Need Some Advice and Help - Son shipped out on 4/23/13

[Alex's Mom]

My son left for Great Lakes on 4/23/13, the catch?  He left angry with me..........I am hoping that someone else's son has the same ship out date so I can keep informed here on N4M.  Any help will be appreciated from you.  I know I need to wait for my son to reach out to me when he grows up a bit but still want to be part of what he is doing here.

Hey he does not need to know:)

 

Ingrid

[Alex's Mom]

Kim, me too.  I have been away for the last couple of days so when I get home today I am truly hoping it will be in my mailbox.  I will keep you posted.  I made French toast for breakfast this morning and had a mini breakdown as I always made this for my SR........ahhh, the heartache can be intense.

[Tiffani]

Hello Alex's mom.. My husband shipped for the Great Lakes o. The 23rd as well. I got the I'm here call about 11pm that night. He sounded tired as well. I am also waiting for the BOX and letter for the address. But I am already writing him so I can just send when I get the letter. I would love to share info with you.

[Alex's Mom]

Hi Tiffani!  It makes me feel sad, my son did not call but on the same token, I knew he would not.  He has some issues to sort through and I know eventually I will hear from him but I do not think it will be anytime soon.  What is the BOX?  My son left here saying he did not want to ever look back.......I am giving him his space and when he gets a handle on his anger, I sure hope at that point he will reach out to me.  No one that I know of has heard from him.  Please keep me posted.  If you can find out from hubby at some point if he knows my son, at least I will know some info.  I am grateful for this site and hope it will give me a bit of peace.

Ingrid

[lemonelephant]

Arrival and What Happens at the RTC within Boot Camp Moms (and loved ones) will let you know what is happening and will tell you about "the box" as well as other things.

[Tiffani]

The BOX is a box you get in the mail with all the items they took with them that they can't keep with them like the change of clothes they wore there and their phone if they took one.. Ect. It will be shipped to the home address they put down. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I'm sure he will come around soon.

[Alex's Mom]

Thanks Tiffani......I am hoping.  Keeping really busy and just praying he will come around. 

[Kim~Made it to the fleet!]

Hi Alex's mom!   Did you receive a box yet with his personal items?  Looks like a lot of us moms received them yesterday and probably today depending on where you live.    My fingers are crossed that we receive our letters in a day or two.  I will let you know when mine arrives.   I'm sure your son has had some hard time to think about what's important in life right now,  here's hoping he will come around to you and share this experience with you!    

[Alex's Mom]

No box but I have a feeling he will not send his personal stuff home, just hoping I get the letter.  Keep me posted.  I did receive a call from his DEP Officer who is going to see if he can find out his division and ship number.  Crossing my fingers.  Will keep checking on here to see when other mom's get their letters.

[Concernedad]

Receiving the box is not a given. Many sailors will just give away their clothes they arrived with. You should, however, be receiving a letter with his mailing address within a week or so. If you don't, you can contact his recruiter and they will have it. I would suggest writing some letters to send to him, and number the outside of the envelope. Hold on to them until you do find his address. Just keep in mind, your sailor is about to go through something he has never encountered and what he needs now is encouragement and positive motivation. There are some great questionnaires on this website you can also send to him.

If you are able to attend his PIR, I'm sure it would mean the world to him. It's amazing what 7 weeks of Boot Camp can do to change their attitude.

[Alex's Mom]

Thank you for your words of advice.  I read here on the site that I have to receive an invite from my recruit.  I want more than anything to go to his PIR but I also need to have that invite from him.  If I receive that, I will definitely go.  I was wondering if I could attend on another recruits invitation if someone does not need all four invites for their own family.  My son's anger is very deep seated and the advice I have been given from many is to just wait it out for my son to reach out to me as I have done all I could to get through to him.  Trust me, this is very difficult and I cry often just saying his name.  I am waiting on his Officer to give me his division and ship so that I can write but still not sure if I should.  My son's recruiter will not return my calls, so not quite sure what Alex has told him.  I am in quite a difficult and painful situation and there is no real reason for this anger.  I have asked him over and over again why so much anger with no answer in return so I just think he needs time away and to think on it.  I am hoping for that letter as that will then open the door. 

[lemonelephant]

No, the RTC considers it a breach of security for a recruit to put someone on his/her Access List that s/he does not know. The SR would get in BIG trouble if s/he were to do so. I do hope that your SR lists you among his 4 PIR guests. 

[Alex's Mom]

Well, I sure hope that invite comes.  Is that what is part of the letter that everyone is waiting on?  I am just hoping a bit of time in BC will have my SR thinking differently.