sad and worried

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Permalink Reply by carols_kitchen on August 27, 2008 at 11:25pm

When is PIR? Is there anyone on your son's div who could share a ride? Have you found a division page or meet and greet page?
If you need help brainstorming, we will do so. I have to be gone for a few days to work things out with my Mom's nursing home (she just has more needs now.)
In the meantime, check with your local VFW or American Legion or your church to see if they can help with a short term loan for transportation.
God is good.

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Permalink Reply by Maripat..Matt's Mom on August 27, 2008 at 11:10pm

Maggie, My son is also a free spirit. His PIR was 8/15. He has not lost his spirit, he has matured into a wonderful man. He kept on saying during bootcamp, it was the best and worst decision he ever made. That weekend he said he missed the structure of boot camp. I hope you enjoy PIR. I don't know if you got to go to your husbands, but to see your child marching into that hall, there is nothing like it I'll never forget that feeling. It still gives me chills thinking of it. I'm so proud of my son and all the sons and daughters I saw at Great Lakes, recruits and sailors. They need our support. As the others have mentioned here, he has made it this far, he must want this not only to make his father proud but to make himself proud. And he deserves all the praise and love you can give. Enjoy the weekend and time with him.

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Permalink Reply by Pegi Davis on August 28, 2008 at 12:09am

Hi, Maggie: My son recently left for bootcamp and is now in week 3. We've supported his decision to join - both my husband and I served in the Army. My parents could not understand why I wanted to serve - I was talented musically and artistically, and I was a nurse - yet I was joining the Navy to become a Crew Chief on a Helicopter. I could not explain why I wanted to serve - I did know that I was looking for something that I had not found yet. But what I can tell you is that I had the most amazing experience - and that I found what I was looking for. Me. Your son has made a most noble choice to join. Support him, even if it is not what YOU wanted for him. It was his choice. While we may not always approve of the choices our children make, we will always love them. And they need to know this. Go to his graduation with a glad heart! Know that he had completed a very difficult program successfully. Celebrate that accomplishment - even if it isn't necessarily one that you would have chosen for him. You raised him to make his own way - and he is doing exactly what you have taught him to do. God Speed! Pegi

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Permalink Reply by Jerilynn Johnston on August 28, 2008 at 2:34am

Maggie,
I understand how you feel. I too was a Navy wife for 18 years. My husband didn’t want my son to join at first, so he tried something else for a few years but found out it wasn’t for him. He then made the choice to join the Navy. It has been hard, but we are very proud of him. You just need to support him the best you can and with time I’m sure your feelings about the military will change. It’s going to be okay and he will be just fine. Take care.

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Permalink Reply by Jan (Jason's Mom) on August 28, 2008 at 8:52am

Maggie:

You ask for some positive conversation and I hope this will help. My father, a former Marine, WWII vet, and Iwo Jima survivor, is a musician and composer. He spent a lot of time in the service and used his GI benefits to pay for college. He holds 7 advanced degree in music composition, theory, etc. A history book of the 4th marine division in the Pacific arena of WWII shows him with a pump organ that he played for the religious services they held after the battle. He also played in and then directed military orchestras. You fear for your son's talent as a musician and I tell you that my father was 18 years old when he fought on Iwo Jima and didn't see home for 4 years and yet was inspired by these events to write some powerful orchestrations both at the time and continuing through present day. You describe your son as a free spirit - now you have to trust that you did your job well and allow him to be that free spirit. It sounds like he will surprise you with what he achieves and while it all won't be warm and fuzzy by any means, he will be able to draw on it as an artist. My son, who is not a musician, also joined the Navy at a time that surprised me. I had my trepidations as well, but everything he is achieving now is amazing me. Is the military changing him? You bet - each letter shows me that my youngest son is becoming a young man with the heart of a lion and I am more proud of him than words can express. Believe in your son and have hope -

Jan

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Permalink Reply by Michelle (Ethan's Mom) on September 1, 2008 at 12:04am

I was concerned about my son for the same reason! He only turned 18 in mid-May, and went in on July 9th! Knowing how he railed against my few house rules, I can only imagine what a jolt it was for him to go into the military! His letters at the beginning were horrible, with him really hating it, and wanting to come home in the worst way. Now his letters and phone calls are telling me that he is his own man...the experience, now that he has adjusted, has been the best thing to have happened to him. He has really grown up, and now when he says something, there is a conviction to his words that he never had before. As a "free spirit", my son was also pretty wishy-washy. He just never seemed to have the confidence to be able to make up his mind and stand his ground. Now he can. If your son has gotten this far, he is well on his way toward going the distance!

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