Missing my son...and being proud

[JerseyWendy]

As many (most) of you know, my son joined the Army in October. He graduated from Basic Training just before Christmas, and we were able to bring him home for Exodus for a little under 2 weeks.

On January 2nd he went back to Fort Benning, Georgia, and he succeeded into getting into Officer Candidate School. (STIFF competition there with only a certain amount of slots open for that class).

He is now half way through his course, and today was "branching day", which means he found out whether he got the MOS (job in the Army) that he wanted the most. He did! He will be a Signal Corps Officer (Communications). The competition is/was QUITE stiff. There were only 3 available slots for that MOS.

I got a text from him...and this is what I got, and the ONLY thing I got:




Since my husband is retired Army (yup...Signal Corps, but enlisted, not officer), I knew what I was looking at, and I completely broke down into tears. They were tears of joy. Mike's worked REALLY hard for this, and I am SO glad he got what he wanted.

I miss him heaps. NO words can ever describe how much I miss him, and just how much I worry each and every day. IMO he's only safe when I know he's sleeping right here, in his bedroom, lol.

He and I are VERY close. Always have been and always will. Mike is 24 now, and yes, he's a grown man, right? Well, he'll ALWAYS be my baby, no matter how old he is. :54:

Here are a few pictures:

During EXODUS he and his "little" brother Mark (21) went to NY City.

Also taken during his time home. Mike and our Amazons:

This picture was taken last weekend, when he and fellow Candidates did Community Service in a library in Alabama. They read for/with children and did some "crafts".

Gosh...I miss him SO much!

Thank you for listening to me ramble.

 

[SandyBee]

Ah ramble away!!
That's fantastic that he got what he worked for, wonderful pics.
Thanks for sharing with us. CONGRATS!!!

 

[Turk]

You have earned the right to ramble all you want! You must be so proud!

 

[sonja]

Congratulations to Mike on his accomplishment! And congratulations to you for having a son worthy of such pride!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

awww I bet you miss him so much.

 

[ConureCrazy]

Congratulations to your son! He must have worked SO hard for that!

 

[tab_xo]

Awwwwwwww! Wendy you must be sooo proud.. Congratulations Mike!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

That is awesome!! Good for him. Your sons are so handsome too!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Thank you SO very much, Sandy, Turk, Sonja, Ashley, Yasmin, and Tab. You all have me bawling- again with your sweet, and thoughtful comments.

I am so grateful he can call me from his cell phone at least once a week. He didn't have those priviledges during Basic. Yet hearing his voice makes me choke up each and every time, and believe me, I TRY to be strong and not let him know about all my worries.

He texted his brother Mark the EXACT same picture he texted me and his dad, and when Mark called me a bit ago, he is SO proud of his brother, SO happy...that had me going into such sadness again.

I miss the times when they were small, I really, truly do.

I guess when children sever the umbilical cord is MUCH more painful than I had ever anticipated. Nor was I ready for it- just yet.

Again, THANK YOU all very, VERY much!!!! Your kind words and encouragement mean a whole lot to me.

 

[angiern]

You must be so proud! I feel your pain, though, it's hard to let your children go even though you know you must. My eldest daughter is in the Naval Academy. I was OK with that because I still had one daughter at home. She's going to be off to college in a few months, though, and it's hard to think about that. That is one reason I decided to get a bird. It will be something of a surrogate child.

 

[henpecked]

Congrats Wendy, i grew up in the Army, my dad was a full bird. I'm sure he always wanted me to join. But like i say , i grew up in the Army and wanted no part of it. That was one of the biggest mistakes in my life. There's a value about morality and duty that is sadly missing in todays world. Thank you and your son for guarding my freedom. For ever in debt. it's folks like you who are the true "back bone" of America.

 

[BillsBirds]

I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say thank him for his service. And thank you for your motherly sacrifice. I hope everything works out the way he hopes it will.

 

[Sherry]

Congratulations to your son! What an accomplishment, you have every reason to be so proud. All six of my kids are grown and on their on now, it's just crazy! It's definitely a time of mixed feelings. On one hand your so happy and proud but on the other you would love nothing more that to go back to the times of tucking them in bed. Things will get easier that's just the way of things. Now I'm a grandma! Crazy stuff (I'm way to young to be a Grammy!) I LOVE IT! It is the only thing better than raising you own is watching and sharing in them raising theirs. Oh and raising my baby birds of course. Again, big hugs and congrats on your wonderful sons.

 

[antoinette]

Congrats Wendy you must be so so proud and you ought to be !!!!!

Brings back so many memories for me
Years ago my eldest brother also set his sights on Signal Corps Officer. He made it as well.....I know exactly how proud you are, all the motions you are going through.

Lovely when your loved ones achieve what they set out to do

 

[Mirlito]

You must miss him every single second of the day and feel really proud of him

Thanks for the pics.

 

[wenz2712]

Congrats to Mike You must be so proud of him Wendy.

I know how much you miss him, but he has achieved so much in such a short space of time.

Sending hugs to you.

 

[aliray]

Congrats to Mike. He earned it. You and your family have every right to be proud. Loved the pictures. Thank you:42:

 

[JerseyWendy]

You must be so proud! I feel your pain, though, it's hard to let your children go even though you know you must. My eldest daughter is in the Naval Academy. I was OK with that because I still had one daughter at home. She's going to be off to college in a few months, though, and it's hard to think about that. That is one reason I decided to get a bird. It will be something of a surrogate child.

Congratulations to your daughter!

I can very much relate to getting bird after a child leaves.... :54: When Mark, my 21 year old went off to college, his brother was a Senior in a different college at the time, so that's when I got Niko (my B&G).

And when Mike left home again on January 2nd this year, I had a complete breakdown. Well - that's when I brought Ripley home (GW)

So now I have 4 fids who keep me on my tippy toes, and I'm loving each and every minute of it.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Congrats Wendy, i grew up in the Army, my dad was a full bird. I'm sure he always wanted me to join. But like i say , i grew up in the Army and wanted no part of it. That was one of the biggest mistakes in my life. There's a value about morality and duty that is sadly missing in todays world. Thank you and your son for guarding my freedom. For ever in debt. it's folks like you who are the true "back bone" of America.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Richard! Your sweet and thoughtful reply sure opened the faucet again.

It could not have been easy for you having a Colonel for a father. I'm certain he's been in more than just 1 war. That had to have been so difficult for you and your mother.

I remember when my husband was a DI in the 90s in Oklahoma. The ONLY thing Mike ever talked about then was wanting to be a soldier, and I remember quite vividly telling him "Over my dead body, I'll chain you to the floor if I have to." Well....look at us now.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Congratulations to your son! What an accomplishment, you have every reason to be so proud. All six of my kids are grown and on their on now, it's just crazy! It's definitely a time of mixed feelings. On one hand your so happy and proud but on the other you would love nothing more that to go back to the times of tucking them in bed. Things will get easier that's just the way of things. Now I'm a grandma! Crazy stuff (I'm way to young to be a Grammy!) I LOVE IT! It is the only thing better than raising you own is watching and sharing in them raising theirs. Oh and raising my baby birds of course. Again, big hugs and congrats on your wonderful sons.

Thank you, Sherry!

Wow, you've raised 6 children. Now THAT is quite an accomplishment!! You are a grandmom? NO kidding! I don't know if I'll ever be ready for that. <-- just kidding. And hugs right back at you.