***My eldest son, Yosef, left for Army Basic Training in October. This series documents my parenting experience through his nearly three months away from home. Please note: this series is not affiliated with the U.S. Army National Guard in any way, all observations and opinions are my own. ***
For the first time thus far during my son, Yosef’s, Army Basic Training, my heart sank a bit as I hung up the phone on Sunday. I had prepared myself for the call that might end with my son in tears, begging to quit and to come back home.
I’m happy to report that this was NOT that.
No, but for the first time for our two months apart, Yosef seemed very beaten down. I could tell he was sick, tired, and came into the call frazzled at a phone issue eating into his once-per-week device time. Yosef has never been sick so I detected that was most of the issue. And, while he could see the resident base doc, that would take days off of his training and, potentially, elongate his time at Fort Leonard Wood – a risk he was not willing to take. So, we soldiered on.
In spite of Yosef not feeling well, everything seemed just tolerable this week.
Things that were “cool” and “challenging” were now just fine. Talking about “friends” had now transitioned into speaking about “other kids in the platoon.” Yosef’s demeanor was more matter-of-fact than determined. I think we got about a dozen “I’m fine” comments during our eight minutes together. There is certainly a mid-BTC lull setting in for my soldier.
Yosef’s attitude, I’m sure, wasn’t only the sickness, phone issues, or the lack of time to talk, it was the two months of seeing the same faces, hearing the same voices, of being tired, the weather turning cold, and being so detached from his version of “real life.”
Yosef said it best, “It is like being kidnapped or living on another planet.”
I concur.
It was not easy to hang up the phone on Sunday. My (not so) little boy was reeling, and I knew it. But, that is part of the process – for us and him. Again, I came to the realization that his life is now his own to manage. All we could do was validate how he was feeling, tell him how proud we are of his actions, and encourage him to keep moving forward because tomorrow will be better.
We can to make him believe that It will be – Basic Training is too difficult otherwise.
No matter how today went, Yosef is one more day closer to graduation.
We’re another closer to seeing our little boy all grown up, well, and returning as a new version of the kid we love.
Next Sunday, though, I hope his phone works!
Missed any of the ‘Off to Basic’ series? Click here read from the beginning!
