Missing my kid!

shellz

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Mar 27, 2008
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Just checking in....at loose ends and missing my kid. He hasn't written in a week and a half (I know, I know...not really that long, but it feels like an ETERNITY!) and after reading some of the other SA forums I am a bit jealous....phone calls home??? Is CGA the only SA not to allow a call home during summer training? I'm surprised at how much access the other academies allow the parents. Webguy at AFA posting tons of pics, phone calls home from USMMMA, USNA and USMA...sheesh. I am crossing my fingers that we may get a call next Sat from Mystic.:smile:

On a positive note, I've heard through the grapevine that my son is doing well, so that makes the waiting bearable. I just want to HEAR him say it. Then I can be patient until Parents Weekend in Sept.

Anyone else out there waiting to hear from a swab?
 
You betcha! My swab's last letter just told me enough to be worried. She was sick and went to the clinic. They didn't keep her so at least it wasn't h1n1, but I don't know if it was a cold or infection or what. Plus, she said she "has her hip wrapped for PT" -- what's that mean?? I guess it is good that she is still doing PT, at least. The partial information is almost worse than none! I wouldn't tell her that though - I so look forward to those letters. She is supposed to be on Eagle next weekend though, so hopefully we will know more then. This "letting go" stuff is kind of hard, isn't it? I know the Academy is taking good care of her, but it is still hard.
 
You betcha! My swab's last letter just told me enough to be worried. She was sick and went to the clinic. They didn't keep her so at least it wasn't h1n1, but I don't know if it was a cold or infection or what. Plus, she said she "has her hip wrapped for PT" -- what's that mean?? I guess it is good that she is still doing PT, at least. The partial information is almost worse than none! I wouldn't tell her that though - I so look forward to those letters. She is supposed to be on Eagle next weekend though, so hopefully we will know more then. This "letting go" stuff is kind of hard, isn't it? I know the Academy is taking good care of her, but it is still hard.

Thanks Stitch....good to know I am with friends in the waiting game. And I thought waiting for the appointment was hard! Swine flu, medical drop-outs, and my OCD make worrying my new sport. Really MUST try to not do this all summer long. I am making strides though, and was even out of the house at mail time today (gasp!) lol

Good luck in the waiting game. Right here with ya. :cool:
 
Rest assured that this 25 day period between R-Day and Mystic is the longest time you will ever have to go without being able to contact him some way (not counting the ol' US Mail).

At Mystic they will have access to cell phones (if not theirs, then someone will have one they can borrow), and after the Shoulder Board ceremony they will have their computers for email access, as well as their cell phones and text messaging (but no IM allowed until carry-on).

We 4/c-to-3/c parents had a long 18 day period (Eagle sailing from Cassis to Bermuda) this summer as well. but the US Mail was not even an option. We had to study some web site that listed latitude and longitude and the ship's position, as well as wave heights and wind directions and try to imagine what they were doing each day!

Don't compare the other academies - each one has different rules, different timelines, and different "plebe summer/swab summer" lengths, for instance, USMMA's entire summer training period will last only around 18 days, due to the extreme time constraints they are under trying to cram 4 years of study into 3 years of academy time because of their sea-year requirements.

Between the ListServ, this SA forum, CC, and your access to other 2013 and 2012 parents, you should be able to get through the next 7 days until Mystic.

PS - I just remembered, you had a FULL YEAR EXTRA to spend with him that most of us didn't get! That's like cheating! :biggrin:
 
Rest assured that this 25 day period between R-Day and Mystic is the longest time you will ever have to go without being able to contact him some way (not counting the ol' US Mail).

At Mystic they will have access to cell phones (if not theirs, then someone will have one they can borrow), and after the Shoulder Board ceremony they will have their computers for email access, as well as their cell phones and text messaging (but no IM allowed until carry-on).

We 4/c-to-3/c parents had a long 18 day period (Eagle sailing from Cassis to Bermuda) this summer as well. but the US Mail was not even an option. We had to study some web site that listed latitude and longitude and the ship's position, as well as wave heights and wind directions and try to imagine what they were doing each day!

Don't compare the other academies - each one has different rules, different timelines, and different "plebe summer/swab summer" lengths, for instance, USMMA's entire summer training period will last only around 18 days, due to the extreme time constraints they are under trying to cram 4 years of study into 3 years of academy time because of their sea-year requirements.

Between the ListServ, this SA forum, CC, and your access to other 2013 and 2012 parents, you should be able to get through the next 7 days until Mystic.

