DIFFERENCE

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Permalink Reply by Dee on September 17, 2008 at 12:28am

Robin,
One of my favorite pics was taken PIR weekend while my son and I were walking on Navy Pier in Chicago with my arm in his He ilooking down at me and I am looking up at him. IT IS PRICELESS! He, too, is a foot taller than I am. Remember it is always on the left side so they can salute with the right if needed.

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Permalink Reply by Robin on September 17, 2008 at 8:09am

Aww.. I wish my sister was paying attention to that one.. I would have loved a pic of that! And a big "oops".. I did it on the right side....

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Ann on September 17, 2008 at 8:17am

Hello to all, I am a Navy Wife and a newbie to all of this so please bare with me. I just read lots of wonderful thing about how positive the changes were, however I am extremely concerned about the changes that I will see. I guess the major difference it that we are in a much older group than the young men and women that join the armed forces. My husband is 27 years old and will have his PIR on 10/17. We will be married 2 years in 5 days, however I have known him for 19 years. The reason for my concern it that I am married to him and ALL I HEAR is he will be a completely different man when he gets out of BC. What if he is, what if that winds up being great for HIM, but bad for US. Am I just way over thinking this or do I have a legit concern?

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca M. on September 17, 2008 at 1:40pm

Being married to him and your husband being 27..he probably won't change a whole lot. He may be a neat freak...that's not such a bad thing. I think most of the moms here are talking about the change from their teenage son to a man change. Your husband was already a man. Don't worry.

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Permalink Reply by Dianne on September 17, 2008 at 1:42pm

Lisa Ann ~ I think you are putting the cart before the horse. I'm sure him coming out of boot camp being more respectful and polite will be a good thing for BOTH of you! Let us know how it turns out.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Ann on September 17, 2008 at 3:45pm

Ok now you sound like my husband :0) I worry way too much!!!! Christopher is a WONDERFUL man!!! Honestly if I could chose to change anything it would be the trivial stuff. He is ALWAYS late, he has NO organization skills, he does not multi task, and because he is so incredibly smart that he does not posses a lot of common sense. However, he was made Yeoman of his Division and in his words "everything happens for a reason and God has a sick sense of humor" For those who may not know the Yeoman is just like a secretary. He does schedules and makes sure everyone is where they need to be and ON TIME!!!! When I read that in his letter I almost wet my pants laughing so hard. So when I am not feeling sorry for myself, cause I miss him so much, I know that this is exactly what he needs to get that aspect of his life in order. He is a computer genius, however the day to day living has always been a challenge. I however am extremely OCD and have my way of doing everything. So this should be interesting. He may actually come out worse than me :0) Thank you all for your words of encouragement and I am so looking forward to 10/17 when I get to meet my new and improved Sailor. I truly and honestly feel that this was one of the bravest things my husband could have ever do for us and our children and I am so incredibly in LOVE with him!!!!!! Thank you again!!!

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Permalink Reply by Dianne on September 17, 2008 at 4:21pm

Listen, I think most of us in here WORRY about EVERYTHING!! lol It sounds from his letters that he is changing for the better already!! You are so welcome and anytime you need to talk just send me a note! Take care.

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Permalink Reply by Carol F. on September 17, 2008 at 4:59pm

The Navy will get him to BE ON TIME! He won't be late except once and then he will suffer and he will never be late again!
Plus he will become very organized and will be able to multi-task.
My son will graduate next week and already in his letter I see him change for the better. He is 21 years old, a man, but still went in as a kid I think but will come out a man again for the better.
He will be fine.

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Permalink Reply by Robin on September 17, 2008 at 2:04pm

I think what everyone is experiencing is a "redefined" change. Fine tuned so to speak? Kids are different than grown men. I have to say that my son is very mature, but his outlook is different now, he is still the same person, but with a different direction outside of the home life. Now he is on his own and has a different view as to what life is going to be for the next several years- AWAY from the comforts of HOME. I can't imagine your hubby changing as much as our sons/daughters have. I seriously don't think your hubby will have "changed" too much.

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Permalink Reply by Christy Adams on September 17, 2008 at 10:00am

My son PIR 10/3 I will have to say I really loved him exactly the way he was before - I am scared to see the changes! I am afraid I won't like my new son. I feel nervous that maybe he has changed so much he won't fit into the family like before. All of my kids are going to PIR, and of course I have the great big famly weekend dream in my head - I hope I'm not dissappointed. I can't WAIT to see him, but I will have to say I am VERY anxious.....

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Permalink Reply by carols_kitchen on September 17, 2008 at 5:13pm

Christy--I think the other kids will realize they now have a "big brother" to look up to, even if one of them is older. He may be more quiet and reserved, but the personality you love is still there. Our sailor at first did not know what to order for lunch because he was only used to 2 choices. So, that is normal.
He really relaxed in the pool, and took time to go to the hotel computer and update his facebook page--that was the normal.
When they run into each other around the Chicago area, expect your son's shipmates to really be happy to see each other. We became the "people hanging around behind our son" and met some great families. I regret I did not get their phone numbers or email--maybe slip a notebook in the tote you take to carry your sailor's raincoat around.
Mostly--hug, love and enjoy being together.

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Permalink Reply by Jan on September 17, 2008 at 11:00am

The way I see it is they leave as a teenager still learning and being supported by their parents and when you see them at PIR they are young adults being taught to support themsevles and defend what they believe in.It's like they grew up without our permission and we missed it.We know we raised them right but the Navy gave them an extra boost and a big one at that! It's so hard letting them grow up and then letting go but remember we put our parents through the same thing,and they are just as proud of us as we are as proud of our sailors .

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