Ex.BT.USN
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Messages
- 582
A long time ago I was given some sound advice that I am glad I took.
PIMA told me that it was important to build memories because the time our DS started working on this journey and the time waiting for the journey to begin would be a flash memory.
I now have the experience of saying building memories is so important.
On Wednesday our DS checked in with his NROTC unit. There was an ever so brief ceremony with an intro to the NROTC staff as well as an intro to the impressive senior midshipman who will be in charge.
One word: Impressive.
At the end of the ceremony the skipper allowed the families to say goodbye to their one time civilian children and from there they were pulled into the new culture of learning the military way.
The only moment in my life that I can recall that was as special was the day my DS was born.
There was an overwhelming / consuming amount of thought that ran through my head. My wife and daughter stood there with tears in their eyes; he looked to me and said “are they crying?”
I saw it in his eyes that he too was caught up in a moment of reality and if I let it go he might have done the same. As a father I knew he needed that foundation of strength and that everything would be okay. I smiled and said yes. We held it together son and father.
It was and remains a tough difficult moment. We got home last night and I went to his room directly, I had to just be in there. I opened his door and was consumed by all of him. The sight of the room and how it smelled of him (a good smell…nothing stinky). It was like he was there but I could not see, touch, or hug him.
I could not get out of the room fast enough but I still wanted to remain inside, I did not want to leave! More thoughts of: “Was I a good enough father,, Where is my son, What is he doing, I just want to give him one more hug, just one more, but he was not home.
I sit here now and remember the LT going out of his way to come over to my wife and me to say: I meet """"" over the summer and shared emails with him we will take good care of """"". It was a very personal and we felt lucky to have had it.
I have the memories of the last year and our DS going through the application process.... I have pictures of him from the time he was a baby to the night prior to leaving standing with his siblings and dog. They are great memories but I still miss him.
This is an adjustment for him as well for us. I have already written a letter just thinking of the suggestions of what they say for the service academies.
He is our son, we love and miss him. As much as I want to get him home it is important for him to grow into an adult and Naval midshipman and hopeful Naval officer.
Take the advice of PIMA…build the memories with your children and parents because when you check in at the NROTC all that you worked for will be a fast distant memory.
Cheers all the the best to you parents and candidates...
PIMA told me that it was important to build memories because the time our DS started working on this journey and the time waiting for the journey to begin would be a flash memory.
I now have the experience of saying building memories is so important.
On Wednesday our DS checked in with his NROTC unit. There was an ever so brief ceremony with an intro to the NROTC staff as well as an intro to the impressive senior midshipman who will be in charge.
One word: Impressive.
At the end of the ceremony the skipper allowed the families to say goodbye to their one time civilian children and from there they were pulled into the new culture of learning the military way.
The only moment in my life that I can recall that was as special was the day my DS was born.
There was an overwhelming / consuming amount of thought that ran through my head. My wife and daughter stood there with tears in their eyes; he looked to me and said “are they crying?”
I saw it in his eyes that he too was caught up in a moment of reality and if I let it go he might have done the same. As a father I knew he needed that foundation of strength and that everything would be okay. I smiled and said yes. We held it together son and father.
It was and remains a tough difficult moment. We got home last night and I went to his room directly, I had to just be in there. I opened his door and was consumed by all of him. The sight of the room and how it smelled of him (a good smell…nothing stinky). It was like he was there but I could not see, touch, or hug him.
I could not get out of the room fast enough but I still wanted to remain inside, I did not want to leave! More thoughts of: “Was I a good enough father,, Where is my son, What is he doing, I just want to give him one more hug, just one more, but he was not home.
I sit here now and remember the LT going out of his way to come over to my wife and me to say: I meet """"" over the summer and shared emails with him we will take good care of """"". It was a very personal and we felt lucky to have had it.
I have the memories of the last year and our DS going through the application process.... I have pictures of him from the time he was a baby to the night prior to leaving standing with his siblings and dog. They are great memories but I still miss him.
This is an adjustment for him as well for us. I have already written a letter just thinking of the suggestions of what they say for the service academies.
He is our son, we love and miss him. As much as I want to get him home it is important for him to grow into an adult and Naval midshipman and hopeful Naval officer.
Take the advice of PIMA…build the memories with your children and parents because when you check in at the NROTC all that you worked for will be a fast distant memory.
Cheers all the the best to you parents and candidates...