My son has just told me he has volunteered for yet another trip to the sandbox. My lack of words spoke volumes to him, I'm sure. Just those few seconds of speechlessness before I could compose a response are what I'm ashamed of. While I am very proud of him for what he is doing, it was not what I really wanted to hear. How does a Mom or Dad reply to something like that without going all "parental"?

Any child would be surprised if their parent would be joyous about such a decision. Proud we will always be...........worried, even more. You simply proved you love him and will be "MOM" forever!

Ah "Tis True"! This is my worst fear and yet I fear more to speak the words to my son so I don't, I keep it to myself and pray it to God. Allthough my son is still at BCT, he told me before he left that he "wants to go to Iraq" becuase he "wants to be where he is needed most" and my jaw dropped I just told him that if this is what he truly wants of course I'll back him 100% but he gots to expect and allow me to be concerned because, "I AM his mother"! We have the right! He was able to understand that~ I certainly would stop feeling guilty for loving your son and being a Mom! Lord bless you my friend.

Um pardon me, my previous post should read, "he's got to expect..."

quote:

Originally posted by OFKev-Mom:
My son has just told me he has volunteered for yet another trip to the sandbox. My lack of words spoke volumes to him, I'm sure. Just those few seconds of speechlessness before I could compose a response are what I'm ashamed of. While I am very proud of him for what he is doing, it was not what I really wanted to hear. How does a Mom or Dad reply to something like that without going all "parental"?

Don't feel bad for your reaction.It's the natural response as a parent.

Thanks fellow Moms! The last thing I wanted to do was discourage him from doing what he feels he needs to do. BUT, my spidey senses tells me that he kind of enjoys the "shock value" of telling me these kinds of things. Little buggar.

I feel for you OFKev-Mom! These deployments are SO HARD on us, aren't they? As you already know the USAF takes good care of our kids. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Keep us posted.

Hi OfKev-- We do live thru it and just have to go on faith and keep telling ourselves that this is what they have trained so hard for. I truly understand your "lack of words", but I think they fully comprehend how we're feeling. Jeff will spring something on me,,and when it's quiet I'll hear "I love you Mom, and I'll be ok". Somtimes I think it's as hard for them to tell us the news, as it is for us to hear. I tend to get off the phone, sit on the deck and "mumble to myself" for awhile/ and then realize, this is exactly what he has trained for all these years, and he knows he wants to go with "his kids". (He's now the 'ole geezer as they call him)- they were being born when he joined the USN. I have to be proud of him,,,scared sometimes, yes,,,,,but so darned proud of him.