Hi Michelle,
Welcome!! I too am a proud mom, my son shipped out Memorial Day.
My son turned twenty at boot camp. He requested no birthday cards, I did
oblige but throughout a letter I did wish him Happy Birthday.
Emotions: There will be days that will be harder than others and then days
that will be okay. Stay busy.

Package ideas: first off my son requested no packages, then in a letter he asked
if we could get enough power bars and cough drops for fifty-five recruits. We've sent
two boxes: (1) had power bars/cough drops, (2) was power bars and powder drink mix
to add to their water. (The cough drops-soothing for their sore throats, a lot of yelling and
your son will be hoarse. I have a feeling we are planning on sending another box of power
bars/cough drops in the next box. I'd wait for your son to write to you and he can tell you
what he can have sent. BUT you have to send enough for the entire platoon.

Your letters: Morale will be low for the first three weeks. Keep your letters uplifting, let him
know you support him 100%, and you are there for him. You will want to go and get him,
but you know you can't. Just stay positive in your letters. I write everyday and send it out
every other day. I had one ready for him, all I needed was his address and as soon as
I got that letter, my letter went out. Keep writing, letters are important.

I hope some of this helps. Enjoy your time with your son before his ship date.
April

These are awesome comments! Thank you everyone! My son is leaving in 3 days (2 days to MEPS), for basic @Camp Pendleton. His grad date is November 16th...:) Charlie Company. Anyone please feel free to keep in touch with me!

My Poole leaves the same week, he is going to California. My son will also have a birthday at boot camp. I hope they are not harder on them that day. He will be 19yrs old. Also my baby. Try not to count the days. Keep positive. I try to imagine how he will look on graduation day and see the goal. I confess it is hard for me. I only had 3 sons and one is with Jesus. I am glad he is a son. Letting go of a daughter would be harder for me. Stay in the love and light! And I can't wait to brag on him when he is a Marine! Oh it will happen. :)

Hi Michelle,

My son has been in the DEP since September of last year! He's finally shipping out on August 6th..... I hope! My daughter leaves for college on August 3rd, so I have two leaving the nest within three days of each other. It's going to be VERY quiet around here! I am very exciting for my son and he's anxious to finally get started. We come from a family of veterans in all branches, so we're proud to have him join the family tradition of service to God and Country.

Blessings to all of you!
Connie

Hi Michelle,

My son also leaves the third week of August. He graduated high school in June. I am so proud of his choice to become a Marine. He has two younger brothers and has set such a good example for them to follow. Our family is going to miss him so much. I take comfort in knowing he is going to receive the best training and become a confident young man.

My son just left july 16. I am so proud of him. As a Mom be prepared. the first phone call is literally 6 sec. so get your I Love you in while he is yelling his name arrival and such. I still am waiting on the letter he is suppose to have sent his first week. also they post some pics on the facebook page of the new recruits when they arrive if you are one of the lucky ones you might get to see your son there. Sounds like we have alot in common. My son was a poolee and just graduated also and like your son will turn 18 a month after he arrived.. Good Luck Tell your son I am proud of him and thank you for serving. I will keep yall in my prayers..

Hi Michelle!
Thanks for posting and welcome to the few & proud families of future Marines!
I sent my son off to MCRD San Diego on June 18 and totally relate to your emotional state! I find comfort in writing Jeffrey every other day or so to not only let him know the stuff that goes on around home but to let him know how much we love and support his decision to be a recruit in the United States Marine Corps. I have already booked our rooms for graduation and planned our vacation around it. We are focused on September 14, his scheduled date for graduation. In the meantime, we use the great support on the web, to keep abreast of what Jeff is training this week for, and what he's scheduled to be training for in the coming weeks. It is true, the answers aren't clear as we'd like them to be at times, but we understand the level of commitment comes with the trust that he is in good hands, is safe and growing into a responsible and mature young man, the kind of young man that would defend the liberties and freedoms of this great country of ours. If you delve into the nuts and bolts behind the tough boot camp experience, you'll find sound judgment behind its purpose.
I will miss the young boy I raised but the exchange is that of a dedicated servant to his fellow man. Simply, I wouldn't want it any other way, because there is no greater service than that to your man, and the high ethical standards the Marine Corps have demonstrated makes me confident of his personal decision to become one is sound. You and I both will beam with pride when our sons graduate.
Please keep posting how your family is faring through the experience, it really does help! Until then, get to know your recruiter well and don't be afraid to ask them for information continually. My son's recruiter, actually 3 of them, have been invaluable as a source of comfort and encouragement!
Semper Fi!
-Deborah Saunders

My son is also leaving the 3rd week of August 2012 he going to CA. The days are getting closer and I'm getting sad but I know I have to be strong when his around.

Congrats to you and your son! My son has also been in the DEP and will ship out on Monday 7/23/2012. I am a nervous wreck and sad but at the same time I am as proud as I am sure you are! He is my "baby" and the last one to leave the "nest". I am worried about how much I will miss him! I have focused so much of my life around this person that the thought of me not caring for him (physically) is hard to fathom! I wish you and your son the best and please keep me posted! I have no ideas to share but as soon as I figure things out I will share! Cheers to our fine young "soon to be" Marines! God Bless the USA!

Michelle,
I too am the proud mom of a future Marine!! My son was suppose to ship out on July 16th, however..We were on our way to SC to see my other son Graduate from Army Basic Training and we traveled south of Columbus OH and his recruiter called and said turn around your shipping today. This was on the 25th of June. I had no time to really prepare myself, and I didn't get to go to Indianapolis to see him off. Instead I held my head high and told him to keep his head high and go get his dream he'd had since 7th grade. I am so very proud of him. I made it to SC with tears flowing, but then I saw my other son graduate, and the since of pride I cant explain, but being able to see the accomplishment that he had done and how proud he was made it easier a little bit with my son, the future Marine, leaving.
Im very proud of both my boys!! You will have tons of emotions going through you, but just stay positive and busy. It helps to write them. I still haven't been able to go around his things, but I know in time I will be able to.
I signed the papers for him to enlist last August on his birthday. That is all he wanted. So now he will celebrate his 18th birthday in boot camp. Im so excited to see him. He graduates September 21st. I stay focused on that.
Congrats to you also!!

Michelle,

Hello. My poolee son won’t leave until June 2013 after he graduates high school, but I am already nervous and excited. lol I have found Valerie Sweet has some good articles. One it titled Boot Camp: [Part 1] Boot Camp is Hard on Parents. I would find her articles to read since she has some very good ideas.

Kateri