Anyone with a daughter leaving for bootcamp on September 28 in CA? Or anywhere else?

[Diana(PO3/IT3)]

Hi all, I was just wondering if there is anyone in this discussion group with a daughter leaving for BC the end of this month.

[Diana(PO3/IT3)]

Last mom hug and kiss tonight :-(  Aubrey's swear in was short and sweet. So glad I got to hang with her all morning at MEPS and then for several hours this evening. We had some good laughs during our dinner tonight. Gosh how I hated to let her go tonight. We both cried. I'm getting up at 4am to see her and the other 6 recruits get picked up and taken to the airport in the morning. Someone opened the tear faucet again.....

[Lisa (Olivia Div 09-Ship 331)]

I remember.  hugs to you.

[Janie (Ship11~Div.59 Alumni)]

Diana consider yourself so very lucky to have had spent time with her up to the end before her departure. I was not that fortunate and to have my daughter spend her last night in the hotel alone is too much to think about. As I said before, we NAVY MOMS are the only ones to understand each other. And although I am not sure I truly think its a different feeling when its your DAUGHTER that is in the armed services as compared to a male (son).  But our daughters have to be tough cookies to have made this decision. I keep telling my daughter that "when I grow up, I want to be just like her" lol. I now live through her and her new life and all the experiences she now encounters.

 

We are here for you, feel free to share yourself when you need a shoulder. WE UNDERSTAND! Write that journal like I did, it was great therapy for me as well as such a wonderful keepsake for her. Give our little smurf a  big hug and kiss and wish her well for me!

[Diana(PO3/IT3)]

Thanks Janie. Love the journal idea. I have a special thin one I bought and will begin it today. I wrote her a long letter to read on the plane - full of encouragement and remembrances of all things special about her. We don't tell our kids enough our thoughts and feelings...  But, she's off now. Officially has left for the airport. I was the only parent in the lobby saying goodbye. I wanted to hug all the kids but I did tell them all how brave they were and how proud many of us are for their decision to serve.

 

Back to bed for me...some needed sleep before my drive home. Then, the waiting game begins.....

 

I love your comment, btw, about 'when I grow up, I want to be just like her'.  That is how I feel about my daughter. What a special and strong woman she has grown up to be. After nearly 21 years, I know it's time to release her and let her fly....but I am SO going to miss seeing her sweet, happy face and feel her energy close by..... We are so fortunate to have the relationships we do with our children. For that, I am most grateful.

[Diana(PO3/IT3)]

Well, the bus has left for the airport with 7 Navy kids on it headed for GL. 5 girls, 2 boys. All in good spirits. I could see the excitement in the girls as I watched them all check and recheck their belongings before boarding the bus at 5am. I got one more big hug and kiss and I love you's with Aubrey and I'm proud of you ALL in before they boarded. A few tears welled up. My throat has a lump in it but I know all will be fine. Aubrey is excited and happy which eases my heart a bit. The real challenge will be going home and seeing what she left for me to tidy up due to her having to suddenly pack and leave on that moment's notice. I have a lot to keep me busy with, fortunately, and my 2 sons are still home. One leaves in December for college. 

Now I'm officially a BC mom....doing the waiting, waiting, waiting part for 'the box', the letters, the calls - and seeing her again at PIR all grown up in her uniform. Looking forward to that and some family time in Chicago - even though it'll be Nov/early Dec with unpredictable weather.

Whew. I'm wiped out. Going back to bed before I pack up and make my drive home.

 

Thanks again for being here my fellow Navy moms <3

d~

[Lisa (Olivia Div 09-Ship 331)]

I had a cry this morning just reading your post.  The "box" will contain only her clothes no letter.  That shocked me.  Hang in there! 

Hugs,

Lisa

[Diana(PO3/IT3)]

Thanks Lisa...it was SO hard to let her go. I dread this grieving process of knowing she won't be home again like it once was. Who will share tea with me before bedtime? That was a special time shared whenever Aubrey was home which was a lot before she finally left today. In a blink of an eye, they grow up and are gone.... I am sad today.

