My son left from Atlanta to Navy Boot Camp on 2-22-12

[Facebook PIR11/2]

It has been 3 days and it's starting to sink in that he's gone. This is so painful,I feel like I can't breathe if I let my mind think about him being so far away from his home. How long does it take for this raw pain to end? Does it get better in days,weeks...?  How long after they pull away on the bus from MEPS does it take to get their address? Another phone call?  ANY help will be greatly appreciated. I pray that all of you dear Moms are okay and that your families are doing well also. Prayer is helping a lot,it's the night time that gets me. I can't imagine the captain covering up my sons feet when he kicks the covers off in the middle of the night,It's cold up there! Lol. I miss him but I am staying strong for him and my other family members. It sure is tough though!  This site has helped me tremendously!! 

[ColoradoMom Nuke ET]

Welcome!  

The raw pain does subside.  Hang on, though, it might take a few weeks.  

Once you get the "kid in a box - but without the kid" (probably within the week) and then the form letter (could be 1-2 weeks) with the address and graduation info, things start getting a little better.

Then, 3-4 weeks in, you'll get your next phone call and your new normal will start to feel more reasonable.

Stay on this site.  Hang out on this group until you get your PIR date.  Then, join your PIR group.  Get to know the ladies within your division. Before you know it, you'll be down to only a few days until graduation and you'll marvel at how far you've come.  They say our SRs go through a huge transformation at boot camp.  So do their moms!

[Facebook PIR11/2]

Good Morning Colorado Mom, Thank you for your encouraging words. I look forward to getting to know you. :) 

[harpist mom]

HI! The raw pain seemed to subside sometime between week three and four. After week four, I began to anticipate going to see his PIR. I received a couple of phone calls from my son early on to request information for his security clearance. The first time he spoke to me he sounded so discouraged, and his first words were, "Oh, it is so good to hear your voice." Then I think we both became very emotional. It was such a tug to my heart. Just like when he was a little boy, I  wanted to make things better for him. After I received his address from his recruiter, about a week after he left, I mailed a letter or card (with a note) six days per week. When I received the form letter about 10 or 11 days after he left, I was so excited! I sent him one of those questionnaires and received it back around 2/13 with a long letter enclosed - he sounded upbeat! The answers to the questionnaire were hilarious! I felt like I hit the jackpot!! Prayer has helped me a lot too. I pray for my son every day. Also, when periods of time passed when I did not hear anything, I worried whether he was okay. The ladies here are so right when they tell you "No news is good news." It is right on the money. Now we have less than two weeks to go before we travel to his PIR. I am so proud! Someone on the site said that the days are long but the weeks seem short - I totally agree. I wish you and your son all the best and will pray for reassurance and peace for you.

[Facebook PIR11/2]

Good Morning Harpist Mom,Thank you for your reply. Two weeks left! I know you are ecstatic! I can't imagine what you must have felt when your son said how good it was to hear your voice,I bet your heart fell into your stomach. It is so hard not to be able to get to them and take their pain away. I'm so happy to hear that your son sent an upbeat letter! I'll keep telling myself,no news is good news. Thank you again.I look forward to getting to know you. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

[MamaMia]

ColoradoMom is absolutely right.  Just know they are being taken care of and will be fine.  My son told me later boot camp was just a pain in the butt to get through to get to your real goals.  They are teaching them respect, independence and teamwork.  It's all part of a process, and they all lean on one another to get the tasks done.  It was really exciting to get that first phone call. I walked around with my cell phone day and night.  It's been a year for me now and it's still always good to get that call. 

[Facebook PIR11/2]

Good Morning, Mama Mia,  Thank you for your encouragement. I love the thought of my son coming home with a great sense of pride in his accomplishments. It's funny about the cell phone, I have never been so attached to a metal object in my life! I will not put it down for a second.Haha  I look forward to getting to know you,thanks again.

[Facebook PIR11/2]

Good Morning Penny,Thank you for your reply. Wow, our son's left just a few days apart. It makes me feel better to see that you're beginning to feel happiness.Have you received anything from your son yet? I will keep you in my prayers Penny. I am very proud of all of our children that have made this huge decision to be in the Navy. It speaks volumes on what great Mom's we are! :)  I look forward to getting to know you.  

[matt's mom]

Dear Jimmy's Mom and Penny,

I am Matt's Mom Joanne. We live outside of Atlanta in Peachtree City. Matt left on 2/16/2012. It was on of the hardest days of my life!!! I finally cleaned his room a couple of days ago. I cried , laughed and couldn't believe the amount of junk I found under his bed, gum wrappers, candy wrappers , and Pop Tart wrappers. When the box came it was so very hard. It came 6 days after he left. I got the form letter yesterday, it made me feel a little better to see his hand writing on the envelope and the two lines he wrote on the back of the form letter. Navy Moms have helped me out so very much!!!!! I am so thankful to everybody on it. New Mom's and Old Mom's have been wonderful with all the information.  The hardest thing is not speaking to them. Just by your Kid saying Hello you could tell how they are.  My prayers are for all children, parents,  and families.

[Facebook PIR11/2]

Thank you Matt's Mom, I haven't been able to go into Jimmy's room yet, I'm pretending in my mind that he's in there! ;)   I'm in Newnan,close to the square,about 8 miles from Peachtree City. Peachtree City has the best Coffee in their bookstore,I love Joe Mugs!   I am very thankful for this site,having a connection with all of you makes me feel closer to my son. Thank you and I'll keep everyone in my prayers as well. Jimmy called me about 30 minutes ago for paperwork, I was SO happy to hear his sweet voice! He sounds okay! Praise God! 

[jbr0001-USS Harry Truman-VAQ 130]

Hey I am orginal from Fayetteville and moved to Alabama..My son leave Mar 1, Not sure when your son left for BC but is good to see mom from my home state in Ga

 

j

[Chiquitos]

Hi, my name is Gracie and my son also left on Feb. 16, 2012.  He asked me not to cry so I did my best and didn't cry just got teary eye.  I live in Austin, Texas and he left from San Antonio, Texas and hour away.  I cried silently all the way home from San Antonio to Austin.  That night after he called that he had gotten to GL safely, I cried with all my might.  It was as if I was not myself and had no control over me.  I cried every day for the next week.  I finally had to go to the doctor because I wasn't sleeping and couldn't concentrate on anything.  This has got to be one of the hardest thing a mom has to do, let go of your child and let him become a man.  I did clean his room the next day after he left but because I wanted to have it clean for when he comes back, whenever that happens. I received the box right before a week and yesterday I received the form letter which made me so happy.  He wrote a brief note on the back but it meant the world to me.  I now want to know how much more time before I get an actual letter from him.  Even though I know that he is ok, today I was and still am a little sad, I miss hearing him, talking to him of how our day went.  It's extremely hard to not have him at home and am anxious to hear from him.  Some times I feel like I am going crazy, my younger son is much more stronger than me and keeps me on my feet.

[jbr0001-USS Harry Truman-VAQ 130]

Penny, my son is just behind yours is leaves Mar 1, and It is super hard to let me go but I know through the forum it will be good for them. I have the same feels and down time as the rest of the mom. Hang in there and let me know what you hear from your son so I can get a heads up. I will pray for all

 

j