It is hard because your constantly worrying and thinking about them. The best you can do is to write lots of letters about the simple things going on at home and give them lots of support, tell them you love them and how proud you are of them. It is really hard for them at first, but you have to remind yourself it gets better everyday that they are there. Try your best to stay positive and keep yourself busy with letter writing. And use everyone on the sight for support. Everyone on here is so nice and supportive we are all going through the same thing. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to voice them on here and someone should be able to give you what you need. Stick through it and time will go by a lot faster than you expect it to.
Breann

I think I misread your post... Who was heaving? You? Him?

I guess it doesn't matter. Your boy is becoming a man, making his own way and stepping out into the world. You need to change perspective to that of proud parent who unleashed a good person on the world.

Now, let him go out and make you prouder still as he makes it through this two months or so. After that he could save a life, stop a terrorist, keep some drugs off the street.. who knows? It might be your son's part in any one of these endeavors that makes all the difference.

Chin up! Tears off! Smiles on!

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Last Edited : 10/25/2007 4:07:32 PM GMT

Yarborough!

You have come to the perfect site that will help you through these next 8 difficult weeks! My boyfriend is in his 7th week and is due to graduate next week friday. EVERYTHING you're feeling right now is common!!! Ask anyone on this site, and they will all tell you that they've been through it and are still dealing with these feelings. The first 4-5 weeks will be HARD!!!! Although I'm getting excited that my boyfriend will soon be graduating, I know I won't completely feel better until the day i get to wrap my arms around him. I've had my share of crying and moping and feelings of not wanting to do anything during the day. BUT I assure you that it will get a little easier as the weeks go by. The first week I felt like the 2 months would NEVER end. I just kept myself as busy as possible. Start writing your son letters. Quite a few of us on here have been writing 1 letter a day. Keep it as positive as possible and offer as much encouragement. If you're having a difficult time, imagine how your son is feeling. He has to leave home and be placed in this unfamiliar location where it's going to really test the strength of his body/mind. You should be receiving a letter from the training center that will provide you with your son's address in about a week. The second you get it, mail out all your letters. You can send pictures but keep it an appropriate size. Stick to plain white envelopes unless you're sending out the first batch of letters. I placed my first batch in a larger envelope. Don't send any packages with food/snacks. Don't send any singing cards. You do not want to draw any attention to your son. If you are lucky your son will be able to write during his first sunday there. I, on the other hand, had to wait until the second week to receive my letter. Your son will only have about 1 hour each Sunday to send out mail. Don't be surprised if it's short and seems rushed. TIME IS VERY LIMITED! Also, don't be surprised if he sounds stressed during his first 2 weeks. THIS IS EXPECTED! They are going through a difficult time transitioning from civilian life to military life. BUT ALSO REMEMBER, the coast guard knows what they are doing. You're son WILL be taken good care of. It's stressful because the coast guard wants only the best representing their branch of the military. As the weeks go by, it will get a lot easier on your son as well as yourself. He will be fed well there and hopefully he'll be gaining weight. My boyfriend has been putting on 5 lbs. every 2 weeks. At the end of his 5th week, he will be able to call home for 5 minutes only to inform someone of where he will be stationed. The last 2 Saturdays before graduation, his company will be able to EARN an on and off-base liberty day. It will be a free day for them to call home as much as possible.



Well, we have an awesome group of people on here. FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS or POST ANY CONCERNS! We will be happy to help you through this difficult time. Keep your head up and try your hardest to stay strong. I'm sure it will help your son A LOT to know that everyone back at home is staying strong for him and that everyone is proud and supportive of him while he is taking on this new adventure.



BEST OF LUCK!<!-- Edit -->

Moderator Edit : 10/26/2007 8:44:18 AM GMT

I know how you feel. I didn't cry until I got my first phone call in 5th week. Then I cried all night until bed time. Just hearing his voice.... I guess it had been building up all those weeks. Now I'm just getting more excited everyday, thinking about graduation and getting to see him. Hang in there and pray that the Lord will take care of him. Good Luck!

