HELP!!! I think my future recruit is in denial!

[Invisible12]

I don't know where to turn. I'm having a hard enough time dealing with the fact that my son will be leaving for bootcamp in September, but now I'm starting to realize that maybe he really doesn't know what he's getting himself into. For instance, last nite we were talking about selling his car before he leaves and he said he'd like to buy a car from a guy that we know maybe next year. I asked him if he realizes that once he leaves, he's gone for 4 years, with the exception of the times he does get to come home for visits (which I'm sure are not often.) His answer was "I don't know." Of course, I started to cry. My question is - are most kids (I call him a kid even though he's 22) naive about what they're getting into? I'm so panicked that he's going to think he made a mistake and will be miserable when reality sets in. If anyone has any advice - PLEASE SHARE! I'm so sad that my first born is leaving and to think of him being "there" and regretting his decision just makes me sick to my stomach. Sorry if I sound like an overbearing mother - I'm just so worried for him. Thanks for listening!

[jacketfan24 (corpsman mom)]

You are not the only one that feels that way.  I am more comfortable with my son leaving if I know what he will be doing and the entire process.  I have gotten so much valuable information from other people on this site, and I know I am not alone.  It's very different when you child leaves this way than when they just go to college...it's a permenant change and when they are just out of high school, it's a little overwhelming.  It would be so much harder if I didn't know exactly how it is going to work; I am not allowed to leave my cell phone out at work, but you can bet I will break that rule because I will not miss that call!  Best of luck to everyone!

[slapout52]

Not sure when you wrote this, my friend NavyBamamom, but we just returned from the 6-3 PIR & we also drove from Alabama to GL! I thought we were the only ones nutty enough to undertake such a task!  Everything you said about getting ready for boot camp & then staying in touch is exactly right.  The only thing you left out is that saying good-bye after PIR is the hardest part.  It was for me, because I realized that unlike with college & preparing for bc, my job is done.  Proud to say my son is 100% USN!

[punkinbaby76]

Congrats!!! And welcome to the life of a Navy Mom!!!

[clarkedu (MM Nuke Prototype)]

Slapout52, Congratulations to your son (and YOU)!  Not only is your job done, as you say, but it is a job WELL done!  You are now the proud mom of a real, full-fledged Sailor... AWESOME!!! 

I might have you beat on the "nutty" front.  We will be driving from southern California for my son's PIR sometime at the beginning of August.  My husband and I are both teachers, and our daughter works for our school district as well, so we have lots of time for a road trip.  I grew up in Chicago, and we're planning on at least a few weeks on the road and visiting friends and family in conjunction with PIR.  We are even thinking of going to Charleston, SC since that's where my son will go for Nuke school after bc.

What field is your son going into?

[punkinbaby76]

The first piece of advice someone gave me when my husband enlisted almost a year ago, was to not cry in front of him!! It will be hard on him as well to be gone, and seeing your emotion will make him start to regret his decision. Now, I come from a large Navy background, and even served myself. The one piece of advice I could give your son, and give all future Sailors is this :   Bootcamp is what you make of it! If you go in with the mindset that this will suck, then it will. If you go in with the mindset of this is only temporary, and I can do this, and it will be fun then he will have fun. Once he goes in, find his PIR date group on here, you will find TONS of support there! Also, if you know what rate (the job he will be doing) find that on here as well, and find out where his A school will be and join those groups too. Those Moms/Wives/Girlfriends can help you along the way with something to look forward to.

 

He will have to run, do sit ups, push ups, learn fire fighting, learn a lot of new termanology, do financial resposiblity classes, but he also gets to wear a uniform that stands for something bigger than himself. Tell him to start running now, and doing push ups and sit ups because that will help with the physical part of it. Tell him to go to every Dep meeting, they give them alot more information than before I ever went to BC. Most of all, be positive about the decision when you talk to him, because you will get letters at times with your Sailor questioning himself and his ability to complete bootcamp. HE CAN DO IT!!! They do not want them to fail when they have gotten this far. And always remember through this whole process, the day you see him graduate from bootcamp will be the best day of your life! The pride of watching all he has accomplished will be worth it. I promise!

[jo's mom]

Mine (Son) just leftJune 28th with his eyes wide open in a deer in a head light kinda open. The last few days at home were pretty stressful for him, I could tell as a mom he was really nervous, but as my husband says He will not be one of the kids wiyh nothing to do and no job he'll be a man before the next time we see him. ( My husband has been throught it.) Still as a mom expect to cry alot more because at this point he's making decisions that he is by law able to make which is scarey if he is as clueless as mine. I must say thou that getting that call when he first arrived bootcamp was his reality check I could hear it in his voice.

             I feel like I wrote the samething on the end of my first blog. You'll be okay! Jo was my first born boy as well.

   Make sure he's working out alot and he'll be fine. It's you that will be crazy. I juzt recieved his clothes he wore in a box aweek later then a letter is suppose to come alomg 10day after he leaves, waiting .

         Good Luck to all of you and you will be fine, Just give lots of hug til  mine say It's starting to feelo a litter werid, Then I let go.LOL

[Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)]

Hi Jo's mom, my son left for boot camp on Feb 15 and graduated April 15 so we are now going through A school. He was really stressed those last few days at home. I think the size of the commitment he had made finally hit him. The first time I finally got to talk to him after 3-4 weeks was great. When we saw him for PIR wow what a change from the kid that had left home. He is doing well now although he has some days that are frustrating overall he is adjusting. Hope yours does the same. Take care it does go by fast.

[Bensmom]

my middle son, is planning on buying a car where he is stationed in Virginia to use while he is there. The hardest part will be while he is in bootcamp, my son said by the second day he was wondering what in the world did I get myself into. But he stuck it out and now loves his decision. I was worried from the moment he started talking about joing the Navy, but I know that he is an adult and has to make his own decisions. I still worry today ( that's just  being a mom).

[bek]

My son just finished boot camp. He didn't sleep well the few weeks before he left and was very unsure about his decision. He did fine and is looking forward to his first assignment. The first few letters were heartbreaking but things progressed and letters became very upbeat by the time he graduated. Just be prepared for those first few letters. All will be well.

[Maria ( 9/132 - HM- 04-2011)]

Bek, you are so right. The first few letters are tough.

[Adam's Mom.]

Hi.

 

   My son leaves August 30th. He just yesterday said "Mom, I'm getting Nervous" this is very un like him. I am not too sure what to say to calm him(Im scared to death myself but will not show him) He has been disobeying the house rules doing thing out of his charecter etc. Im wondering if he is having 2nd thoughts(not that it matters)

   Im thinking this is somewhat normal..............

[mommadash]

I think my daughter is going thru this same thing. She has very definite ideas about things. I keep telling her she is in for a surprise on October fifth/sixth. Then, I made a trip with her to the recruiting office. Her salute and request to come aboard, and the respect and dignity she showed while there, and also when she was leaving nearly brought tears to my eyes, I saw a totally different young woman. I honestly thought she took nothing seriously about her enlistment, and was pleasantly surprised by her. She still will get a wake up call at basic training, but I believe she is ready. She just doesn't want to talk about leaving.