by Sue A. Sponte

Created on: January 18, 2007   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

So, your baby went and did it: signed up to "See the World" "Accelerate his life" and "Join the Adventure." If you are like most parents, you are swinging back and forth between bursting with pride, crying from fear, and wondering how your little one could possibly be old enough to be going off to join the Navy. This is a big day, not just for your son or daughter, but for you also. You have become a Navy Mom or Dad. Everybody copes with the stress of this day a little bit differently, but here are seven things that you can do to get through this day.

First. Have yourself a good cry. It's okay. It's normal. Sometime, around eighteen years ago you brought a little person into this world and promised that you would see him or her through to adulthood. Congratulations you have succeeded. (See #2). But watching your little one go off to do something that is not little at all is going to bring up more emotions than most of us can (or should) try to keep down. It's okay to be crying with pride at what you and your family have accomplished. It's okay to be crying out of a little bit of fear for the unknown. And it's okay to be crying because the house seems just a whole lot more empty that it did yesterday. You are not the only person who has been through this, and it is probably not the last time that you will get a little bit moist in the eyes in the next eight weeks.

Second. Pat yourself on the back. Not only have you done well just making it this far, but you have raised a child who is so selfless and giving that he or she has now volunteered to leave home and serve our country. Let me assure you: there are a lot of kids who do not have the courage and the character to make the sacrifice that your child has decided to make. You have raised a man or woman that rest of the country is proud of. You should be doubly proud.

Third. Write a letter. Okay, the first two were all about you. That's enough of that. Now it's time to get back to taking care of your recruit. (You didn't actually think that your job was done when they got on that bus or plane, did you?) Every ship in the Navy has very strong, thick metal wires that stretch around the outside of the deck to keep people on the side where the water isn't. These things are called lifelines. In boot camp, lifelines are called letters. You can hold on to them. They keep you away from the dark and scary things that are lurking out there. They remind you which way is up, and where you came from. There's no time like

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>