It shouldn't be disturbing. We all know that we, as parents, receiving letters/post cards from our son/daughters means a lot to us. But your son/daughters receiving letters from you is much more important and means a lot more to them. Whether they get the chance to go to the post office and get a letter every day; or they get to the post office every third day and receive 3 letters at one time, it means more to them than you can believe. Savoring 3 letters for 3 days is a psychological HIGH for your son/daughter. They understand that they don't get to the post office every day. But if they do finally get to the post office after 2-3 days and there's NOTHING in the mail box...... "I tear up right now just trying to convey to you the feeling in their stomach". It's indescribable. You have your normal life; albeit without your son/daughter there. It's your son/daughter that is in a new environment with a lot of time constraints. They know they can't write every day. And they truly believe that you understand that.
But don't ever think because they went 2 days without checking mail that they are distraught or depressed. It's a team. If they didn't get to the post office for 2 days, neither did the guy/girl next to them. But when they DO get there, it is IMPERATIVE that there be something in that mail box. In our family, I arranged with my wife, daughter, and son's girl friend that each of us would write AND MAIL a letter on particular days. We were free to write more often or even every day. But we NEVER let one day go by where at least one letter wasn't mailed out. Sometimes my son got to the post office every day for a few days. He always got at least 1 letter. Some days he didn't get there for a couple/three days and he came back with 4-5 letters. And he specifically told us of other basics that practically NEVER received a letter the entire time. I'm telling you; there is no way to explain that feeling. I had that feeling. I didn't know it, but the post office changed my box number by one number, and I didn't receive mail for 3+ weeks. Granted, I felt better when it got straightened out and I received about 15 letters. But every day I checked the mail box and it was empty;;;;; SO WAS I. And it really hurt.
Anyway; keep those letters going. They will get them. They'll pile up. They'll read and re-read them numerous times as they wait for the next one. If you can get others to write, that's also good. You don't have to pretend you know what they're going through. Let them tell you. Until they graduate from basic, you're the ONLY thing that they can even relate to as being NORMAL. Oh, and if you think this is bad, imagine what it's like being in Iraq, Afghan, Saudi, etc... and not seeing letters for days/weeks at a time. Best of luck..... Mike......