My son went to RTC on May 21. When will I stop being sad?????

[angelalovesD(Ship 14 Div 274)]

My son left to BT on Tuesday.  I missed his "I'm here" call because it came in at 1:13 a.m. California time.  I have not been able to stop crying and being sad.  We are a single parent family and we are very close.  Any advice to help me is so welcome.  Thank you.

[Janai'sMom]

Hi Angela, you're going through the same emotions we all did when our SR's left.  The first week is the worst.  Once you get "the box" and then the form letter, it will be much easier.  You'll have a PIR date, and can join groups with other moms on the same time frame.  Start writing your letters now, keep them upbeat, postitive,and encouraging.  As soon as you get the form letter, start sending them off.  Letters from home are like Christmas to our SR's, and it really keeps them going.  It helps if you stay busy. Spend a lot of time on this site, it's amazing how much there is to learn!  Knowledge is a good thing, and it's a huge help if you know what he's doing.  Don't be afraid to be sad, we all have our good days and bad days, and we're all in this together.  You've got a great support system here.  It will get better soon.  Welcome to the Navy family!

[Ty'sMom1823 (ship 03 div 272)]

My son left on Thursday, 5/23....I got to talk to him while he was at the airport waiting for the other recruits to come in but his girlfriend got the call around midnight that he was there and she texted me...I was actually glad that he called her and that when I talked to him earlier I didn't know it was going to be the last time I talked to him!!  The hardest thing I have had to do as a mother was leave him at the airport all alone and scared to death...once he got to the destination airport he met some other recruits and felt better....the morning after he left I got on an airplane to Denver for a family wedding....got back home today and have to figure out how to get back in to my normal life without my son....I miss him terribly!!!  I hope our kids are all together forming new bonds and helping each other get through this.....I hope I receive "the box" this week and the form letter so we can at least write!!!

[angelalovesD(Ship 14 Div 274)]

Ty's Mom,

Since our son's left together for the same PIR date, I am tring to get us all to friend each other so we can go to the Meet and Greet at Sarge's and meet each other and give each Mom a hug.  I will friend you.  today, being Memorial day, was hard, and I took the week off last week, so now back to real life too with him.  :(  We are strong, we can do this.

[theresa27 ship 13 div.169]

I had the same thing happen when my son called, I lost the call since I was sleeping and was so nervous I disconnected the phone call. I didn't sleep that whole night but found out the next day he called his girlfriend and was fine and ready to get started with Boot-camp. when he called 2 or  3 wks. later I told him and he said it was O.K. He was fine at Boot-camp and told us not to worry because he was fine. I'm wondering if your son has someone else to call and to let you know he is doing well and will be O.K. at boot-camp too. :) He will call again soon :)

[angelalovesD(Ship 14 Div 274)]

Ha actually left a voice mail for me.  One I will save forever!

[5339kim]

Hi, my son also left May 21. And I am sad almost all the time too. If it weren't for my twin daugters it would be very diificult. They keep me laughing by watching them take over all my son old things. You are in my prayers.

 

[Irene(ship03 div 076)]

Ty's mom.first let me say you are going to survive this. I felt like my world crumbled under me when my son left for bootcamp. It gets easier once you have an address and can look forward to hearing from your son. Second they develope lifetime relationships with their shipmates. My son has a few of the guys that he was in the division with at bcin A school with him. One young man even stood in his wedding when his best man couldn't make it due to his wife having pregnancy complications. This young man jumped in with only five days notice and since the best man was wearing a military uniform the other guy just wore his uniform. That gives you some idea of the friendships developed at bootcamp. Hope this helps you make it through

[love-you-kayla]

My daughter left May 7.  I have been crying everyday.  This is not typical of me.  I am beside myself.  My daughter has called the last two saturdays and has been so distraught, distressed, homesick, and broken.  I have never heard her this sad. My daughter is head strong and knew this would be a challenge, but it's different now,I also want to send her a new bootcamp quesitionnaire but the page I went to did not work.

[aster]

love-you-kayla,

It is difficult to hear your child upset, crying. When my son was at RTC, one of his calls, he told me "this place s--ks".

They are tired, pushed beyond what they thought they could do, yelled at, lonely, missing family. His next call was upbeat (I got 4 calls the entire time he was there-the I'm here-the depressed one-can't wait to see you, our group is doing great and I'm a sailor call). Keep sending daily upbeat letters for encouragement, include funny notes, or stories (most of mine were originally e-mails). I will keep both of you in my thoughts and prayers. Now he talks about BC as no big deal....sort of like childbirth, horrible when going through, but when it's over, you are so overwhelmed with love for your baby, the bad stuff is put aside.

[skinkneelove]

My husband left the 21st also! I've been very sad but proud of him and what he is doing. I just got his form letter yesterday and box today. The small things like that keep me going! Just know you will see him soon :)

[Nerdlette's Mom]

My daughter left on May 15. We are a single parent family and she and I were practically inseparable. When I got the intial "I'm here" call, it hit me hard BUT I got a call a couple days ago because she needed additional names for her security clearance. I hung up from that call and cried like a baby. She was so worried about me being alone that I've tried to keep very positive in the letters I'm writing to her so she doesn't worry about me. But I do worry about her...is she getting sleep, is she eating...is she safe...is she doing well...all those questions...I cannot wait to get a letter from her!

Any way, what I have found that helps me the most is finding things to keep me busy when I'm not working. I also keep in touch with her best friend via facebook and sometimes we will chat about funny things my SR has done in the past and stuff like that. 

[Proud Navy Mom]

My son graduated boot camp  PIR on May 10. Try exercising daily...relieves frustration and in the end you will look FAB for her PIR graduation!!!  It does get easier after the long 20 min calls start.(about week 4)  Good luck to you :-)      Been there  Done that!!!!   God Bless.     And remember that she is SAFE.  Especially on a NAVAL BASE>