Yesterday my husband and I signed the inital paperwork allowing our 17 year old son to join the U.S.M.C.'s delayed entry program. I have not stopped crying since. Outwardly I am the picture of support and sunshine. Inwardly I am a wreck. His last hear of high school was to be my year to take a scalple to those apron strings and carefully cut them away. Now I feel as if a machete has been used. Yes, I am proud of his decision and the young man he has become and will be, but I am terrified for his safety. How does this get better?
You are not alone! It doesn't get easier....you just learn to cope. Someone told me once that we raise our children to be honest, strong and independent. Your son joining the military is a resounding well done on your part! You want him to leave the nest....you want him to make good decisions....you want him to be happy and stay safe. Concentrate on learning everything you can on being a good military Mom. He needs you more now than ever.....just in a different way. He is going to change....for the better. You will change too. Enjoy his last year of High School, take lots of pictures and tell him you love him every day. I have 3 sons, one has served, one is currently serving.
Perhaps it's the initial shock that has you crying so much. It's wonderful that you are proud of him and also a great thing that you are concerned over his safety. He will need you and a strong support system to get though training and whatever deployments or situations he will face as a Marine. Be proud that he made the adult decision to enlist and trust that you raised him to be a good young man that will continue to make smart decisons.
Has anyone explained the delayed entry program to you? He won't be leaving immediately, he will still get to finish up high school.
My son signed with the Army at 17 left 2 weeks after his 18th birthday and high school graduation...was a very emotional time for me...he has since graduated BCT and AIT and is now stationed in Texas...there are days I cry my eyes out because I miss him so much...BCT was hard..the no contact is the worse...now I am anticipating a visit from him in August if his leave is approved (he hasnt been home since Feb 19) I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas. I have found alot of support in groups and other mothers..watching him graduate BCT was probably the proudest in my life..for your child to defend our freedom is huge and the amount of respect I have seen given to my soldier when we traveled with him is simply amazing..I look at my baby boy and see a man ..a man that I love more than life itself and still have that longing for my baby boy that used to put his head in my lap when he was sick and want me to rub his head...Good Luck to you and your family and thanks to your son for joining the Armed Forces..God Bless and take it day by day.
(((HUGS))) and you'll just learn to focus on your day to day and not worry about him so much. It'll never go away but it'll get easier to deal with over time.
ADA duty stations
- HeartOfTexas
on Jun. 19, 2012 at 9:53 AM