For those of you interested in how Wes has done since his discharge. . . it has been a long and rough road for him. He fell into a deep depression and still fights off bouts of it. Since his discharge he tried to pick up the pieces but ran into wall after wall, there just wasn't anything in the job front for anyone. He moved to Iowa where his grandparents lived and landed acouple jobs that only let him go just before the probationary period drew near (they didn't want to pay benefits). He recently moved back to NC and had a plan, I helped him to realise his plan by doing the paper shuffling. All said and done Wes should be starting college Jan. 6, 2011. My hopes are high for him now :) I believe college will get him reconnected with people his age and he can restart his life again as a civilian.
Thank you to those of you that have sent messages now and then in support :). They helped me stay strong for Wes! May you all be having a Merry Christmas and may God Bless YOU!!
Comments
Thank you all for the encouraging comments! We are nearing Wes' end to his 1st semester, and well I wish I could say everything has worked out wonderfully. He started off as a full-time student and has dwindled down to part-time in the last month. The courses I thought he would have an easy pass in are the ones he had to drop (as he said, "I go to college to be taught not shown a computer to teach myself "). He is obviously still battling bouts of depression, almost bi-polar like . . really low then really high. Some days even I want to throw in the towel and just tell him he must decide to stand up and succeed or just give up and flip burgers. I am nearing the end of my college degree and anyone that has gone to college it is the most demanding time, deadlines are ruthless. As best I can I am trying to hold the family together but his attitude is now spilling over to the girls and the "working together" has become "everyone for themselves", except of course where mom is concerned. All I can keep doing is being a positive role model and prove to them that hard work does have its rewards (even at my age it is possible to do college).
Jim - he went in for Graphic Design specializing in Gaming and yes the college is in the next town about a 30 minute drive.
Again, thank you everyone and I won't ever leave NavyDads if possible . . EG's son and my son were in the same division at bootcamp and EG has helped us greatly when the need was there. I still consider myself a NavyMom/Dad :). God Bless you all and keep the support for each other alive!
Michele,
Tell Wes I wish him the best in his next journey and going back to college is the right path to take. He is an exceptional kid and I can't say enough good things about him. Remember we spent about 4 hours together road tripping between the airport & base. You raised a damn fine kid and I'm sure he'll land on his feet. Like I've said before, the boy is gifted in photography. Hopefully he'll take a class or two in that area.
Send him my best,
E.G.