Little Brother in Bootcamp in Parris Island,SC

[Mickeyistheman]

Hello Everyone,

Today it really hit me that I won't be able to talk to my little brother (he is 20) for 11 more weeks. Last Monday he left for Boot Camp he will be in the Marine Reserves. Our family was so very sad, especially my mother but he was ready and actually happy to go.

Today it just hit me that I miss him terribly, we have grown apart over the past few years, I am now 29 and I wish we could be closer. I feel that upon his return he will be a man and a better man at that.

Can anyone give me some helpful hints to make the weeks go faster until his graduation. I know we will get letters but not for a few more weeks.

I do wish everyone well on here whose loved ones are overseas.

:grouphug: :sad1:

[disneylovinfamily]

I will keep you in my thoughts. My little brother (7 years younger) went through training there 2 years ago right out of high school and has since been deployed to and returned from Iraq. I suggest maybe keeping a journal and maybe having other family members enter things as well so he can experince the time he missed. Time will pass more quickly then you realize. If you need someone to talk to drop me a pm.

[lookingforward]

A journal is a great idea. You can write him too, right? USMC boot camp is quite a tough time but he will be so much stronger when he is done. You will notice the changes in him, he will seem so much more grown up and confident. If you can, write him as much as possible because those letters will support him. Are you going to graduation? It is beautiful, and you will be so proud! (book your hotel early, they are sold out on graduation days) and look into on base quarters as they are close to him and very affordable! Semper Fi!

[Mickeyistheman]

Thank you so much for your kind words. My family is booking their hotels now. I am able to get the time off from work for his graduation. I do hear it will be very moving and beautiful. We are excited about it, but miss him terribly. His girlfriend and I have become quite close which is good because they are like 2 peas in a pod so even though he isn't with us, I feel better that she is staying with us while he is away.

We are all keeping journals or jotting down things to make him smile and help him be strong while in bootcamp. I'll be so excited when we get his first letter! :yay:

:grouphug:

[dbarker]

My son is 20 and in the USMC. He went to Boot Camp in CA. I wrote him a letter about 3 times a week.

Write your brother often. A bunch of short quick notes are what my DS liked. They don't have much time to read them, but they sure do love mail call. It is their only link to the outside world while in Boot Camp.

Also, there is a very good website for families. It is www.marinemoms.us. It is full of good info and a discussion board. I found it very useful during and after Boot Camp.

Good luck, and keep those letters going.

Semper Fi.

[Mickeyistheman]

UPDATE!!!!

We got a nice letter from my brother and he is really excited and actually happy to be there. He told us in the letter that when he comes home, he knows that he will be a better person and it just made me well up and I felt so proud of him at that moment.

He said he did get yelled at a few times :rolleyes: but he misses us of course but looks forward to the next day.

We are on the countdown now and are just so happy.

Thanks again!:grouphug: :cheer2: