Daughter leaving soon

[ModestoAngel (IT/ATF Pensacola)]

She hasn't left yet and I'm already missing her. I spend many nights crying myself to sleep. She has always been there. We are very close, my best friend, you could say. I hold strong around her so she doesn't change her mind. But as days get closer it gets harder.  I was hoping to be able to meet her at the airport and wait with her till she leaves but recruiter told me I couldn't. That was a bit hard to swallow. I'm not used to being there. Definitely not used to someone else being in charge of her. I've been a single mom since she was 3 and raised her pretty much alone. So this is really hard for me. I'm sure I'm not the only mom in this spot... but it sure feels lonely.

OK... done venting... I feel like a whiner but had to let that out of my system. Good luck to all of your future sailors.

[t'snavymom]

My son shipped 7/3. My daughter and I took him to the recruiter for about 2. Waited in New Orleans while he went to MEPS for about an hour and then met them at the hotel. we ate dinner with him and another recruit and then visited until about 7. Tuesday morning my daughter and I went to MEPS, watched him take his Oath, and took lots of pictures!!
The officer doing the Oath recognized me from the first oath & welcomed me back! My son left MEPS in a shuttle van but we met him at the airport-- his flight wasn't for about 5 hours so we had a long time to visit. Although I found out later there are passes to wait past security, we left when he went through security. You may want to check again and read on the Bootcamp area because lots of people do go to the MEPS and airport.

[ModestoAngel (IT/ATF Pensacola)]

I have heard a lot of people say that they were able to go back and stay with their recruit till they left as well... Thanks I will check into it.

Best wishes and luck to your son.

[bethr311]

ModestoAngel, I'm pretty much in your shoes, but a couple weeks ahead. My son is my only child and we've been on our own for 15 years. I tried hard not to make him too much my "companion" but some of that is inevitable.
I will say that I cried all day the day my son left, July 11, and have teared up daily since then, but not full on cried. Lord help me when his box comes! I have lost a lot of enthusiasm for life overall. I'm tired all the time and everything feels like work. Going to the gym takes massive effort, but as always, when I'm done I'm glad I did. I really do think exercise helps balance out mood swings.
I've started writing Sean and will probably call the recruiter tomorrow to see if he has an address. I can't wait for a letter!!!!!!
Come here and vent as much as you want or PM me (I hate the Facebook format). I really think it helps. You are doing the right thing being strong for your daughter. My son saw some tears from me but not a full on cry. He was scared enough.
Do some fun things with her before she goes. I put everything else on the back burner in Sean's last two weeks at home (and gained five pounds, sigh). You'll never regret it. But you may not get everything in either. I lost one of my last two weeks with my son. We lost power for six days after a terrible storm and in a major heat wave, we had to stay with separate friends with power and AC.
Hugs Mom!
Beth

[ModestoAngel (IT/ATF Pensacola)]

Hugs, Beth. So comforting I'm not alone, but at same time I hate to see any parent, as myself, miss their child. I have a lot of things planned with her this week. Tomorrow, taking her to go see Kellie Pickler at the County Fair. Have some lunch  plans, and next Sunday, will be having a going away party for her. A lot of family will be there to offer their support and gratitude for what she is doing. I'm very proud of her.

Yes, life has become a struggle. She  has not left yet so I'm afraid of what will happen then. The gym sounds like a great idea.

[christy]

wow! Your story so rings home here. I too, raised my girls alone and are very close as well. My daughter, Tasha, left on July 2nd and arrived in GL on July 3rd.... it has been so hard and i know exactly what you are going through... very bitter sweet!

i still cry everyday and i think of her every single second!! i don't see that ever changing until she comes home! i wish you and her luck!!

[ModestoAngel (IT/ATF Pensacola)]

Thanks Christy... hugs

Best of luck to you daughter.

[Worried Mama Ship14/Div300]

