I’m at the playground with my four-year-old son. He’s swinging and sliding down the new equipment in our local park. He whizzes past me, getting rid of all the energy he’s stored in his small body from a day of pre-school rules.
He picks up a small stick, and pretends he’s fighting the bad guys. I’ve seen boys all over the world play this game. “Mom, look at me, I’m a soldier,” he says.
Yesterday, my cell phone rang and I heard these words again, only this time, his voice was deep.
“Mom, I’m a soldier now,” he said with such pride.
“Congratulations,” was all I could say at that moment. He had a plane to catch and I would see him later that evening at the airport.
What went through my mind was a mixture of emotions: fear, pride, love, loss, sadness and happiness.
My seventeen-year-old son enlisted with the National Guard. He wanted this more than anything.
This summer he will attend a nine week training course before returning to high school to finish his senior year. After that, he plans to attend college and continue training during those years.
When I gave birth and held him in my arms, it never occurred to me that one day he would become a soldier. I’m sure it’s different for families who have grown up in the military, but for me, this is new, and I shall have to learn to put my fears aside.
Perhaps I just need to be a Gutsy mom, and stop worrying.
How about you? Do you think about what your children will become when they grow up? If they already are adults, did they end up becoming who you thought they would?
I've always been grateful that neither of my sons went into the military, because of the fear. My fear. I feel for you Sonia.
But on the bright side… he's starting a military career so early that maybe some day he'll be part of an elite group that save the world.
Bottom line… we can only love and nurture them to a point and then we have to accept their choices and let them work out their own problems. Hard as hell to do, I know.
"fear, pride, love, loss, sadness and happiness" I can totally understand you feeling all of those things, but I know in the long run he will make you very proud.
My son always had his eyes on the skies and he has ended up being an astrophycisist, currently working on a Mars mission,
Be proud Sonia. What a lovely young man. Both my eldest kids have interest in the military. My daughter is especially keen. We'll just have to see and love them and hope they all stay safe.
Congrats to your son. It's great when kids have a passion that they want to follow. At the moment – for my daughter -it's music. But what will she and my son be when they are adults? I don't know – but I hope they will be happy, kind and generous!
@Ladyfi
What kind of music does our daughter like?
@ALL
BLOGGER HAD ISSUES AND I LOST ALL MY COMMENTS. SO SORRY. DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
What a proud momma you are!
And as a mom of an adult kiddo, I have to say yes and no…. She is not on "the education track" we discussed, but then again, she is not a follow a track kind of person, so the fact that she is trying so many different routes is EXACTLY what I would expect from her…
Makes me more proud that she is on HER plan. 🙂
What a great post! For mine, two became school teachers, one became a musician.
The boys both served in the military, one in the army and the other one in the marines.
You must be so proud, and well you should. …Marsha
I know I should say "Congratulations", but I have mixed emotions. My Father is 90 and served with the Marine 2nd Battalion in the Battle of Tarawa, my brother was with the 82nd Airborne during Granada…All I can say is they are noble and patriotic sons of this country and I will pray for their safety.
You raise them and then you have to let go. You can't stop worrying and you can't take over their lives. What you can do is share their adventure if they let you and love them.
@Kelli
Glad to hear that she's following her plan.
@Marsha
Thanks for your support and visit. Hope to keep in touch.
@DonnaB
Thanks Donna. I know what you're saying.
@Ralph
That's good sound advice. Thank you.
wow, sonia – congrats on your fine young man. he must make you so proud♡
Whatever one says about a military career, it seems to me that most who come out the other end are focused and confident and unafraid to take on new tasks and challenges. I have a lot of friends who have been that route and few ever complain that military service was now a positive experience in their lives.
@Amanda
Yes, I'm proud that he's found his passion at a young age.
@Robert the Skeptic
Thanks for your comment. It gives me something to latch onto.