PS - I just remembered, you had a FULL YEAR EXTRA to spend with him that most of us didn't get! That's like cheating! :biggrin:

I can always count on you Luigi, to put a smile on my face and reassurance in my heart. You are right, I CAN make it through the next seven days. It just feels like 70. lol

I am SO glad he is where he is. The feeling we got when we watched him run back to his company after the swearing in was peace....peace that he was in the right place at the right time (not a year too soon), with the right people. So, although I am whining a bit, I'm sure you "old timers" will forgive a mom who just sent her first out the door. It was hard, but I am getting excited to hear about this first part of the grand adventure.

As for comparing the academies...you got me. I was browsing the AF site for a chance glimpse of a couple of basics we know, saw them and was just so thrilled! But, I know lots of local parents will be snapping pics next weekend at Mystic. I've instructed my boy to smile at every camera pointed in his direction. Someone will get a pic of him, I'm sure!

Peace out....this momma's headed for bed. :wink:
 
Hearing from your kid

Not that this makes it better....but we all went through it and survived...and so will you. :smile:

My daughter rarely wrote us during swab summer, and to this day isn't the most communicative. They become very independent, very quickly. It's what we always say we want our kids to be, but when it happens in less than a summer, it's tough for us.

Just remember, no news is good news.........this is really true.
Anything you hear from them is out of date....so don't get too worked up about it (easy for me to say...hard for us as parents to do). By the time you hear about it, they've forgotten it and moved on.
And you may not hear from them often, but they want to hear from you.....daily....so keep writing the letters, sending the cards, whatever....
 
If they aren't writing it's because they're busy, and if they're busy, then the time is flying for them. :thumb:

Time flies while you're a swab (at least the weeks do, the days are endless).
 
Not that this makes it better....but we all went through it and survived...and so will you. :smile:

It might not make it better, but it does help to know that others have survived and are doing just fine! Thanks for the thought. :smile:
 
If they aren't writing it's because they're busy, and if they're busy, then the time is flying for them. :thumb:

Time flies while you're a swab (at least the weeks do, the days are endless).

That sounds good to me. I would trade no letters for knowing that he is too busy to be homesick or unhappy! His first two letters are giving me strength and peace of mind....they were quite upbeat and encouraging. Thanks LITS.
 
All you SWAB parents, take heart. The Coast Guard is taking very good care of them. They are challenging them to be the best Cadets they can be. They are climbing new heights physically, mentally, and ethically. The Academy is laying
the foundation for them to be effective leaders in the Coast Guard. This mission requires your patience, love and support. As parents you should be proud of the job you did raising good citizens. Soon it will be parents weekend and you will watch the Corps review in front of you. You will all witness the transformation of your sons and daughters. This will be a moment you will never forget. So get yourselves busy and make those hotel reservations and plan your trip to New London.
 
time

LITS....you're spot on. SWAB son wrote "the minutes seem like hours, the hours seem like days" and "Eight and a half days till EAGLE". For us, it is flying, but we're not doing PT and Indoc!! God love 'em!:wink:
 
A lot of times the phone calls allowed by the other academies are accompanied by cadre screaming in the background while your kid is trying to talk to you. The Mystic/Eagle calls will be unrushed and private.
 
A lot of times the phone calls allowed by the other academies are accompanied by cadre screaming in the background while your kid is trying to talk to you. The Mystic/Eagle calls will be unrushed and private.

I feel better. Thank you for the encouragement. BTW, saw a couple of pictures on the parent's association website of my swab today...some kind local parent must have been wandering about campus. Bless her! My boy looked good and his hair even appears to be growing in....a tiny bit anyway.

Happy night for this family. :thumb:
 
Shellz,
If you put a line out on the parents ass'n website (or company facebook if there is one) you probably will get a lot more pictures sent to you at Mystic. I wasn't able to attend last summer but got lots of pictures sent to me from other parents at Mystic and when Eagle was in Cali (LA/San Diego).

I'll bet you will get a letter soon. We worried a little less after swab summer when we got to get email, texting & phone calls; and then a lot less after Parents Weekend! Each cadet/parent will find their own routine for communication. We actually got less communication after Swab Summer because they were super busy with academics, athletics & military obligations but the texting on her phone has been a godsend. Even if she doesn't call every week we usually get a quick text to let us know what is happening, or to ask a question.

