Supporting A Friend

Just fifteen months ago, I was the one who wasn’t sure how I would handle my son leaving for Navy Boot Camp.  Then last month, one of my best friend’s sons went off to Air Force Boot Camp, and now I am on the other side, trying to be there for her.

All of a sudden I am the “experienced” military mom, the one who understands completely what it feels like to have your child head off to the great unknown, so excited and proud of them but yet scared and unsure.  Almost like the first day of kindergarten only on steroids, at least in Kindergarten the teacher is working to ensure they like school and want to come back. 

Boot Camp is the opposite, it’s about breaking them down and being built back up the way the Air Force, Navy, Army, or Marines thinks they should be, teaching them to obey, make their beds, folder their clothes, IRON, strip and wax a floor, and NOBODY ever wants to go back.  As I have learned, the military does a much better job at teaching those skills than I did, but they yell more than me and their punishments are worse!  But us moms just want to protect our children and knowing someone else is yelling at them 24/7 is hard on us.

Watching her go thru all the emotions, waiting for the first letter, first call, then missing the call and hearing a voicemail that he leaves for you and beating yourself up for not having taken your phone with you every moment of the day. 

My favorite moment with her so far is from early the second week, when she asked me if it was too soon to start stalking the mailman!  I told her yes, and laughed remembering feeling the same way (sorry Greg - our mailman).  Seeing the joy and excitement on her face after receiving her first letter a week later and reminding her how she was ready to stalk/harass the mailman a week earlier.

I hope I am able to provide the same support whether it’s a shoulder to cry on, someone to vent with, or just someone to say, yep….been there and felt just like you are right now, because all my friends did that for me and I wouldn’t have made it thru Boot Camp without them!