[Lisa (Olivia Div 09-Ship 331)]

I know, I know.  Olivia and I would have breakfast together on the little table I had in my kitchen.  Boy, I long for those days again.  I want to be the mamma duck and gather my ducklings again.  What you are feeling is very normal.  Allow yourself to be sad,  then be proud.  You did a wonderful job as a mother and now its time for them to travel their journey.  Nobody warned us that letting go would hurt so bad and be so hard.  It shows you had a great relationship.  Let's finish with a positive -- when you receive the letters from Aubrey, you will smile, laugh, cry, giggle.  Olivia's written some very funny and loving things to me. 

Gotta run to work.  I'll check back through out the day. 

[Sharon-Alumni of Ship 11 DIV 352]

When my daughter left for the airport (San Diego) we were the only parents to see her off.  When I spoke with the bus driver he said that he had never seen any parents before and he had been doing this for 19 years.  I was surprised.  Now I know that I am not the only mom to see my daughter off.....  Good luck to you and your daughter.

[Diana(PO3/IT3)]

Goodness Sharon, don't you find that utterly sad? I sure did. The day before my daughter's swearing in, they said they had 65 kids swear in for the Marines. Not ONE parent, sibling, or spouse in attendance. Wow. I can not imagine NOT being there for anything I am able to show up for. In fact, I sat IN Meps with my daughter almost the whole day, just hanging out with her and the other kids. Not the family quiet room but the room and those uncomfortable chairs all the kids had to sit quietly in ALL day. I wouldn't have had it any other way... Makes the separation just a bit easier to bear knowing she knows I'm there for her (and the others), body and/or spirit...

[Sharon-Alumni of Ship 11 DIV 352]

We had fun hanging with the kids.....  I wouldn't have changed a thing.  I even went to her "travel" meeting.  There were a few families there but not many.

[Janie (Ship11~Div.59 Alumni)]

WOW! Lisa you were so right in your words. Nobody tells you how hard it really is to let them go. I only have two children and Jessica was my first and with only her being off on the high seas we already feel the empty nest syndrome and don't like it. I tell my 15 year old son all the time that he can't leave me/home, joking of course but feeling it deep down.

Diana it will be normal for all the emotions you will feel. On my home page here on N4M's I posted a few of her PIR videos, check them out as to what you will expect. It seems so long now that she will be gone in bc but when you get to the end of the journey of it and think back, it really isn't that long. The amazing transformation that is made in these kids in such a short amount of time is simply mind boggling.

After Jess left for bc I didn't touch her bedroom. I left it exactly the way she left it. However I must admit I started using her bed to put my suits on and by the time she came home for her first leave after bc, A School & C School I had my mess cleaned up. However she loved the fact that she came home to her bedroom/sanctuary without any change.You will see how much appreciation Aubrey will have for the littlest things.

Jess reflected a lot during her bc days and in her letters she said how much she missed the things that she didn't like when she was home! She would say she missed every little thing we did or places we went, little material objects. It will be important that when you can send her letters to send small pictures of you, her loved ones, any animals/pets she has, etc. Just remember they don't have a lot of room to store these items so watch the size of what you send. They will have NO access to computers so forget facebook or email, so don't expect any media such as this. I used to keep everyone abreast of her progress through her and my facebook page so friends and family could stay informed.

Diana I'm not going to lie and say it will be easy, because its not. Feel free to cry anytime you want. I still do, the other night I sat on the couch crying to myself just missing her so much and not being able to hear from her for a month. After I feel better and I realize that this is our life and all that she is doing for herself and our NAVY and COUNTRY and my sadness if replaced with PRIDE. So go ahead and let it out anytime you want.

Heck I cried just reading what you wrote about her leaving! lol The other night I watched my video of her PIR marked "Liberty Call, Liberty Call." Everytime I watch that and hear those words I start to cry  as well as my other NAVY MOMS. You start to reflect on how much and the many emotions that flooded your body/mind knowing that you will now be able to hold your child again. But we'll cross that bridge with you when you get there.

Keep in touch with us and feel free to vent all your emotions with us, we understand. Share with us Aubrey's every letter and every accomplishment. We want to hear and share as well.

THANK YOU DIANA for raising such a fine young woman who is now starting her journey to serve our great country and make history.

As I always have told my daughter since bc, "Do your best, and go make history!" As I would explain to her a female in the military has more to prove than a male, so kick butt and make history! lol

 

Thinking of you all day today Diana, and feeling your emotions. I will keep you and your wonderful daughter in my thoughts and prayers.