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A Mother’s Pride

I shouldn’t even call this post that-it should probably read a parent’s pride.  Without going into too much detail (one-because I don’t know how much we are allowed to say and two-it’s so complicated I don’t even really know how to describe it!) we recently got back from Charleston, SC.  Ok, I can give details about that-more on that in a bit.  But we went down there for Joe’s graduation. Our son is in the Navy, and he recently finished up a part of his training.  We took that as an opportunity to drive down to celebrate with him, and to visit Charleston.

Let me say-I don’t know if I’ve ever been that hot. And I lived in Okinawa for four years. WOW! We went down to King Street,and walking outside from the restaurants or shops literally takes your breath away-the heat is just stifling.  But, we had a good time, and I was beyond thrilled to see our son.  The last time we saw him was at Christmas, and though we text and try to talk at least once a week, it isn’t the same.

So, he graduated on Friday, but Roy and I decided to drive down Thursday to spend a bit more time visiting Charleston and Roy’s parents, who made the drive up from Alabama for this occasion.

“Almost there!” I texted Joe when the GPS said we had about 45 minutes until we got there.

“Cool! How much further?” he texted me right back.

“About 40 minutes give or take. I’ll let you know when we are closer.”

I was anxious. I miss him so much, and just knowing we’d see him in less than an hour had me on pins and needles.

“About ten minutes, sweetie.” Roy told me. WOW!  Fastest 45 miles EVER!

I sent Joe a text and he sent one back telling us where we could pick him up.  We pulled into the parking lot and soon saw him walking towards us.

And this is where my heart melted.  Roy has always been very upfront with the boys. He tells them he loves them, that he is proud of them. He jokes with them, and will spend hours talking to them, or helping them with work, etc.  But he and the boys aren’t always the most physically affectionate.  He is with me. And the boys are all with me. (YES, I am proud that all five of the boys willingly hug and will give me a kiss on the cheek, they have never cared who sees!)

Roy was closer to Joe than I was, and he got out of the car and just wrapped our son in a huge hug.  Roy held tight and Joe held on just as tight, and what a moment for me this was.  I don’t know what it was about that moment that melted my heart, but just thinking about it brings a tear to my eye.

I get sad, as Roy calls it, when it comes to Joe.  I miss him so much when he isn’t here, and I’ll often cry while I’m alone-in the bathroom or when I get up very early. It isn’t that Roy will make fun of me, but there just isn’t anything he can do, and I know that makes him feel bad. When I’m upset he wants to fix it, to make things better for me, and in this case he can’t.  And though I know Roy misses Joe, I think it’s different for him. He is so proud, and I think his pride in our son outweighs the ‘sad.’ He can put aside missing Joe, because he’s so proud of what he’s doing.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely proud of him, and I know the field he is in is one of the most elite, and hardest programs and Joe is soaring, but I miss him terribly, and sometimes I forget how proud I am, and just want to walk into his old room and see him there.

Anyways, that hug between the two of them just reminded me that Roy misses him too. That I’m not alone in this journey of seeing our sons’ move forward with their lives.

That hug just reminded me that Roy misses him as much as I do.  That he will miss Corey as much as I do-because our oldest is about to leave home too!

And I was so taken by the moment, that of course I forgot to get a picture!

family Kids military service Navy parenting
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