How do you do it

TBVADAD

TBVADAD

Dad to 3 great kids.
Joined
Mar 26, 2021
Messages
272
I know the title is vague. ;-)

As prior service I never was worried about myself of course while I was in. I think most folks have been there. You're young and bullet proof

I know some of you have seen your kids off to war. Can't image at this point.

Son is at Air Assault and my stomach was in knots all day yesterday waiting to hear if he made it through day zero 0. Which he did thankfully. This is only 10 days. Hopefully its apart of the process for me as a parent as well.
 
THParent said:
Wait until they leave the country and can't tell you where they are going, where they are, or where they went, when they get back.
That's pretty special.
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And then they separate - and you breath a sigh of relief - and then they join the Clandestine Service, FBI, etc., as an operational asset. But not just yet. 😵‍💫
 
You will develop a coping mechanism. What you are going through right now will help form your own way.

As a parent, I tend to disconnect from the hairy details of what he is doing. I know he is at work, but I don’t worry about exactly how each sortie goes. However, Mrs Stealth gets comfort in knowing exactly what he is doing each day. When he is deployed out of country, she has a harder time because she doesn’t know what days he flies.

Stealth_81
 
My three sons are convinced that this Norman Rockwell print represents me during their deployments and overseas postings. So much so, they bought me a copy of this print which now proudly hangs in our dining room.

RockwellFiles9440429.jpg


As Stealth_81 stated, you will form you own way and eventually it becomes the new norm.
 
Infantry_Dad said:
My three sons are convinced that this Norman Rockwell print represents me during their deployments and overseas postings. So much so, they bought me a copy of this print which now proudly hangs in our dining room.

RockwellFiles9440429.jpg


As Stealth_81 stated, you will form you own way and eventually it becomes the new norm.
Click to expand...
Guilty as charged.

My DS hasn't stormed any beaches other than on Cyprus and the Dalmatian Coast, but he has several deployments on his sleeve in interesting places.

Whatever concern we have ever felt has been overtaken by the satisfaction of knowing he is living out his adolescent dreams.

Next stop HALO school.
 
Infantry_Dad said:
My three sons are convinced that this Norman Rockwell print represents me during their deployments and overseas postings. So much so, they bought me a copy of this print which now proudly hangs in our dining room.

RockwellFiles9440429.jpg


As Stealth_81 stated, you will form you own way and eventually it becomes the new norm.
Click to expand...
Love this.

For those new to the military, the significance of the three blue stars is:


www.uso.org

What is a Blue Star Family?

Blue Star Families sacrifice so much – like normalcy and time with their loved ones – and deserve to be honored and supported. Read about what it means to be a Blue Star Family and how the USO fights to keep them connected to their service member throughout their military career.
www.uso.org www.uso.org

The custom is still in use today.
 
TBVADAD said:
I know the title is vague. ;-)

As prior service I never was worried about myself of course while I was in. I think most folks have been there. You're young and bullet proof

I know some of you have seen your kids off to war. Can't image at this point.

Son is at Air Assault and my stomach was in knots all day yesterday waiting to hear if he made it through day zero 0. Which he did thankfully. This is only 10 days. Hopefully its apart of the process for me as a parent as well.
Click to expand...

We trained daily before
Iday to include rope climbing and fast roping. DS just came home from
USNA. He exudes confidence. For the first time, I realized that he'll be fine in serving in any warrior community.
 
I find I do best if I think about DS being a pilot in the abstract space of my mind. If I'm on a plane and start to think about the fact that he is doing the same thing as the pilot on my plane, the sweaty palms appear and the heart rate kicks up. DH loves knowing all of the details, I just like to know he has safely landed.

And I have to order that Rockwell print!
 
When I used to watch DH go on deployment or get into his jet or a helo, I made sure our last words were loving and “see you soon.” Then I blanked my mind, knowing if something happened to him while flying, though he would not choose to leave so soon, he would be happiest going that way. I still run out the door to the garage if he’s leaving to run an errand in the car to say something. He does the same.
 
I remember flying my last mission in Iraq and thinking, “At least my kids will never have to come here.”
Well son of a gun.
It was tough seeing DW off to war. Three times. Seeing a child off to war is definitely a gut punch. Yeah, I cried when I got to my car.
 
After 2 weeks DS is graduating today from Air assault school at Campbell. He was always a confident kid, but this 2 1/2 weeks has made him stronger. I am still a wreck. ;-)
 
Military families carry a burden few civilians will ever know about nor understand.

Finding the sweet spot between full knowledge of their activities and blissful ignorance; trusting their training versus knowing what could go wrong; bragging to neighbors about their service vs silent prayers for their safety; etc is probably best defined by each individual.
 
USMCGrunt said:
Military families carry a burden few civilians will ever know about nor understand.

Finding the sweet spot between full knowledge of their activities and blissful ignorance; trusting their training versus knowing what could go wrong; bragging to neighbors about their service vs silent prayers for their safety; etc is probably best defined by each individual.
Click to expand...
Appreciate that and exactly how I felt yesterday. I was riding up the store and seen people out riding their bikes or running. I am thinking the whole time and day. "God just let him be safe as he repeals out of a Blackhawk." Got a text yesterday. "Coolest thing Ive in my life"

The way I see it. I would rather him happy then bubble wrapped in my basement.
 
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