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?

[omama]

I was told my son would fly out on Saturady morning a week before graduation, but then the day before graduation it was changed to monday, so he was able to spend 3 days with us before he left. so it is hard to plan, we made it so we were flexable to stay 1 day or 3 and just had to get a few extra days hotel stay, we a stayed at the  Navy Inn, and they were awesome.

[MattsMom (Division 212)]

Just want to say to all "New" boot camp Moms:

         We are strong, even when we feel like our hearts will shatter into a thousand little pieces! You can try all you want to prepare yourself but it will NOT do any good, when they leave, it hurts and thats all there is to it! But do not fear, you will make it! They day my son left I cried none stop for 6 days, felt like there was a mile wide whole in my heart that would never heal! In the first 7-8 days I couldn't smile, laugh or enjoy life, felt like I never would again! The Box came home and WOW!!  Was taken right back to saying goodbye again! Had a guilty feeling if I slipped and smiled or laughed, as a Mom it's hurts when we don't know if our kids are ok, can't have daily contact with them or hear their voice, especially when it's what your used to! The hardest part for me was knowing he wasn't hearing "I love you", I know he knows it, but that didn't help me feel better about it! And that's coming from a Mom that tells her kids 100 times a day "I love you!" But one morning I woke up and my first thought that day was..... I'm NOT crying!!!! It was glorious! My second thought was... Wow now I get to be full of PRIDE not sorrow! Now we got our first real letters and it's ok. I'm not saying it's cake, but it is easier now. I still get sad and cry at times, and I know that's ok too, but I promise it does get easier!!

Thank God and Facebook lol I found N4M's!! This place is heaven on a website! There is lots & lots info here, just look around, ask questions if you need to and feel no shame in saying, HELP ME! What I found here is No judgement, no drama and all the support any mom/wife/gf/family could need!

Hope I didn't bore anyone, but it makes me feel better getting that out! Thanks N4M's for saving my sanity!!!

[singlelady]

wow...i really needed this today and thanks so much for sharing...my tears are becoming less because now i am focused on the day i get to see him graduate and see his precious, smiling face...and i too, like you, told him a thousand times a day "i love you"...there's a part of me that feels like my world has been turned up-side down and i have no life anymore, so afraid he will forget me because he's on to bigger and better things in life, more than i could ever give him...but the pride is there in a big way, he's decided to do something good with his life and i remind him in letters i have begun already that he has made a great decision...he will make our family proud...being a single parent for so many years and devoting all my time, life and energy to only him, has not been easy and he's all i have, so when i left him after the swearing in ceremony, well, let's just say i can't put into words how i felt...i still feel like i should be the one taking care of him, no one else...it will get better, i am thinking positive and i appreciate anyone that writes on N4M's...it really helps...hope everyone has a blessed day!  God is good!

[LinsMom Ship03 Div176 PIR 6/8]

I had no idea how heart wrenching this would be.  The way I felt the day I left my daughter  at the recruiters office...then going to dinner later that evening...(we called it the "last supper")....then dropping her off at hotel.... then next day at MEPS waiting for hours.....then the ceremony.....then goodbye.  When I left MEPS she was going to eat lunch with the other recruits in the lunch room.  I felt like it was her first day at kindergarten and I was sending her in to sit with the other boys and girls.  It was VERY tough to know I wouldn't see her again for several months!  When I came back to the house everything reminded me of her.  I went in her empty room and cried.  Yeah, this is a new feeling..... I have never felt as a parent.  Thank goodness for this site ... the support is awesome.  We all hurt for our children and for ourselves...but the sense of pride I have for what our kids are doing certainly compensates for all the tears.

[ellen0502]

As I sit her anxiously awaiting the "I Am A Sailor" call and am packing for PIR this Friday, I look back on the last few weeks, it really does go by quickly. The wait for this phone call seems to be taking as many weeks as the whole BC did and its only been a few hours. :)

  My son had pneumonia, wisdom teeth pulled etc. in BC and I just wanted to be there feeding him soup and to tuck him in to bed and tell him I loved him (lol he is 26). All of what you are feeling is quite normal, take a deep breath, keep reading things on this site and keep your PIR date in mind. Count the number of Fridays before your PIR and start clicking them off. Time will start moving when you start getting mail from them. 

Hang in there ladies "no news is good news" really holds true, you'll make it through I promise.

[singlelady]

i am making reservations for my PIR as we "speak" per say...the date is june 1st!!!!...i am so nervous yet so extremely excited i don't know what to do...i just can't wait to see my sailors face and all this planning is going to be like a lil' many vacation...mailed my first letter to him today and have many more to send...i just want to hear from him so badly...i need to hear that handsome voice and i need to know he's ok!  praying for all you moms that are waiting on the call or letter!

[BunkerQB]

You should read the comments on your personal page. Click MY PAGE on the above menu bar. A number of people have left you messages (myself included). You should read all the stuff in the Survival Guide and immediately join the PIR group for June 1st. There you'll meet up with other parents/wives/gfs with loved ones graduating on the same date. I know this site is a lot to take in on short notice. Sounds like you are doing just fine. But start reading!  Good luck and thank your sailor recruit for us.

[Tylersmom]

I am so glad to hear that I am not crazy.  Since my son flew out on April 4th I have been crying.  I thought I had it under control until I started reading everyone on this site.  It is nice to know that there is someone out there and knows exactly how you feel. My son is my youngest so it really has been an adjustment for me but I heard from him today and I have been crying and laughing all at the same time.  I made my reservations for his graduation on June 1st and I am looking forward to meeting you guys just so I can say thank you in person because you all are making this easier for me.  I have gotten so much information for you all just in a few days.  My son is going to be air crew and his A school is going to be in Pennsacola. Florida.  Sorry for my misspelling anyone else going to be there??? I would like to know that he has someone from bc going to be with him

[singlelady]

my son will graduate on june 1st as well, i may have said this already so forgive if i repeat!  LOL!  my family and i have reservations at the Red Carpet Inn....1.5 miles from base, about 30 miles from O'Hare...he is going into the medical field so he should be going to san antonio or san diago...of course i'm hoping for san antonio, much closer to louisiana...and i pray he goes with someone in his group as well...don't want him to feel alone, though he would never admit it...i am just so beside myself, i have not heard from him yet, i did get the paperwork with his address and sent letters, just running home everyday on my lunch break to ck the mail...

[jenny's mom]

well my daugher will be graduating on  april 27 and i am so excited!! it was 3 weeks befor they can write and she has got to call home 4 times and still waiting for my{ i am a sailor call} this is a wonderful site and at first they can only write you on sundays so i would get my letter on thursday ,oh i would waite by the window to see when the mail man would run but it does get alittle easy because your sad goes to proud and the letters get better and well i only got 6 more days left and i get to see my sailor .. keep the faith because it wont be long untill he will be graduatin

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

jenny's mom  here is the link to your PIR group

 

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir042712

[singlelady]

so 3 wks?  oh my...i have one more week maybe...i run home every day at lunch and NO MAIL!! anyway i just want to hear he's ok and that, maybe, he misses me too...and not in a sad way, do you know what i mean?  i don't want him to be sad at all, just would love to know he misses me some...guess that sounds selfish...anyways, love this site and hope everyone has a blessed weekend and God bless to those graduating soon!