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Started By
Message
I drove my son to Montgomery today
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:25 pm
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:25 pm
Today was bittersweet. My son decided to enlist in the Army recently. As veteran myself, I was proud my son decided to follow in my footsteps, even if it was as an infantryman instead of a tanker like his old man. And today was the day he had to report to a hotel in Montgomery so he can process through MEPS a final time and then take the bus ride to Fort Benning, GA for 22 weeks to become an 11 Bravo.
It’s a little over two hours from my house to Montgomery and of course his momma and sister wanted to come along and see him off. It was a great day. We laughed and reminisced on good times.
But at the same time throughout the day I’d look at my son and instead of seeing the fit young man he’s grown into, I saw the 3 yr little boy who was obsessed with watching “Finding Nemo” over and over, and always had his little blue blanket, even going so far as to hold it to his cheek like Linus from Peanuts. I’d look at him again and I’d see the 9 year old baseball player or the 10 year old little offensive lineman so proud to wear the same number on his jersey as I wore in high school. I saw the 6 year old boy, missing his front teeth, snuggled up in his bed with Star Wars sheets and Spongebob Sqarepants while I read him his favorite bedtime story “And to Think I Saw It On Mullberry Street”. All through the day, the closer we got to our final goodbyes, the more memories came flooding back. I’m not ashamed to say that when we said goodbye and I watched him disappear into the hotel in Montgomery, there were plenty of onions being cut. His mom and sister cried almost to Clanton.
The point to all this, a word of advice to all OT parents who still have kids at home. First, cherish the time you have them. It’s a lot more brief than you know until they’re grown. Second, spend as much time with them as you can. There will come a time when you wish you could. And third, let them be little as long as possible. They only get to be kids once. Before you know it, the little snaggle-toothed kid in footy pajamas asking you to read them one just more bedtime story, will be an adult going out into the world on their own. And when that happen, of course you’ll be both proud and happy for them. But it will hurt. Make no mistake, it will hurt. It will break your heart.
It’s a little over two hours from my house to Montgomery and of course his momma and sister wanted to come along and see him off. It was a great day. We laughed and reminisced on good times.
But at the same time throughout the day I’d look at my son and instead of seeing the fit young man he’s grown into, I saw the 3 yr little boy who was obsessed with watching “Finding Nemo” over and over, and always had his little blue blanket, even going so far as to hold it to his cheek like Linus from Peanuts. I’d look at him again and I’d see the 9 year old baseball player or the 10 year old little offensive lineman so proud to wear the same number on his jersey as I wore in high school. I saw the 6 year old boy, missing his front teeth, snuggled up in his bed with Star Wars sheets and Spongebob Sqarepants while I read him his favorite bedtime story “And to Think I Saw It On Mullberry Street”. All through the day, the closer we got to our final goodbyes, the more memories came flooding back. I’m not ashamed to say that when we said goodbye and I watched him disappear into the hotel in Montgomery, there were plenty of onions being cut. His mom and sister cried almost to Clanton.
The point to all this, a word of advice to all OT parents who still have kids at home. First, cherish the time you have them. It’s a lot more brief than you know until they’re grown. Second, spend as much time with them as you can. There will come a time when you wish you could. And third, let them be little as long as possible. They only get to be kids once. Before you know it, the little snaggle-toothed kid in footy pajamas asking you to read them one just more bedtime story, will be an adult going out into the world on their own. And when that happen, of course you’ll be both proud and happy for them. But it will hurt. Make no mistake, it will hurt. It will break your heart.
85
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:27 pm to Darth_Vader
Thanks for his service. You raised him right.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:29 pm to Darth_Vader
Your son sounds like a fine young man. Be a proud pop 
This post was edited on 4/9/23 at 8:29 pm
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:29 pm to Darth_Vader
Sounds like you raised a good young man.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:30 pm to lnomm34
I hope we have raised him right. He’s got his momma’s stubbornness, that’s for sure. And it took him a while to find his footing and decide the direction he wanted to go in life. But I’m damn proud of him.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:33 pm to Darth_Vader
Now that’s words from one proud dad.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:33 pm to Darth_Vader
Should've joined the Space Force
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:33 pm to Darth_Vader
Be proud of him and definitely take pride in a job well done raising him. Y’all done good!
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:33 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
Before you know it, the little snaggle-toothed kid in footy pajamas asking you to read them one just more bedtime story, will be an adult going out into the world on their own. And when that happen, of course you’ll be both proud and happy for them. But it will hurt. Make no mistake, it will hurt. It will break your heart.
