FWIW the rollercoaster ride does not end for years. After their path is determined (SA or ROTC), than it is the next 4 years with the little rollercoaster, the big wave is their career field assignment. If he goes rated (flier) the ride will not end for @2 more years after commissioning. Pilot training is a whole new roller coaster ride.
I now jokingly call this phase like pregnancy. It lasts about that long, and you learn along the way.
~ IE, while your pregnant you will never sleep through the night again, because of the need to go to the bathroom. It prepares you for not sleeping when the baby is born
~~ You have the baby, and now that ride is over, but when you come home with the baby, you are on a much bigger ride that lasts for much longer. All new fears and questions pop up.
The thing is you now long for that pregnancy roller coaster. That newborn, no sleep, trying to find time for a shower makes you wish for those pregnancy days. The toddler roller coaster starts right after commissioning.
Fencer and I met 7 years after we joined this board. Our DS went AFROTC, hers went USAFA. They are not only stationed together, flying the same airframe now, and close friends, but they also were in the same UPT class.
~ DS called right after class started and was talking about a guy that was a twin from PA. I asked him the name...it turned out to be fencers DS.
~~ At their winging, we met her DSs fiance. She looked at me and said you must be Pima. She turned to my DH and said you must be Bullet. She was a member here too. Fencer and our boys never were. Now imagine meeting your fiance and slowly placing 2+2 together, knowing you have been chatting with your future MIL for years on this site.
I met Hornetguy on this site. Not only did he attend Bullet's retirement, but Bullet was the one to administer his oath of office at USAFA. Hornet also flew out to attend our DSs commissioning party.
Raimius spent Thanksgiving with us one year.
I say this because you will find that even military families understand this is a unique world. Our friends and family understood the military life, but it is different when it is your child going through the process.
~ Even military parents know that the branch they entered decades ago is not the same branch now.
~~Fencer and Stealth had children stationed at the same UPT base. (Stealths was there a year earlier). They, along with raimius, understood the emotional ride I was feeling, whereas, my BFF could only say he'll be fine. She could not understand that not hearing from your child during the middle of the week was what you prayed for.
Use this site not only to learn, but also embrace the friendships that you will create. That is the best part of the military. You immediately have a new family. You may disagree with them, but if they call you needing help, your answer will be what do you need me to do.