Sadly, I know exactly what you are going through. My son is leaving the 23rd and I cry all the time. Never in front of him, as I want him to leave with a clear mind and know he made the right decision. As the time gets closer, thats becoming more difficult to do. There is alot of wonderful, supportive moms on here that are a wealth of information and comfort that I hope you will lean on as you need to! Our recruiter has given us some conflicting info as well, but our plan (our as in my family) is to bring him to the recruiter and have some extended family & friends meet there for a little farewell, then meet up with him at meps, spend time with him that night take him to a nice dinner and watch him take his oath the next morning. From there, we will say goodbye. The thought of extending the goodbye through the airport is honestly, too much for me to bear. I dont want to drag out the emotional stuff for him for too long, I want to give him some time to be alone and at peace with himself before it all begins for him. It is he who needs to get himself through bootcamp, and I want him to mentally prepare for that. We are an extremely close family, and I believe the part of leaving the family will be the hardest for my son. He has done ROTC in HS and has excelled in it, doing leadership academy and various trips to naval sites. He will be going in as an E3, so I know he has the basics down pat and in some aspects, might be ahead of the game. My fear is, he is my baby. I baby him and have from the day he was born. Although we have 2 other children whom are equally adored, for some reason he was always the one who has always tugged on my heart the strongest. And as a result, I am taking his leaving the hardest. I guess most moms feel similarly, and reading those feelings here has helped ease alot of the pain for me, but it also feels like Im the only one in the world feeling this impending doom. Dont get me wrong, I am so proud and honored to say my son chose this path in life, the Navy will take the amazing boy I created and give him even more training to be the best he can be - but I also would be lying if I said I didnt feel a little resentment thinking Ive raised a good kid, who will be in the hands of someone else now and THEY will get the benefit of seeing his accomplishments. I genuinely love hanging out with my kid. I know he cant be standing by my side forever, but he will forever be in my heart. I know you feel the same about your daughter. I have to tell you, I watch the girls in the recruiting station and I am in awe. Congratulations to you for raising a strong, dedicated young woman. I could never do what I have seen these girls do, and they make it look so easy! Im sure your daughter will get in there and really show 'em what shes made of! You didnt say when she is scheduled to leave, Im guessing its very soon? I wish you and your daughter all the very best, and please know you are among people who truly do understand what you are going through. Please, keep in touch, I think we all could use all the companionship we could get at this point! Feel free to friend me and chat any time.

[ModestoAngel (IT/ATF Pensacola)]

Hopefully this won't be a double post, I had to refresh page and try again.....

My daughter had planned to join the navy 2 years ago. My ex son was a Navy Corpsman, and unfortunately was killed in Afghanistan. So he became an inspiration to my daughter and she wanted to join the Navy as well. She was gonna sign up with the Navy Sea Cadets, but decided not to do it and was rethinking her decision to join the Navy. She felt that she didn't have enough reasons to go in. But this past December she came to me and said that the Navy is what she wanted to do... It happen so fast by a few weeks later she had went to MEPS and was sworn in on Jan 11. If she had went into the sea cadets she would have also went in as an E3.

As you, I have 2 other children here at home. I love them just as much as my daughter. But my daughter and I have a bond that can't be broken. We joke around a lot saying she is my other half of my brain. We always finish each others thoughts. Even when on facebook we seem to post the same thing at the same time. I'm very proud of her and support what she is doing. It's just hard to see her go. I know if she knows how much it bothers me that she is leaving, she won't go. So I hold as strong as I can.

She leaves July 23 for MEPS. She will fly out July 24 to GL. Our kids will probably have the same PIR date.

Good luck to your son, best wishes to you. I will for sure keep in contact.

[Worried Mama Ship14/Div300]

Ugh, you are just as strong as your daughter! Im sorry for the loss of your son, that must only compound the fears of letting go of your daughter. As a mom, I just couldnt imagine. As a worrier, Id be off the wall! Haha! I think its a true sign of courage that your daughter, although maybe second guessed herself for a minute, has decided to use her brother as inspiration and make you all proud. Kudos to you for giving her that foresight to believe in herself. I could learn a thing or two from you both! Im just a wreck here, sobbing my eyes out at the slightest thing. I took my youngest back to school shopping last night, and instinctively just walked through the young mens dept. and it hit me...that piece of time is gone, and the tears began. And you know once those tears start, theres no putting them back! I bought him an outfit anyway, for old times sake, and gave it to him last night sorta jokingly that he could wear it once he graduates. I also took that time to tell him that I could not be more proud of his decision and am excited to see all that he is to become. I explained that I will cry when hes leaving, that its only normal for a mother to worry about and miss her kid, and that he should never feel guilt or worry for me, that I need him to focus on himself and do the best he can. I will be ok and have faith he will be ok. I told him that for 18 years it was my job to care for him and his needs and I will never stop, I just have to learn how to do it a different way, and it will be an adjustment for both of us. I said a bunch of other positive, loving things but to be honest I dont know what they were because I was on auto pilot with the biggest fake smile plastered across my face so I wouldnt get too emotional and sappy!! I will be thinking of you this week, and Monday for sure! We will have to lean on eachother to get through, and hopefully at the end of all this we can be the loudest cheerleaders at PIR!! Hang in there!