My son leaves Nov. 6 for boot camp

[corbie (Ship 12 Div 047)]

Hi! My 2nd son is scheduled to leave for boot camp on 11/6/12. We are learning some of the ropes as my oldest son is at Great Lakes right now, he left on 8/28/12. So not looking forward to reliving all this again, but I think they are making great choices for their lives.

[Leisure-Ley]

Hi Corbie.... my son leaves in Nov also and my other son just completed bootcamp at Great Lakes on Friday. PIR is amazing. I understand how you feel we are in the same situation. I'm at Chicago airport waiting for my flight back to CT. It an emotional ride. we can be for each other. ~ Leyann

[corbie (Ship 12 Div 047)]

Yes, it definitely is an emotional ride..Hoping it gets easier quickly. There is not much support here for me, as husband is well a dad (lol). He was in the Navy years ago and is proud of our son, just not as emotional as I am. Other family/friends compared it to my son going to college, which is no where close to the same at least not while in boot camp. I had a lady go off on me that my son went into the service in the middle of a store when she heard my oldest was at boot camp. Took all I had in me to not cry out of frustration and stand my ground as it is a great thing we have wonderful children willing to join to defend our country, as she was putting down my son's decision :(  I guess people just don't think before they open their mouths.

[clevelandmom]

OMG I would have cried or slapped her around the store with "My U.S.Navy..A  Global Force For Good " ball cap....how does she thinks this country came to be? I believe there is no greater honor for a mom than to have her son or daughter want to serve their country. Each time one of my co-workers or friends had a child enlist I could see the pride and watch the way people came and thanked them and their kid for joining. I spent seven years as a high school nurse and watched many recruiters talk to many students and every time one of those young ladies or men came home on leave and visited my clinic I was just so impressed with the maturity and respect they aquired from military life...I hope that lady is embarrassed if she dares to repeat the incident to anyone. Please Enjoy your October, home with your son and my best to you and your whole family.

[corbie (Ship 12 Div 047)]

I am not sure what the woman thinks, she even shared how a recruiter called her home recently and she all but completely cussed him out. The woman was married to a sailor, he is a huge jerk, as my husband pointed out that was his personallity and not something he learned in the Navy. We are in a smaller town so not much choice for kids unless they go to college and actually move to a larger area. I had a bright pink hoodie personalized with a quote:  "There is nothing better than being a Navy Sailor, Yes there is.. being a proud Navy Mom". I can proudly wear. I plan on getting another one made once my 2nd son is almost done in boot camp with both my boys names on it. I will say the tears are farther in between now, mainly since I do get letters and had a phone call last week from my oldest. His PIR is for 10/26 and then my 2nd son leaves for Great Lakes I believe the 11/6. This has been the toughest months of my life, but also the proudest I have been of my boys.

[clevelandmom]

 I understand about the emotional roler coaster..sometimes I cant wait for my sons boot camp to start and other times I get scared and think "Oh maybe I shouldn't have encouraged this so much, ships are so big, the equipment is so big and scarey, the Ocean is so Big and Scarey it sounds like the people in charge of boot camp are big and scarey...what did I encourage my boy to do?) then other times like today I see him writting letters (long hand written letters, wow) to his friends who are already at A school and his friend at B/C and I think maybe he is maturing. Can a kid who thinks the towels automatically go from a damp mess on his floor to clean and neatly folded in the linen closet actually get thru Boot Camp??? Gosh I hope so and each day I feel a little better about it. Wow I sound like a nut..thanks for letting me rant..no wonder my sons want to get away and see the world...LOL.      Just 21 days till your first sons PIR..then less than two weeks till you are a B/C mom again..thats alot of stress, but I hope it is easier for you knowing your older boy did ok. With your younger going in on 11/6 when do you think his PIR will be? I am just sort of sad about my boy being in over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. (he leaves for B/C 11/13.) Oh well take care of yourself and Be Proud.

[corbie (Ship 12 Div 047)]

I wondered the same thing about how my boys would be able to survive boot camp, I don't even know if he can make a bed, lol. I am having the same mixed feeling, with my oldest time just went really fast and the next thing I knew he was at boot camp, my 2nd is still waiting some days I wish the recruiter would call with an earlier date (almost happened a couple days ago, but fell through). Other days I think how did both my boys get so old and why would they want to be so far from home, reality quickly hits on how this is really a good thing for both of them (just not for their mom).
I am getting really excited to go to PIR it can't come quick enough, On the other side, not sure about letting go of other son. I guess the positive outlook is I know what to expect and it will be easier to deal with knowing roughly when I will get letters and the few phone calls. I think we are guess his PIR will be maybe the first week of January. The oldest left 8/28 and PIR is 10/26, but he had a lot of processing days and from what I have read it can effect the PIR date  for the group. Best advice enjoy you son while he's at home.

[clevelandmom]

I guess this site really is a blessing for us moms. It has only just recently hit me that my son really is grown up and is going to be in The U.S.Navy. We had a little tiff yesterday about the fact that we never have any Scotch Tape in our house. He needed it to wrap a present for his girlfriend. I said "I hardly ever buy Scotch tape because every time I do, you and your sister tape together everything in the whole house and use it up in a day or two" He looked at me like I was crazy and said "For cryin out loud Ma we aren't 5years old any more, we know how to use tape"  I replied with "Well if you are so smart, go buy your own Scotch Tape" and I left for work. Well I got up this morning & went into the bathroom. I saw something on the mirror (too high for me or his sister to read) and was I suprised and PROUD to see that taped to the mirror was" The Sailors Creed". That is all I have to say for today. Have a great weekend with your future sailors and it is pretty cool to be part of something sooo huge in our kids lives.

[clevelandmom]

to alohacoffee,Hi, where is your son leaving from? with your name i was wondering if you are from hawaii?

[Paula's/son/corpsman/]

My son too, Nov 6th!

[clevelandmom]

You are probably enroute to your sons PIR or at one of the meet and greets but I just wanted to say I am thinking about you and your sailors. Enjoy the week-end and please check in with us and fill us in on all the awesomeness of the graduation ceremony when you get a chance..and thank you for being a good mom and raising children who are proud to serve our great nation.

 

[corbie (Ship 12 Div 047)]

We are leaving in just a couple hours, sooo excited. I can't wait to see my son, the "I'm a sailor" call on Monday was emotional :') Thank you for thinking of us. I am so proud of my boys for choosing this route in life, as well as I am so proud of all of the young adults the moms have raised to keep us safe while serving our nation. :)
I have to say I don't know how prepared I am to go through this ride again in less then 2 weeks, but getting the I did it mom, I'm a sailor call was so emotional and exciting. I will say I did pack tissues for tomorrow's ceremony, lol

[corbie (Ship 12 Div 047)]

PIR was emotional and amazing to see your child after all the weeks waiting, the pride is indescribable.The drill team and band were wonderful. I will say the earlier you arrive the better. We arrive at the gate by 6:05am and it took only 15 minutes to get on base.
I was lucky that my son was staying at Great Lakes after PIR, some others were only able to see their families for Friday as they flew out early Saturday night. With him staying at GL after he checked into main side of base we were able to pick him up and then spend Saturday and Sunday with him. I was a little worried how much he would have changed, but he was still his silly self which was a huge relief. It was fantastic meeting a few of the sailors from his group, I was also hoping to meet some of the moms from here, but that didn't happen.