I've been anxiously awaiting disclosing some news in our family until all of the pieces were finalized so now... IT'S OFFICIAL!
Bubba, my oldest, has enlisted in the United States Navy. Whew. Just typing that makes my heart race. It's such a huge deal.
He isn't the first in the family to consider this action. He comes from a long line of Navy servicemen: my grandfather, my dad and both of my brothers precede him. None of my family members made it their career; however my oldest sib probably would have. Another blog.
Hindsight always being 20/20, this has probably been a logical choice for Bubba for as long as I can remember. When he was a young boy, the most influential person (other than Hubs) to him was a man we met his 5th grade year of Pop Warner football. Oooh, I DISLIKED that man very, very much. He was a "screamer". Borderline degrading, he spent a lot of time picking on the kids (mom's perception). He was constantly in the earhole of their helmets telling them to get off their a$$es and work harder! I did not like it ~ how could you yell at 11 year olds like that? His own son was afraid of him!
But to Bubba, he was the best coach he ever had (and he had A LOT... very athletic). He really responded well to that drive and determination. He would even laugh when coach got a little mouthy... wasn't intimidated at ALL by this man. See, I should have known then what I know now.
Obviously, with Bubba married with little nugget it makes this journey a little more complicated than had he gone right when he graduated. But he had his own difficult things to learn first. He had worked for years to get the attention of his bio dad, making choices and decisions he thought would make him proud. In the end, he learned some relationships are just not meant to be and once he understood that he freed himself to become the man he was destined to become.
I am overwhelmed with pride, excitement, happiness and gratitude to my son for taking this important step. I am also nervous, anxious, scared and intimidated about the journey. And of course, I love my perfect daughter and little nugget and want them to be happy, adjusted and content as well.
It will be an amazing few years for our family. He won't be leaving right away for bootcamp so we have some time to adjust to it all. The USN works very diligently with married recruits to help accommodate the family (at least thus far). That is so critical to all of us.
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