A lot of truth in here. When things go right, though, those kids may leave but what they learned never does.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:34 pm to Darth_Vader
Just pray his CO isn’t some tranny
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:34 pm to Darth_Vader
This is much better than the thread last night where the drunk was telling his son to go f himself.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:35 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
But at the same time throughout the day I’d look at my son and instead of seeing the fit young man he’s grown into, I saw the 3 yr little boy who was obsessed with watching “Finding Nemo” over and over, and always had his little blue blanket, even going so far as to hold it to his cheek like Linus from Peanuts. I’d look at him again and I’d see the 9 year old baseball player or the 10 year old little offensive lineman so proud to wear the same number on his jersey as I wore in high school. I saw the 6 year old boy, missing his front teeth, snuggled up in his bed with Star Wars sheets and Spongebob Sqarepants while I read him his favorite bedtime story “And to Think I Saw It On Mullberry Street”. All through the day, the closer we got to our final goodbyes, the more memories came flooding back. I’m not ashamed to say that when we said goodbye and I watched him disappear into the hotel in Montgomery, there were plenty of onions being cut. His mom and sister cried almost to Clanton.
Darth, don't know if you want it or not, but this piece in particular touched me and inspired me. I'd like to turn it into a poem for your family
To a Soldier
A babe is born and makes his way,
Headlong into the bloody fray,
We call the World, and day by day,
Time passes, all get older,
From Finding Nemo and Star Wars sheets,
"And To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street",
All the bedtime stories he'd beg to repeat...
And now, he's to be a soldier.
From a little blue blanket held 'gainst his cheek,
And bright eyed smile without front teeth,
To teenage years giving parents grief,
Long talks between father and son,
From playing baseball and offensive line,
He bore the same number as Dad, for a time,
Now the bittersweet tears taste of mem'ries and brine,
For he'll soon be a man with a gun,
And the days turn to decades, in blinks of an eye,
Little bird leaves the nest, he's still learning to fly,
Though it's only farewell, well it stings like goodbye,
For your little boy's turned to a man,
And the lessons you taught him, the values instilled,
How to walk, how to talk, right and wrong, good and ill,
His first chapters are written, but the book's his to fill,
And he'll write it the best that he can..
But the truth is...he'll stumble, and fall,
Lose his way, on some days...don't we all?
And he'll find that's his back's to the wall,
Then he'll call...and say "Dad..."
He's expecting on getting a stern talking to,
But that hard headed son is a LOT...well...like YOU,
So you'll sort out the pickle, and do what you do,
And here's hoping it won't be too bad,
Sure, the hits will keep coming, the world will keep turning,
But he'll shake off the dust and keep growing and learning,
Because Dad taught him good things in life are worth earning,
Dawn still comes, past the darkest of nights,
And just like he was little, sometimes he'll be scared,
But he'll know what to do, for your lessons prepared,
Him for battle, and know, you'll be proud how he's fared,
Cause you raised him, and taught him to fight,
And he'll thank you, one day when he's older,
So be proud, Dad, you raised up a soldier
..
This post was edited on 4/9/23 at 9:36 pm
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:37 pm to Darth_Vader
A serious question…
As an Army veteran myself, I would never let one of my daughters join the Army. I would tell them Navy or Air Force, for the schools and training.
Did your son want to be infantry, or is he planning on moving up to something else?
As an Army veteran myself, I would never let one of my daughters join the Army. I would tell them Navy or Air Force, for the schools and training.
Did your son want to be infantry, or is he planning on moving up to something else?
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:37 pm to Darth_Vader
We have a three year old and a 1.5 year old. Man, I don’t want them to grow up. They’re perfect as they are. Love my little dudes.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:37 pm to Gifman
quote:
Just pray his CO isn’t some tranny
I tried to give him as much advice about getting though OSUT (basic training) as I could. But I know soooo much has changed since I went though 35 years ago.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:38 pm to fr33manator
quote:
Darth, don't know if you want it or not, but this piece in particular touched me and inspired me. I'd like to turn it into a poem for your family
That would be nice. Thanks.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:39 pm to Darth_Vader
Yeah man. It's tough for him and for you. He will come out better for it and so will you. I remember getting my orders to Germany and my parents drove me to airport to see me off... They were silent... It was like they were taking me to my funeral. Nevertheless I came out good and we both appreciate what the service taught me. Your son will be just fine, kudos to you raising a young man that is willing to put country before self!
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:41 pm to Darth_Vader
I’m not crying. I’m not. Ok, I’m crying remembering my son while reading your post. Greatest gift I’ve ever gotten is being a dad to 3 great kids.
Posted on 4/9/23 at 8:42 pm to theantiquetiger
quote:
As an Army veteran myself, I would never let one of my daughters join the Army. I would tell them Navy or Air Force, for the schools and training. Did your son want to be infantry, or is he planning on moving up to something else?
I did advise him that Air Force is the way to go. They live a much better life. But I know my son. He comes from a long line of army vets. I think it came down to the same reason I joined the army, it’s what the men in our family do and have done for generations. Remember the story of Lt. Dan’s family in Forrest Gump? That story fits my family going back to before the Civil War.
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