son left yesterday 3/12, from colorado any one else?

[proudeodmommy]

got the call at 3:41 am.  Big hole inmy  hart, looking for anyone with a a child in bootcamp too

[phoebe stg2]

Good Morning proudeodmommy, Please join Colorado Mom's for coffee this Saturday at 9am. We try to meet once a month and we do packing parties for our troops. Find Colorado Moms and join our group. We're there for you all the way...

[Brenda]

I know exactly how you feel, and even though I still have my "moments" it does get easier.   It's hard to believe his PIR is this Friday, March 16.  We are so excited to see him and proud of him for all he's accomplished.  If you have concerns or questions, just go to this site...it has been a huge help to me during our son's time at bootcamp.  Everyone has been so good and kind in answering my questions and alleviating any fears and concerns I've had while he's been gone.

Brenda

[prayin'navymom Ship 009/Div.138]

Hi proudeomommy.........awe...bless your heart....you are in the right place. These first few days are extrememly hard!

This site has been such a blessing, and a much needed lifeline on the really emotional days since my son left on 3/7/12. Everyone here knows what you are feeling, so be sure and keep reading the different posts and take advantage of the videos that are posted in several different places. The videos allow you to see that this is truly an amazing journey they are on and really helped me a lot! You are not alone, and neither is your child :)

Take care smile n' God bless!   

[proudeodmommy]

I just need to stop crying, how long does that take.  I miss him sooo much

and Thank you VERY much, I Know God is in control,, and there are lot's of other boys out there in the same spot. and girls.  Just need someone who feels the same,

Thank you again,

brenda

[Jennifer G]

I dropped my son at the recruiter's Sunday 10 am then saw him for 6 minutes at the airport this morning.  I got the "call" at 6:14am.

I am in survival mode.  Everything is on auto-pilot.  Somehow I got up, got to work and wandered into the shower in the process.  I slept with his sweatshirt last night clutched like Linus and his blanket.

I think we are both exactly in the right place.

[proudeodmommy]

I know the feeling.......How do you stop crying.  Are you here in colorado?

[Jennifer G]

I am in NC.  

I cried out.  My head hurts to cry right now.  I just have to go into this auto mode and block everything out.  Best thing (at least for me) is not to dwell on it or to talk about it.  Busy yourself with something.  How clean is your refrigerator?  Underneath? Wash a dog... no dog, have a cat? wash him... do a crossword... bigfishgames.com... anything to keep your brain preoccupied.

Then tonight, margaritas and Xanax.  You'll sleep and drool like a baby.

Venti Quad Starbucks in the morning.  Repeat cycle.  

I did this when my mother died.  ANd one day, life became normal again and i laughed.  

[proudeodmommy]

You are so funny, Idid just those things, have dog, clean dog, next I am going to paint the deck tomorrow, didn't want to drink to much in case he called and I missed it.. not a problem just didn't sleep. Tonight, red wine, and tylanol PM...lol  Thank you I friended you also.

I went to work today, but was not very busy, it did help for a bit, but then my daughter called to see how I was doing, of course i sobbed.

Hope to talk to you more.

brenda

ps. taking dog for walk then to get shots at vet...lol

[Brenda]

I don't know if you ever stop crying....it just happens less often.  Like I mentioned earlier, our son graduates this Friday and I cried last night as I was packing some of his things that we are bringing to him.  I think it's because we now have a different "normal" and so does he.  It's another adjustment we have to make as our children grow up and leave the nest.  I went through the same thing when our older 2 daughters got married and moved away.  I'm so thankful to the Lord that He has been watching over him and that our son was very good about writing home.  I'm also thankful I have 2 daughters who are still at home : )

Brenda

[AaronsMom (Ship 04, Div 811)]

My son left yesterday also (3/12) from Texas.  Sunday when he was packing his bags and saying goodbye to his friends and siblings was the hardest day of my life.  He actually broke down when his friends were all gathered around, and I was able to go over and sit next to him on his bed and hug him and just sob with him.  It was a few moments I will forever cherish.  However, now every time I think of it, it just brings me to tears all over again.

He and I had watched all the Boot Camp videos together about processing and everything and read through details about the weeks of boot camp.  This helped me to know what he was going to be doing so I wasn't worried about the unknown.  This grief is a grief of my baby leaving home.  It's a grief of him never living under our roof again.  Everything I see or do makes me think of him.  We homeschooled since Kindergarten, so we were very close.  He was always here with me. He’s been here through every part of my day and every routine I have.  It’s impossible to do anything without thinking of him. My heart is sick.  There was no way to prepare for the depths of this pain                  

03/13/12, 5:07 a.m.  He called! And oh how wonderful to hear his voice! Now  back to crying . . .

I was on a euphoric high for about 5 minutes before I started crying again. I’ve been waiting for that call all night!  I woke up so often throughout the night to check my phone and make sure it was on, make sure I hadn’t missed his call. . .

He’s been up all this time (since Monday at 3:30 a.m.).  Doesn’t know when he’ll get to sleep.  I told him I had prayed for him all through the night and would continue all day.  He said they got their smurfs.  He didn’t call on the cell phone so I asked if he packed his box, and he said yes.  I asked if there was a bunch of yelling, and he said, “It’s not too bad.”  He said he would get another phone call in about three weeks, and I told him to write as soon as he could because we were anxious to hear all about it. 

It seemed to help so much to hear his voice.  I thought it would make it worse.  It’s like he’s not “gone”. He’s just somewhere. Until I hang up the phone. This grieving is hard. I was totally unprepared for this.  Someone on N4M said about 4 days of on and off crying before it starts to get better. 

Four days total, or four days since he’s actually been gone?  Because I cried Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, now I’m crying on Tuesday so far.  You think you’re fine and then there’s something you see, hear, or think of that just grips your heart and knocks you over with grief.  I’m exhausted from the crying. 

The crying is exhausting (the exhaustion makes me repeat myself).  I need a new normal.  It’s going to take some time to get used to this new hard life. I do hope it happens soon because it’s so hard to function in a tired depression and with a crying headache.

I'm so thankful for this website where I have already found so many with this grief in common...

[prayin'navymom Ship 009/Div.138]

Hi Aaron'sMom...Hang in there.

Just keep telling yourself...each day you face is one day closer to seeing him at PIR!

I agree - The crying is exhausting and will sneak up on you, but with each day, it becomes a little easier.

I saw my sons muffins in the freezer today (hel left 3/7/12) and bawled (he didn't get them all eaten before he left) - it's a Mom thing.

It sounds like you have a great releationship with him - that is such a blessing! Hugs to you!