The texting communication continued this summer...excerpts included "Guess what, I'm going to the pistol range with the guys from the station today" (this from the kid who had never picked up a gun); "Tomorrow helo ops" (translation, jumping out of a perfectly good helicopter into the water - told her this is something to tell mom AFTER you have finished); and also informal pics & messages from time at her summer duty assignment and aboard Eagle.

Hang in there! :thumb:
 
Hi All....
checking in from Providence, RI..

for some reason Joyce NOW wants to go to the Academy today,,,,,, then to Mass. then tomorrow back to CGA then report in friday... LOL....

SO SPY with camera will be on the grounds in a couple hours,, it is suppose to be no raining today..... I do not have my addresses of cadets with me so I dont know what company everyone is in... Michelle text me what company everyone is in (I hope you have that info)

I wont be able to log back in..
 
Shellz,
If you put a line out on the parents ass'n website (or company facebook if there is one) you probably will get a lot more pictures sent to you at Mystic. I wasn't able to attend last summer but got lots of pictures sent to me from other parents at Mystic and when Eagle was in Cali (LA/San Diego).

I'll bet you will get a letter soon. We worried a little less after swab summer when we got to get email, texting & phone calls; and then a lot less after Parents Weekend! Each cadet/parent will find their own routine for communication. We actually got less communication after Swab Summer because they were super busy with academics, athletics & military obligations but the texting on her phone has been a godsend. Even if she doesn't call every week we usually get a quick text to let us know what is happening, or to ask a question.

Thanks for the advice....I did ask, and received quite a few offers of pictures, and company during the free time (if he hadn't already made plans). It is so reassuring to know that they look out for one another, and that the local parents are so willing to adopt a swab for the day. He will survive, we will survive and life will go on! I am just missing him particularly badly right now. His bday is Friday.

Once he is able to shoot us a quick text, it will be almost back to normal. Last year he was hardly home at all (or so it seemed) and we did a lot of our conversing via text. I used to ask him to just call, instead of making me find my glasses to read the text messages. Now I wonder, what the heck was I complaining about??? :shake::shake:
 
Hi All....
checking in from Providence, RI..

for some reason Joyce NOW wants to go to the Academy today,,,,,, then to Mass. then tomorrow back to CGA then report in friday... LOL....

SO SPY with camera will be on the grounds in a couple hours,, it is suppose to be no raining today..... I do not have my addresses of cadets with me so I dont know what company everyone is in... Michelle text me what company everyone is in (I hope you have that info)

I wont be able to log back in..

Ok spy girl...do your thing!!! Here's hoping you and Joyce have a great time visiting the campus, and spending some quality time together. I know you will read this AFTER the fact, but know that some serious good vibes are headed your way for a peaceful transition for both of you!

Hugs to you both!
 
I cheat.... its thursday night and we are at our hotel here in Groton... fought the fight a few times today and held up pretty well.. :smile:

We were by the Academy yesterday and today.. still havent seen swabs.. as they have been hiding... ughhhhhh but we have seen pleny of AIMSTERS.... I took some video of a few of them yesterday...

So there were we in the CGX parking lot and I saw this kid running from his car to the store.. I told Joyce that was Ricki... but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO she wanted to argue with me... until we got into the CGX and his mom called him Ricki.. :) I should of bet her, as I would of won..

so it was nice that they met up.... even for a few minutes... familiarity will help tomorrrow.

Julie
(I will hide in the bushes tomorrow)
 
You go girl! I'm on my way up there tomorrow AM. Spending the night in Mystic & then heading on north to Portland to hopefully catch up with my swab. I've got lots of new friends from the parent's forum, asking me to get a picture of their swab while I'm there. I'm wondering if the Eagle Cadre will let me line them up & take a picture of each one of them:eek:!!! I wonder if they will be in trouble if I do it -- I don't want the swabs to suffer but they have alot of parents waiting & hoping for pictures...
 
You go girl! I'm on my way up there tomorrow AM. Spending the night in Mystic & then heading on north to Portland to hopefully catch up with my swab. I've got lots of new friends from the parent's forum, asking me to get a picture of their swab while I'm there. I'm wondering if the Eagle Cadre will let me line them up & take a picture of each one of them:eek:!!! I wonder if they will be in trouble if I do it -- I don't want the swabs to suffer but they have alot of parents waiting & hoping for pictures...

WHAT??????

you will be here tomorrow? did I give you my cell # ???

I will be here stlest until 4pmish tomorrow.. as the ceremony is at 3pm..
 
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