Bootcamp

[marlena]

My son left for bootcamp on Wednesday and I've been crying off and on ever since.  I feel so lost not beling able to call him, FB him or contact hm in any way.  I never thought it would be this difficult.  I'm really struggling. I'm not worried about his safety, just feel so disconnected, like he's gone forever.  He is my firstborn too, maybe that's it?   I don't know, but he reached this milestone that I feel like I wasn't prepared for.  Anyone else feel like that?

[beteboop1]

lol thats too funny!

[Jill]

Loved this!  Little humor injected into all our tears is just what we needed!  Thanks JT's Mama!

[beteboop1]

time goes by too fast. I have always known in my heart I would eventually have to let go, but i never knew how much it hurt!

 

[JT's Mama]

I still cry everyday, sometimes over nothing even related to my son, just that sensitive right now.  However, I try everyday to keep it in perspective and remember that my son is coming home. He is doing a wonderful thing and I can't wait to see the pride  in him for having accomplished this.  This is what makes me get through everyday. I counsel families who have lost their loved ones for a living and I just feel better when I remember my son is coming home :). Hope this helps you too.

[cbelle623]

The first Three weeks are the hardest but after you receive the box with the items they have to send back(their clothes, etc) you get to have a little bit of them with you.  It goes by fast and next thing you know it you will be at their graduation. I can't wait I only have one more week until I can hold my daughter at her Graduation. I do not think i will let her go.LOL good luck and remember it will go by fast! 

[Becky]

This house is just so empty without him here.  I know what you mean about being out of contact.  I'm just grateful I got to see him sworn in and then board the bus to the airport.  He was laughing when he left.  I wonder throughout the day what he is doing and how he is holding up. I just pray for him to make it through boot camp.  I can't even imagine what he is going through and that is hard also.  Part of a mothers job is to protect our children so this goes against every instinct we have.  I keep telling myself that this is the US Navy and there is no other organization on the planet better geared to train our sailors to be safe.  Not working yet, but I keep telling myself that.  I'm finding it hard to get motivated to do anything but I'm pretty sure that's normal also so I am going to make lists so at the end of the day I've accomplished something.  I want to thank everyone for sharing because its so true that even our husbands don't seem to feel as intensely as we do about this.  Well, I'm going to go continue working on taking down the Christmas decorations. They've been up so long they are actually dusty but I didn't want to take them down before he left.  Have a good day everyone.  One step at a time.

[Jill]

You are so right Becky.  My husband is trying so hard to be supportive of me, but they don't get the full impact of this on a mother, hard as they try.  I promise it gets better.  I just got my form letter yesterday, with two handwritten lines only from my son, but that meant the world to me, even though he said it was tough, he managed to convey that he knew this was the toughest part, and it would get better after bootcamp.  Hang in there....

[NavyDoodle]

Good Morning All:

So.... my daughter's box of personal belongings arrived, and I thought from what I had read on one of these forums that there would be info. in there about her address and graduation???  There wasn't anything in there and now I am panicked because I can't mail her letters and I am SO worried other recurits will get mail and she will be left with none)0:  Any suggestions?  I am going to call her Recruiter today to see if maybe he has an address for her?

[Jill]

Hi NavyDoodle! The box and the form letter are separate mailings.  From what I've read on here, some people get them as close as 1 day apart, others takes much longer.  Mine was 3-4 days inbetween.  I also used the address that I got from my son's recruiter for the first two letters, but it was "slightly" different than the one that I got on the actual form letter.  In my case, it didn't matter, my son got the first letters that I sent anyway....The form letter is the document that gives the exact address and graduation info.

[NavyDoodle]

Thank you so much Jill for the words of encouragement!  I did call my daughter's recruiter this morning and got a mailing address for her.  I have my fingers crossed that they get to her soon!

[Becky]

Got my sons box of clothing and some paperwork?  I thought they sent only clothes. I smelled them (the closthes) and I bet that I'm not the only mom that did that.  They smelled like boy.  :)  So.  Anyway, waiting for his letter.  I didn't cry yesterday so I am making some progress.  Last of the Christmas stuff is almost boxed up so time to turn my attention to some projects.  Husband will be travelling for the next two months so it's going to get even quieter.  Again, yeah for pets!  I remember an old quote from Erma Bombeck that goes something like this: "sometimes the house is so clean and quiet I run around yelling and throwing dirt around."

[Jill]

Ummm, no Becky, you are absolutely NOT the only one who did that, but I was horribly disappointed, cause the clothes smelled completely sterile... I'm in the same boat as you, husband working out of state, it's me and the dog, so I completely sympathize!  Erma has some wonderful quotes about the "Pits" in life.  Hang in there, and don't be too disappointed when you think you're over the crying period, then it shows up again... just sayin..