Chronicles of a Navy Mom

Wow...I can't believe it has been 6 1/2 months since my last post.  I've been busy making lots of whimsy...here is what took the most time...I stenciled this entire wall (it took weeks).  The night stand is a sewing box.  The lamp was an ugly brass lamp that I spray painted.  I bought an antique glass shade for it online.  The headboard I made with my son.  I love the way it turned out.  To complete the room, I still have to paint our dressers.
  

Speaking of my son...He is leaving for Navy bootcamp tomorrow.  We've been anticipating this day for about as long as it has been since my last post.  (I wonder if that is a coincidence...)  


Brent was pursuing a career with the Coast Guard...but things were moving very slowly and one day last summer a Navy recruiter called Brent.  Brent told him he wasn't interested, but the recruiter asked to speak with a parent.  (Smart guy, right?)  After speaking with the recruiter...I suggested that Brent at least meet with him.  I remember that night, Brent researching the Navy on our computer...and getting very excited about the prospect of Navy Seals. (He quickly got over the Coast Guard!) He met the recruiter, took the Seal physical test and got assigned a Seal mentor.  While he was waiting for a Seal contract...the mentor sent me tons of information about Seal training, requirements, etc.  I know the purpose was to make the candidate think long and hard before taking this leap.  After discussing with his recruiter and mentor...Brent changed to SWCC.  (For more info on what SWCC is...see bottom of post.) Within a couple of weeks, he was sworn in and given a SWCC contract with a ship date in March 2012.  I was relieved. Boot camp is in Great Lakes, IL. I read on www.navyformoms.com that recruits that go in the winter typically get sick, pneumonia, etc. (He's a southern, skinny boy...!!!)  Within a short time, his ship date was bumped up to January 25th. (Thanks, Navy.)  A few weeks ago, he got bumped up again.

Brent at his swearing in ceremony

Months have turned into weeks, weeks to days, and now there are just a few hours.  This weekend we had the official farewell tour...went to see Brent's aunt, uncle and cousins in SC.  On Sunday, we had an open house...so many wonderful friends came by to wish him well.  At one point I think we had about 20 of Brent's friends playing football on our front lawn. Today, Brent, Brian and Caitlin and I went to lunch and to see a movie together. We picked up a phone card, address book, and a few bandaids.  Tonight was a family dinner with his favorite chicken casserole.  He's out now...one more round of goodbyes to his friends. 


Tomorrow at 2 pm, his recruiter is picking him up and our lives will never be the same. In my head...I know that is a good thing.  After all, we raise our children to be good citizens, responsible adults, able to take care of themselves and someday,their own family. This is what Brian and I have spent 18 years preparing Brent for. My head knows that God loves him more than I do and that He is in control. I am so proud of Brent and all he has and will accomplish. But in my heart, my 4 pound 4 ounce premature baby is walking out that door with the recruiter. I'm tearing up as I write this...wishing my heart could catch up with my head. But until that happens, I'm going to focus on being the best Navy mom I can be.  (I even ordered a Navy mom necklace on ebay today!)  Starting tomorrow, our family will have a new normal...and that isn't a bad thing...just a different thing.  My plan is to blog about that experience.  


So, tomorrow around 2:30 pm, I'm going to Home Depot to pick up paint for our dressers...after all, I need something to do between now and bootcamp graduation in March!!!  


From SWCC website:
Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, or SWCC, drive well-armed, fast boats in support of special operations missions on coasts and rivers including stealthy insertion and extraction of SEALs, clandestine reconnaissance and combat gunfire support. Using a variety of specialized boats and an aerial delivery system, SWCC operators are always ready to fight and support special operations forces anywhere in the world touched by water.