How do you support their decisions and act like you are not dying inside

[cotysmom]

My son is in A School right now and I am loving it that he can call me all of the time. The question that keeps nagging at me is why he wants to volunteer for deployments. I know that it is why he joined but it scares the life out of me. He called last night and said mom I am getting a medal for making expert on shooting the 9mm. Before I could tell him how proud I was he finished the sentence with "and just wanted you to know that if I can I am going t o volunteer for Byrain"(not sure how to spell it". I thought that my heart was going to burst right out of my chest at that very moment. Now, I know that it is what he signed to do but I can't get it out of my head how quick he said it and said it like it was just another honor that he was getting with the medal. I just sat there thinking is he crazy or am I living in some dream world thinking that he would sign up, come home, meet a great girl,get married and raise a family. I support everything that he does and if he goes,I will support him with that too. Although, I will be worried sick. I want to commend all of you parents that have been through this. I would just like to know how to handle the tough things like this that have come your way. Its not like them saying that they are going to go to the mall. Someone told me that a parent that has a child in the service prays more. I am not saying that it is exactly true, but I can honestly say that since he has joined I have prayed more. I also pray for my fellow service parents and their children.

[George Pacheco]

Cotysmom what your son is doing is admirable to say the least. He is keeping with a long standing tradition of great warriors who have volunteered since the beginning. I wouldnt worry to much though, my son who is serving in the Army was on deployement in Kuwait for 15 months and did his time with out hesitation. The only thing we as parents can do is to pray. Pray that this whole thing will end soon but until then we must have faith in God and in our military. Take care.

[cotysmom]

Thank You guys so much for your support and I will never stop praying for Coty nor will I stop praying for your children as well.

[Rex]

cotysmom don't get to up set about your son serving in byrain if he decides to do , our son spent some time there . josh said its not too bad there a little dirty meaning the streets , shops ect. but his over all stay wasn't real bad, i guess most of the people who live there are use to a lot of our sailors stopping by for liberty. there are a lot of other places in that area that are are a lot worse according to our son.
So keep your chin up ! and never stop praying for him. Coty will be just fine !

[NavyDads Admin (Paul)]

You've got a lot of support here on NavyDads....a lot of us have been through this journey and continue to see the maturity our kids display when they step up and do their duty......HooYah! Go Navy!!

[cotysmom]

You are exactly right and being new to the navy as a parent is something that I am going to adapt to and I thank God that my kid as well as others have the heart to go out and fight for people that they know, have heard of and those that they will never meet in their lifetime. I commend them and have the up most respect for everyone of them. I am proud of these kids, oh so proud and if Coty does volunteer, I know that with God that these boys will take care of one another. I know that none of them set out to die but is willing to for the sake of protecting their country and I will be praying everyday not only for my kid but for others all well that God will protect them and keep them safe but if it is his time to go I know that he could go driving down the street or eating at McDonalds and that is what I will have to hang on to. Coty once told me that if he went to war and died that I just had to look at it as if he was protecting us from heaven instead of on the ground. Just in the short time that he has been there, he has already developed that brotherhood with his graduating class. I know they will take care of them and I am just going to have to realize that I can't go and protect him..Like you said, you learned to suck it up and I am just going to have to put my big girl pants on and do the same.

[NavyDads Admin (Paul)]

Welcome to parenthood and being a Navy parent. There are an awful lot of perants that seem to think that being in the Navy is like being in a summer camp....it isn't. The purpose of the Navy is to protect the seas and defend the interests of the United States.....and if needed to kill the bad guys. This is a serious task...and a dangerous task as well. You have to learn to accept his training and to accept the trust he places in his shipmates. The night before eric deployed he sent me this: "As in the rich naval tradition since October 13th 1775 I sacrifice my time and being to put my life in the hands of my fellow shipmates who in turn puts those same trusts into mine. To cast off and set sail to cross the seas in something bigger than what it is we can understand. To help those who need it is what we do, although we may be the cold forged steel harvesters of death in the modern age, we supply hope and change to those who need it most". You need to wrap your mind around those words and let faith in Our Lord, your son's training and in his shipmates take over. We all worry about our sons and daughters...especially when overseas....but I've learned to suck it up and realize that worrying about what might happen promotes negativity....our children cannot afford that.