Yesterday was it. ย The day that we got to say Goodbye to our Second Son. He Is In Good Hands with the Navy, at least I sure hope so cause I want him home in one piece!!
He went to his Enlistment Ceremony and we were able to watch him being Sworn IN! The day before we got to spend with Family having a BBQ and it was nice to be able to say “Goodbye and Goodluck”
I do know one thing – I have never seen him so focused, so driven and so determined to chase a dream before….and I already miss him lots. But its a different feeling compared to when our oldest son went in.
With Our Oldest Son ::
I felt like I had let him down, I had taken away too much from him by buying this Motorhome and by not listening to his needs. And I felt like our relationship was on very shaking ground, and its still feels like that most days. We no longer have that Son/Mum connection, I lost him before he went into the Navy and the Navy is now his family.
And he turns to his Dad for talks, he looks up to him and asks advice from him, sharing his thoughts with long conversations over the phone {which I am so happy about}
Our Second Son ::
Its different with him…..he never moved away before going into the Navy. He has let me help me the whole way through – from shopping for suits, to trips into the Australia Defence Force Office to speak up for when paper work was not being accepted, to talks about what is going to happen while at basic training.
I have spent LOTS of quality time with him before he went, and he has helped look after his brothers many times so that David and I could have some time out. I wished I had spent more time but there is only so many hours in one day!!
Zachery and I have spent time bonding, laughing, growing together in the last year. And I am so very grateful for all that we were able to experience together…..he is my friend as well as my son. And I am so proud of all that he has done to make his dream a reality. He has to had to work towards accepting that its going to be physically challenging to his body, but he is ready.
All Of My Boys ::
I am Proud of all of my boys – they all chase their own dreams, its just that Zachery turns to me more than he turns to his Dad for the day to day stuff….he has always been that way since a baby….he is a great kid and I know that when he comes back he will be changed, but it will all be good!
He will stand taller {if that is possible?}
He will look more built {he was going to the gym in the last six months and I know that his body is going to be more pumped when he returns}
He will be more proud of himself {he lacks the confidence to see what others already can see in him, he has the most amazing kindness qualities yet doesn’t even know it}
He will be more sure of his place in this world
He will be part of another family but will always have this family as his back up.
Joking Around ::
Before he went I was teasing him all week long…..”You Do Know the Door Is Only Opened At Home After You Graduate” but of course I was joking the whole time….I actually couldn’t care one bit if he did or if he didn’t finish his Basic Training.
If he got down there and decided that “Nope, the navy lifestyle is not for me” then who cares? Not Me.
As long as he gave it a go, as long as he put in the effort, as long as he chased his dream, as long as he is happy. That to me is all that Matters.
Yes I am proud of him.
Yes I have my fingers crossed that he is going to cope with all of the training.
Yes I love how he went after what he wanted.
Yes I would still be proud of him if he changed his mind!
Yes I would still be proud of him if he decided that he wanted a different career.
You see I am Proud no matter what.
And I miss him like crazy!!! My friend/My Son is gone for the time being but He Is IN Good Hands.
Basic Training ::
Hurry Up 11 Weeks – I can’t wait to be in Melbourne. Standing down there watching his March Out Parade.
Hurry Up So He Can Give Me One Of His Special Hugs.
Be happy Zachery, we love you and wish you well no matter what ๐
And I joke about “Two Down, Three to Go” but in actual fact our younger TWO Sons are NOT allowed to look at any Forces…they can join the circus, or be actors, or be beach bums….I don’t care what but no more forces for my boys!!!
Thanking you for following his Journey.
*** Last Night he called from Melbourne Airport. He made it down there safe n sound and was waiting to find out where the Bus was to take him to basic training. As soon as I know more details about what division he is in, I will share the Navy Facebook Page and details.
From now on he will called {here on New Life on the Road} as second “Woody Son” ๐
* Linking up with “With Some Grace” for Flog Your Blog Friday– Thanks Grace!
Cheers
Lisa
New Life on the Road.
Hoping the eleven weeks flies by for you Lisa. So happy for him and the time you had bonding before he entered.
budget jan recently posted..Tuesday in Townsville Strand Night Markets
Thanks Jan – I am counting down the days to we get to Melbourne for his March out Parade ๐
Its already been one week, and I was able to speak with him yesterday and he is doing ok!
Such a moving time for you all. I hope he does really well at Basic Training and that the time flies until you see him again. Thank you for sharing your story.
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It came up so quickly, one minute he was applying to get in and now he is gone!!
And yep I so cant wait for the basic training to be over so that I get to see him again ๐
You must be so proud!! I have a five year old boy and it’s hard to imagine him all grown up.
Kristy @Loveandblasphemy recently posted..Work. It’s Sometimes a Problem.
Believe me it goes so very fast, hold onto your sweet little one and give him lots of hugs….I so wished I could freeze time! I still can’t believe that Zachery is all grown up and ready for the big wide world, I can still remember bringing him home from hospital ๐
Congratulations! As a new parent I can imagine how you feel. Good luck and hope it won’t be too long until you see him again.
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Thanks Charu ๐
I can understand that missing, it’s like the heart strings being pulled to the max. It hurts but at the same time, bursts with love and pride, excitement and happiness. Hoping you can fill your time well until you see him again and he handles it fine ๐
Alicia – One Mother Hen recently posted..Crostoli
Thanks Alicia, so good to know that I am not the only Mum that feels this way….he has been gone for one week already, ten more to go!
I am really proud of him, can’t wait to hug him and let him know ๐
I know what you mean with your first son. I’ve had a rocky path with decisions made that drifted our number one son apart. Poor first borns are our experimental learning boards. I’ve been encouraged that over time they do come back into a strong relationship particularly with ‘Mum’. Hang on to that and together you and I can have something great to hope for. Love your journey.
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Oh How True – I so think that our first born gets all of our Parenting trial and errors!! I am so thankful that he is able to turn to his Dad for talks.
And thanking you for letting me know that I am not alone with this new parenting journey that we are on…trying to find out the way back to a stronger relationship sure is something that I am working towards.
Sure do hope that both of us can have that love between our kids once again xxx
Lovely post! If he was my son I would be extremely proud too!
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Thanks Shelley ๐
One of my sons is in the military. It is a long 11 weeks, hope it passes quickly for you.
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a big day for you all!
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