in boot camp.

Marks mom, Jan
Minnesota

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

jancl58 I know ya'll are getting excited...join this group http://www.navyformoms.com/group/leavinforbootcampinoctober here you'll connect with other N4M's whose rcts leave in Oct.

Also, go to your profile page and scroll down to read comments left for you. I left you a greeting message with links to groups and other info that may help you and your rct.

[2sonmom]

Hi Angela,

Just noticed this group you might like to join, if you haven't already: Leaving for Boot Camp the week of October 25th, 2010
There's a lot of strength and support when all the loved ones become a family via this website. Your son will do great and you will, too!
Maureen (from page 2)

[TysMomKY]

Hi jancl58. Well, he's gone! I was able to go with him on Monday and we had dinner together on Monday night. I stayed in the same hotel as well. Yesterday, I went to MEPS at 9 a.m. The recruits were taken over much earlier. I watched him swear in with a breaking heart full of pride. We then had lunch together and spent the entire day together. He was scheduled to fly out around 3 p.m. but bad weather held them off until 5:45. By the time I had driven home he was at his destination. He then called at 9:55 p.m. and had made it on to boot camp. His call was quick and he told me in a couple of weeks I would receive his package and wouldn't hear from him again for three weeks. :( Now the real stress begins! It's hard to lose that contact with them when daily you know where they are and how they are doing. You get to hear it in their voice! That is going to be quite an adjustment for us moms. I held it all together pretty good until I saw his Navy backpack as soon as I walked up to the car. :( Tell Mark to watch for Tyler from Kentucky and I'll tell Tyler to do the same of Mark! They leave our boys and come back our men and America's sailors and I am so proud that we are their mommas! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

[A_Sailors_Lady]

I am a Chiefs wife with 19 years of service and our daughter is 19 and just finished the Airforce boot camp. I understand your uneasiness about this. I kept focus on what my daughters needs will be. The first 10 days are the hardest and when most homesick occurs, after that they just settle into a routine. In boot camp there is no word about the outside world so your letters become a valuable connection (I mailed a letter 2 days before she even left so she would get mail right away). Mail call will be something he will look forward to. I also had my daughters aunts and uncles write to her. She was not able to get packages only letters so keep that in mind. Then, I just started the planning for her graduation ceremony (airline tickets and hotel..ext). Knowing I was going to see her graduation kept me going and gave me something to look forward to, and it was really nice and I would not have missed it. Just focus on your son being a successful young man in todays society. It was hardest for me to think I went from all the activities of senior year to her being gone. It left me a little empty so thats why I just had to sit back and realize that I did my job and hopefully now she has the tools to be successful. It is just a change but overall it will be ok. You will now have a different relationship with your son for now he is grown up, of course we miss our little children but look forward to your new relationship with your son and watching him enter the adult world.

[TysMomKY]

Thank you for your comforting message! You are so right! When Tyler (and my first son) graduated high school I asked myself that question of "did I do what I needed to"? "Did I teach them what they need to know to go out into this world"? I smile on the outside and bust with pride on the inside. I know I did! My boys are amazing! I know Tyler left yesterday my baby boy and when he returns he is going to be a man. He is going to be an entirely different person! I told him before he left over and over that I am his biggest fan and I always will be! Him just being away and my not being able to ring his phone or speak to him when I want is hard, I am writing him daily. I started actually a week before he left and I am going to send them all to him - in individual envelopes (LOL) - and support his wholeheartedly through this process!
(How did you mail letters 2 days before she left? I was told at MEPS we would receive a letter in two weeks with their address and graduation date. Luckily his recruiter said he would have it Friday and should be able to pass that information on to me then).
I jokingly say that I didn't sign up for this, but that doesn't matter at all. I am in my son's corner no matter what route he chooses or what road he takes. I was actually glad that the officer that swore him and the others in almost repeated that word for word. He said you family members are here by proxy. I just smiled.
That's one thing I love about this site. Everything I have said or even thought....or Tyler has said or thought....has already been experienced by someone before us and will again by others after us! It's good to know that you all have made it to the other side of the experience and can cheer us on. I hope to be that to someone else after our experiences.
Congratulations to you and your loved ones!