Son Leaving Soon

[Connors mom]

I have no idea if I am doing this right or not but here I go. My son is leaving for boot camp on 8/5/14. I have no idea what to expect. My heart is breaking and i feel so alone. I feel like I am being silly for being so emotional but it is going to be so hard.

[Connors mom]

I feel you pain momof3. I keep thinking "OK I get through this but then what?". It will never be the same. He will never "live" here again. I can't hug, kiss or smell him everyday. My son & I have a very strong relationship and I feel like I am not whole anymore. I have lost a part of me& him.

[momv]

Seeing my son leave for bootcamp was very hard!  Not talking to him everyday was even harder.  The first phone call you receive from bootcamp, when they first arrive will be so scripted.. be prepared.  But the next one in about 2-3 weeks is awesome!!!  When you see him on graduation day as a sailor, you will be the proudest mom on the planet!!  Stay strong and know that you are not the only mom who feels this way :)  GO NAVY!!!

[Connors mom]

Hello everyone! Thank you all for your support & kind words. I have not been on Navy4moms since my son left on the 5th. It has been difficult. We spent as much time as we could going down the night before & staying at the same hotel he was, going to dinner and just hanging out until his curfew. Went to MEPS in the morning and was able to watch him be sworn in. Very proud moment. Hardest day of my life. We were gone a day & a half til today & I am not doing well. Coming home and seeing his car here (for a brief moment I forgot he was gone), doing his laundry that was left from before he left, all these things are difficult. I feel physically sick. I can't get any motivation to move. I am worried sick for him. I want to hear his voice. If I am feeling like this, I can only imagine how hard this is for him. I hope it gets easier. Right now it doesn't feel like it ever will.

[WENDY]

Hang in there, he will need to know you are strong for him.  Don't get me wrong, cry because your sad he is not at home. But you have to believe he will be the strong person you raised.  He will make you proud!  It does seem to get easier day by day and in small bits.  Im only 3 weeks in and starting to look forward to graduation.  This site has helped alot, realize you are not the only one with these feelings.  And there are other moms out there to lend a ear and listen and help you through this time.  Make sure you write the day you get his address and tell him how proud you are of him. 

[Connors mom]

Thank you WENDY. I for sure will not let him know how am feeling. I did my best to keep it together before he left too. I do not want to make this harder than it already is for him. I have already sent him a card and letter. Got his address from his recruiter the day after he left.

[WENDY]

Wish I would have thought about that....lol.  You sound like you have the same relationship with your son that I have with mine.  Cried for days, and Oh good even cleaning his room...worst was getting his car ready to put in storage, driving it around, yep cried like a baby.  It does get easier, I promise.  I still have 5 weeks left but I am still positive about the experience.  I got the second call after he had been there 2 weeks ( left on the 17th of Jul and got the call on Aug 2) ONLY 2 minutes before someone starts yelling. Keep your cell handy...yea I take mine to the bathroom, I don't want to miss it.  

[lemonelephant]

Yes, the recruiters have access to the address soon after the Recruit arrives, but that info can change and the RTC has asked that loved ones wait on The Form Letter before mailing letters. If you just can't wait, please wait at least a week.

[dobimom]

I feel your pain. It has been a little over a week for mine and I still cry. We are all feeling the same way. Know you are not alone. It is ok to mourn the loss of what was... But know that he is doing what he wants. I'm sure he will do just fine. They are so busy there that I hope this time goes fast for them. As soon as you get the letter with his address send him some letters. It makes them so happy to hear what's going on back home. We just went a few to ours. Hang in there. You are not alone!

[allgurl74]

my son left in july and hes grauduating aug 15 i understand your pain just make sure you write to him as much as you can when the milatary sends you hid address

[lemonelephant]

The military doesn't send the address; the recruit does. The Form Letter is signed by Captain Dye, but it is the recruit who fills in the blanks and addresses the envelope.

[Connors mom]

lemonelephant when we went to the recruiters office on the way to MEPS his recuiter told me to call her in 2 days & she would have his address before the letter. Well they went ahead & called me before I had the chance & told me his address.

[lemonelephant]

I wish that recruiters would check out the info put out by the RTC.

Reasons to wait on The Form Letter:

1. The PAO at the RTC asks that loved ones wait on the form letter before mailing letters. See http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/fam_guide.asp.

2. The recruiter does not always give the right address and letters that do not have the correct address may be returned or may be delayed several weeks in getting to your recruit since it will not be a high priority for those in the mail room to look up the correct information.

3. Even if you do have the correct information, your recruit will not receive letters that are mailed before receiving the form letter much quicker, if at all, than letters mailed after receiving the form letter because recruits do not receive mail until they are in their permanent ship and a Recruit Mail Petty Officer is trained. The first Mail Call is on day 1-3 or 1-4 DOT.

***If it has been at least 2 calendar weeks since your SR arrived at the RTC and you don't have the form letter, then yes, it is fine to get the address from the recruiter and send letters. Double-check the info against that at http://bootcamp.navy.mil/contact_recruit.asp or Ship/Division--How it Works.