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Last Edited : 10/26/2007 1:03:32 AM GMT

as everyone else has said in response to your message. you are going through exactly what everyone else has gone through! My boyfriend is actually the son of kkmorris. were on oyr second week as she said and let me tell you. it already has gotten better. I know that first week or so I was absolutely miserable and you feel as if the time is never going to end, but think positively. keep yourself as busy as possible. that is what i have found most helpful. talk on this site as much as possible, feel free to ask any questions because everyone here is so helpful and nice.

every company is different. i guess it really depends on your cc. i know other companies such as HYNchick's boyfriend's company didnt get much time to read and write letters, but my boyfriend had time to write only me the first week. but this week he was able to read all of our letters and send one to me, his mother, and his grandmother. and they were decent sized letters :) I know you're feeling terrible right now and no matter what anyone says, you're not going to feel any better for a couple of days. Its rough. No one is saying that it isnt, but write letters. Im writing my boyfriend once a day and in this letter he said thank you so much for the letters. you can tell that they really appreciate them! they all have a really rough time, so expect to hear that in the letters. but as others have said. be as supportive as possible. all be positive because they're feeling the desire to come home and adjusting so dont make him feel guilty! thats a hard thing to try and pretend in letters sometimes, but eventually you will mean it. be as happy and chearful as positive. but of course feel free to say that you miss them. and just think. in about 5 weeks you will get a phone call and then another 2 you will be seeing your son the proudest he has ever been.

once again. like everyone else has said, the coast guard knows what they are doing. thousands of other sons, daughters, boyfriends, etc. have been through this before! your son will do great. just be there for him every second of the way

Yarborough,
This site will help you through the lonely times. I was a mess when my son left for BC. He graduated on October 5, Company B-178. I cried until his first phone call, week 5. I wrote my son daily, told him all of our small town gossip and kept him up to date on hometown things. I told him I missed him, but I did not tell him how crazy I was acting. I lost 15 pounds, could not eat, could not sleep. I became really educated on the USCG on the internet, and I became a couch sleeper while watching Nick at Night reruns all night long. I really thought that I would not make it. When you see your son at the graduation, you will realize that all of the crazy emotional days you are experiencing right now was worth it. If I had known how proud I would be of my son at his graduation, I would not have shed one tear. His graduation ranked right up there with the day my children was born, and seeing my grand-daughter come into this world. I'll never forget it. All of my friends and family kept telling me that he will only be gone for a couple of months. They did not understand that empty nest syndrome had taken me over. He is stationed in Destin Florida at a small boat station. He loves his job and is very happy. This is his second week on the job. My husband and I accompanied him to Destin and helped him find an apartment. He has made friends already, joined a football team of some kind, and is having the time of his life. No regrets. When we left him in Destin, all alone and 18 years old, I did not cry this time. I get to talk to him daily, and if I want to visit, it is a 12 hour drive and I'm there. There is no need for me to cry for him anymore. He is living his dream. He always told me that when he grew up, he would join the military and live in Florida. What more could I want for my son. Hang in there. It will be worth every tear you are shedding when you see your son in that uniform with his company and the disipline they have is inspiring. You will see that the USCG is the best career that our nation has to offer. I wish I had known about it when I was 18. I would be retired now. WOW.
Keep your chin up!
Kentucky Mom

It is amazing to read and realize that we are all out of the same cookie cutter when it comes to our kids. The same feelings, worries, joy, etc. We get so caught up in our kid's lives from the time they are born...to the 18+ years we get to have them at home that when they leave its one of the hardest things to just let them go. I take comfort in reading all the other postings on here realizing we are all the same....crazy about our kids. Now, they are in the driver's seat of their lives and it will be a fun adventure for all of us to take the journey with them and all the adventures they will have. (Sorry I sound so sappy, but when it comes to my boys, I just go to mush! :)

dedra--i am so glad "bob" is doing well in destin. i only wish i could accompany britt and help her get situated. unfortuanately, there is no way i can travel to alaska with her not that she will need me. she gets a day to get settled in the barracks and then has to fly out to dutch harbor to meet her ship. ugh!! cold!!
the empty nest syndrome is pretty normal for all of us. add to it no contact, no verbal confirmation that they are "ok", and being a mom, it can all drive you nuts.
the kids at bc are well! if they aren't, they will call home. no news is good news, really! i advise parents to find ways to keep busy! they miss you, but they are too busy to be homesick. parents need to be missing them, but to busy to be sick over it. easier said than done, but necessary. bc is the easy part in some ways. after bc you can speak with them, however, depending upon where they are stationed it may be awhile before you see them again.
my daughter graduated on oct 5, b-178, with cheerstars son. an unbelievable ceremony. it is wonderful to put the faces with the people you talk to on here. there is a lot of valuable information to be had.
my daughter is home until nov. 16 and then flies off to alaska, the cold, the bering sea! she will be on the alex haley cutter. yuck!! i think she would be better off in destin, fla with bob. lol!

It has been so tough to let him go. But every time I see some kid from his high school who is not doing well I am convinced he did the right thing. I am injured right now and in a walking boot so I can be the most pathetic sight limping and crying lol.
Most likely will be in my lovely walking boot at his graduation on November 9th No doubt limping and crying still!!
You know what? We have so much to be proud and grateful for. We have young men and women who have chosen to serve their country. They will grow up faster than their peers but what a life they will live!