I'm starting to cry already..... My son the Air Force Recruit

[Melora]

OK... there is no hope for me!

My oldest baby (now 18) is set to head for basic training for the Air Force on Feb 10th. I have already started to get weepy about it. I know this is the best thing for him. He is not a "school" kid. I had to hold his hand to get him graduated through independant study so there is no way he could just go on to college and take more (in his mind) "pointless" classes. He has tested VERY high on IQ tests and even tested extremely high on the Air Force appitude tests so they were excited for him to enlist. He is going to be a mechanic for jets.... he says he eventually wants to be a crew chief. This will be the most wonderful thing for him. I feel like he can make something of himself. (Unlike his father..Oh wait that comment belongs in that other "My ex-spouse annoys me because he breathes" thread).

So even though I know this is a very positive move in his life, I feel the impending departure is going to be harder on me than I expected. Yesterday I was just riding in the car and I started thinking about the day he is going to leave. The tears started down my face without warning. I know hes been a bit of a pain for the past couple of years, but recently (last 6 months) hes really straightened up. I know Im going to watch him heading off, knowing if things go well I wont see him for months. He will be gone out of my house, becoming a real adult.. so far away.

Why does life give you these kids only to have them need to leave you? I want him to be be a strong independant happy person, but I know when he walks out the front door, onto a new life, knowing he will in all likelihood never live with me again... I will just fall apart. (Im just bawling right now... )

 

[DoeWDW]

, Melora!! They do grow up fast, don't they? He'll carry all your love with him wherever he goes and he'll appreciate you and all you've done for him.

 

[mickeyboat]

Hugs to you!

Congratulations on raising such a wonderful son. I know you will miss him. But it is the rest of the world's turn to see what an amazing person you have raised. I wish you strength and courage to face letting him go.

Denae

 

[minniecarousel]

ugh! yeah - why is parenting so heart-wrenching?! Hey, mine just went off to college, (3 hrs away) and I reacted the same way! Just remember that this is the best thing for him. And remember - no news is good news! Boys are notorious for NOT calling their Moms, so try not to worry about him. It sounds like he has a definite career path chosen - which is more than some college grads!

Hang in there!

 

[Shel]

With my only child being just 11 I can only sympathize with your feelings & emotions right now.
I've read someplace that being a mother is like having your heart outside of your body forever. Also, it's the only "job" that if we are successful at it we are no longer needed.

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

Hang in there! You are about to embark on a roller coaster ride. Last year we sent our 19 yo to Marine boot and it was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. The first couple of weeks are hardest because you aren't in touch with them but after you receive his first letter things seem to ease up a bit. Marine boot is 13 weeks so we suffer a little longer, LOL!

I found myself doing the silliest things....like smelling his cologne weeks after he was gone. I couldn't go in his room for a while without completely breaking down in tears.

Find a AF support group for new recruit moms. And write him often, even before he leaves write some letters so that when you get his address they will be ready to go. Some times it takes a while for the mail to catch up with them. And there seems to be an unwritten competition for the most mail! HA! The kids don't care what you write just that it is from you. They live for letters. The first few letters I sent were fill in the blanks because I knew my DS wasn't going to sit down and write a "real" letter. After about three weeks I started getting the sweetest letters from him....I knew the change had begun.

Good luck! Be strong, but cry when you need to. That is a special young man you have! And you are a special Mom to "let" him go!

Melissa

 

[KristaTX]

Thanks, Melora, for raising a son who is willing to serve our great country.

 

[luvmydogs]

I can't even imagine the range of emotions you must be experiencing right now. I thank you for raising such a WONDERFUL son, and I pray for his safety, as well as your strength.

 

[TwinMom7]

I've been where you are Melora....one too many times!

I remember the morning 5 years ago that we sent him off to San Diego and Marine Corp Boot Camp. I was 5 days post-op from a hysterectomy, so needless to say I was a sobbing mess. I thought living through THAT 3 months was bad...and then, last January he was deployed to Iraq. THAT was definately the worse time in my life. I couldn't eat, sleep, concentrate....it was TERRIBLE! I would feel the bed move at 2:00 in the morning and I knew it was husband, getting up to go downstairs and watch FOX News - so he wouldn't disturb me.

There are LOTS of support groups out there. I found a great one for Marine Moms and I'm sure there's something equivelent for Air Force Moms.

In closing, all I can say is "stay strong - he'll make you the proudest you've EVER been".

 

[Beast fan]

Let's see Melora.......... When your son was younger.... did you not serve, protect and defend him? Now, your son is choosing to help serve, protect and defend roughly 270 MILLION citizens of the U.S.A. You must be one TERRIFIC parent!

Thank you for raising your son the way you did! (You got any "secrets of raising a son" you want to share?)

Thanks again, and keep your chin up!

Dave

 

[Dan Murphy]

Letting go can be tough. Melora. And thanks.