Not sure what to be doing at this point.

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Permalink Reply by RGIII on October 16, 2013 at 10:27am

Hang in there Rich. You are at the right place. You can also send your wife to navymoms. You will find just about everything you may want to know here or referenced on here from other sights. Before you know it you will be at Sarge's.

 

Rob

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Permalink Reply by Rich B on October 16, 2013 at 1:55pm

Thanks Rob,

My wife has been a part of Navymoms for some time now and she led me to this site. Thanks for the encouragement.
 
RGIII said:

Hang in there Rich. You are at the right place. You can also send your wife to navymoms. You will find just about everything you may want to know here or referenced on here from other sights. Before you know it you will be at Sarge's.

 

Rob

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Permalink Reply by Rich B on October 16, 2013 at 1:58pm

Thanks again Jim,

 

Love the info so far I have come across and it has helped in the unknown.  Just need to get myself back on track and not focus so much I guess...
 
NavyDads Co-Admin, Jim said:

I can only echo what RGIII said. You have come to the right place. Be sure to visit the boot camp group. There is an overwhelming amount of information there. Or hook up with a guy like RGIII who can help talk you through some things. 

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Phipps on October 17, 2013 at 9:00am

Rich,

I am also going through the same process since my step son who was sworn in back on 9/25. I have found myself watching the various videos about basic training and finding information on this site to better understand what each week will be like for the recruits. I also have watched my wife be part of navymoms and seen the wonderful support she has gotten from the other moms as well.

 

The day of the swearing in seems so long ago and the feeling of missing my SR has turned into excitement to see him at the PIR. It will not take not before you will get the letter giving you all the details about graduation and you will be making plans to go out to see him on that day.

 

Hang in there, it gets better.

 

Stephen

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Permalink Reply by Rich B on October 17, 2013 at 9:20am

Thanks Stephen,

 

Yes, The videos have been a huge help in the unknown. After watching them, It lets me know that he is already used to many of the things that will go on there as he has went through it at home. The attention to detail, work as a team, and so on is somthing I have always instilled in him. It makes me feel good that this will all come to light as he goes through this.

 

My wife has several friends now on Navymoms and they talk each other through the process. That has been wonderful for the both of us.

 

We await the boy in the box to get here at this point and look forward to the first letter that may come in 3 weeks. It cant get here soon enough as all of you know to well. We know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel but it seems so far away at this point. We know that will change as he progresses through this new adventure. We have tried to break it down to small goals so that it does not seem like so long.

 

Thanks again for your support Stephen
 
Stephen Phipps said:

Rich,

I am also going through the same process since my step son who was sworn in back on 9/25. I have found myself watching the various videos about basic training and finding information on this site to better understand what each week will be like for the recruits. I also have watched my wife be part of navymoms and seen the wonderful support she has gotten from the other moms as well.

 

The day of the swearing in seems so long ago and the feeling of missing my SR has turned into excitement to see him at the PIR. It will not take not before you will get the letter giving you all the details about graduation and you will be making plans to go out to see him on that day.

 

Hang in there, it gets better.

 

Stephen

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Permalink Reply by Brad on October 17, 2013 at 11:31am

I always advise parents to start writing down thoughts now. Write the letters as the emotions come to you. Believe me, he will appreciate your letters. Seal them up and number them on the back so you know the order and he knows what order to read them. You will be getting his address in about 10 days and you can start sending them out then. 

Also, find the various questionaires to send to your SR. It saves them time and helps you to know what to ask. The questions rarely change over the years. 

Also, keep your news to them upbeat. Send their favorite comic strips. Keep encouraging them. The first few weeks are by far the toughest. 

Don't worry if you are not getting phone calls and others are. Its all hit and miss. No news is good news. 

Then, start counting weeks, not days. Much easier if you watch the videos of what goes on for them each week, then count the fridays. Soon enough, it will be time for PIR. 

Attend PIR. It means more than you can imagine to them for you to be there. Even if they don't know it yet. 

Don't worry, all of us here have been where you are with many more questions than answers. Just know they are safer where they are than if they were partying at college somewhere. 

It will surprise you how much more they will appreciate you afterwards. This is their first real life's changing experience. Be happy you can share it with them. 

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Permalink Reply by Bill Schoonover on October 17, 2013 at 8:58pm

Hey Rich,

   We went through the same thing as our daughter left out 9/23.  Sat around most the time then all the sudden bam on the bus in a rush. Her mom musta cried all the way home from KC. "3 hr." driver.

        I can tell you when we got her first call "not counting when she got to Chi."  about 2 weeks later on a sat. morning it felt like a huge relief. She was really enjoying it and doing well. Tomorrow will start her 4th week and she's been allowed to call 3 times. Today was her 3rd call. We never know what day or time she can call but have been lucky so far we were able to answer and very lucky she's been allowed to call 3 times already.

                          So when you get that 1st call I bet you will feel the same. Be sure to write letters a lot. it helps...

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Permalink Reply by Rich B on October 18, 2013 at 6:30am

Thanks Brad and Bill, Just knowing that there are others that have (survived) this, is comforting in it's self. I am doing the writing now and trying to keep myself busy. Thanks again everyone for the support.

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Permalink Reply by Todd McCall on October 18, 2013 at 7:42am

Hi Rich,

My son left on 9/4 and my wife and I experienced everything you currently feel.  As others have said, it gets better each day. Walking by his room, seeing his car in the driveway, etc was hard at first, but your heartache will soon turn to pride.  After you get the first phone call, you will feel much better.  The toughest part is lack of communication and not knowing. I got a call about 2 weeks in and then another one a week later.  He called his gf last week too so he has been able to make 3 total.  I get a letter a week from him and try to write him most every day. The first couple of weeks are the toughest on both your SR and yourself.  Hoping to get the "I'm a Sailor" call soon and in just 2 weeks from today (11/1) I will be watching him graduate at PIR and bursting with pride.  You will be there before you know it.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Z on October 20, 2013 at 6:57pm

Rich..hang in there, I was a mess when my son first left since we have such a close relationship.  But after the experience of PIR and witnessing the changes I can not express in words how much pride I have in what the Sailor he has become.

Stick to this site, the built in support and abundence of information is second to none.  Network with other parents who are going through the same experience you are.

Write constantly, it means so much to the recruit.  Every Sailor I spoke with this weekend said it helped to lessen there home sickness during down times (they do not have alot of that though)

By all means, if you can, attend Sarges meet and greet.  The amount of information is great and it was nice to network with other parents we have spoken to over the past few weeks.

In the end it is all worth it.  When the door rises the experiece is overwhelming and the apprehension of the previous 9 weeks instantly fades away.

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Permalink Reply by Rich B on October 21, 2013 at 10:00am

Things are a little easier this week... The no news is good news works for me a bit. The support from everyone here has been great and has hit on stuff I did not even relize I had been doing. Have not received his box as of yet and it has been 6 days since he started his first day. I am very proud of him and have always hoped this would be the direction he would go, just never realized how hard it would be on my end to see him go. It will all be worth it in the end. Thanks to all....

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Permalink Reply by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on October 21, 2013 at 11:09am

Hi Rich - hang in there friend - it really does get easier.  On Wednesday it will be exactly one year since our son shipped to BC.  We had a nice long chat with him yesterday (as we do every Sunday) and asked about how he felt with it coming up on his year "anniversary".  He said he can't believe how fast it has all gone by - and how much he has accomplished.  He's currently in nuke school in So. Carolina - we've been lucky that we were able to go to PIR and then his A school grad in April.  We are scheduled to go back to SC for his Power School grad on Dec. 13th. Our son is 24 so he's a little older than some of the others but even still we can hear the "change" in him. He's so confidant and sure of himself - he has a purpose!  We miss him every day but we know that he is making a career for himself - the Navy is giving him opportunities that he otherwise wouldn't have.  We are so PROUD of him.  It is hard to let them go but at least we can all be thankful that we raised them well and the Navy will have fine young men and women to continue to work with!  Good luck to you and your SR in this journey....

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