I just finished reading this book. I thought it was pretty good. The characters drew me in and I really wanted to know their story!
I am obsessed with stories that take place during WWI. And especially like to read those that deal with the holocaust. It is amazing to me that humans could treat one another that way. I guess I shouldn't say I like those stories, because I don't like that they happened and I normally get very upset reading them. I think we can learn so much from that horrible time.
On another note, it's Friday! And it's a three day weekend for the teens. Husband still has work on Monday, so no fun getaway for us!
And, speaking of the teens... our teen son, who is a junior in high school, just informed us that he wants to go into the military when he graduates. This has totally turned me upside down! From the day our children where born it has always been college, college, college! In fact, both our teen's educations have been paid for! We sacrificed so much so that we could save and invest so that we wouldn't have a problem sending them to college! I realize that he could change his mind but he really seems serious about his decision. I want to support him in whatever he does, but I have this preconceived notion that the military is for kids that aren't smart enough to get into college, or it was for the "bad" kids to do to get their lives on track. I "know' this isn't the case, but I need some someone to tell me this is going to be a good thing. Right now I feel like he is wasting his intelligence. So, send me your good, positive military stories of smart kids who did this and have become very successful in their lives! Help this momma feel good about her son's decision!
I am obsessed with stories that take place during WWI. And especially like to read those that deal with the holocaust. It is amazing to me that humans could treat one another that way. I guess I shouldn't say I like those stories, because I don't like that they happened and I normally get very upset reading them. I think we can learn so much from that horrible time.
On another note, it's Friday! And it's a three day weekend for the teens. Husband still has work on Monday, so no fun getaway for us!
And, speaking of the teens... our teen son, who is a junior in high school, just informed us that he wants to go into the military when he graduates. This has totally turned me upside down! From the day our children where born it has always been college, college, college! In fact, both our teen's educations have been paid for! We sacrificed so much so that we could save and invest so that we wouldn't have a problem sending them to college! I realize that he could change his mind but he really seems serious about his decision. I want to support him in whatever he does, but I have this preconceived notion that the military is for kids that aren't smart enough to get into college, or it was for the "bad" kids to do to get their lives on track. I "know' this isn't the case, but I need some someone to tell me this is going to be a good thing. Right now I feel like he is wasting his intelligence. So, send me your good, positive military stories of smart kids who did this and have become very successful in their lives! Help this momma feel good about her son's decision!
I know a few kids who have gone to the service academies....does he participate in JROTC? That would be a good place to find out if it's really what he thinks it is. DOTR's best friend's son graduated from HS a semester early and went to the Marine Corps because he just knew that's what he wanted. For some kids, it's just a good fit.
ReplyDeleteOH, how I can empathize! My sophomore is thinking about the same thing. AND, I am guilty of identical stereotyping too... which I know is so unfair. We live near Shaw, and know OVERLY educated military personal. But, when it's your child... well, that's different, LOL! I keep thinking of all the wonderful benefits there are to being in the military. And ~ WOW... as a mom that would really be something to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about you. It's funny, we are in such the same season of life!
Part 1 of 2 (too long for a single comment it seems)
ReplyDelete"....but I have this preconceived notion that the military is for kids that aren't smart enough to get into college, or it was for the "bad" kids to do to get their lives on track. I "know' this isn't the case, but I need some someone to tell me this is going to be a good thing. Right now I feel like he is wasting his intelligence."
I appreciate your candor & honesty here, but as someone herself (& who's own husband retired from) were both military - it's hard to not take slight offense with your opinion. I'll do my best to not let my emotions get the best of me here.
Anyways, I attended 2 years of college in upstate SC & after 2 years I still had no idea what it was I wanted to be or do - I kept changing my major like I did shoes. So I joined the US Navy. I went into a healthcare career field & excelled in all my new opportunities & adventures. I also attended college at nights/weekends (ODU when in the states, Sea College when stationed in the Carib) until I went full-time finally earning my degree (TWU). I wouldn't trade those years in the USN for anything! I enjoyed the hell out of it - although not enough to make a lifetime career out of it though. But I still put in 8 years all in all.
It never occurred to me that joining the military was for dumb kids, or bad kids or kids on the the wrong track. It was just another option. An option for someone such as myself who just didn't have my career yet picked out. I needed time to grow into an opinion - not one my parents were shoving down my throat. My parents were shocked & disappointed but while I may not have yet been mature enough or wise enough to know what I wanted to be when I grew up - I sure as hell knew what I didn't want to be which was a carbon copy of my parents. Don't get my wrong, I love the folks, but I didn't want to be them.
So having been in the military, I feel more accomplished & more rounded as a person than if I followed the "expected path". I earned my way - my way. I hindsight, I wouldn't have changed a thing either! I wasn't envious of the kids who went to college knowing exactly what they wanted to be/do when they grew up - I just couldn't understand how they knew the answer. A few years later did I finally have the answer.
The interesting thing is that there are legions of unhappy, pissed off people stuck in jobs they despise, living a life less than exciting, married to spouses they can barely remember why they got married to begin with. Work. home. tv. sleep. work. home. tv. sleep. This is true for college-degreed professionals as well as bad kids, dumb kids, etc. I know one too many unhappy people stuck in boring or stressful careers (career paths they chose at such a young age) hating every instance of it. They all say the same thing...If I had to do it all over again, I'd have been a _____ instead of a _____.
Part 2 of 2
ReplyDeleteI'll never be able to explain the neat esprit de corps & sense of camaraderie I have with friends I met while in the Navy & know from my husbands sqdn. My military time allowed me to see, do & experience things I'd otherwise never have done. Now that my husband has retired from the military, we get some neat perks for that service.
Sure I could have listened to my folks & did what they wanted me to do. But I would have been a puppet in their show fulfilling their dreams. I "should" have married a good Wofford grad. Had the obligatory 2.5 kids, bought a pedigree Golden, attended soiree's at the Poinsett Club, lived in a gated community, etc. But I would probably be in a loveless marriage hoping he's not sleeping with his secretary. Sweeping up dog hair all day, getting botox so I'd look just like the other ladies who lunch, living vicariously through the children. Trapped in someone else's puppet show.
I have a great life! A life I took my time to decide the direction on. I'm a better person for having been in the military. I'm a happy person with few cares or worries. I get to come & go (just got back from St. Croix, about to go back to the Keys) & I'm married to a happy guy. I'll be the ear for my friends who are stuck in miserable lives, but I can't help but think they got themselves into that by doing what someone else wanted them to do, be, etc.
College right out of HS is not for everyone. Maybe your son knows that it's not the right fit for him. The military will give him structure & direction. Many kids that join the military deep down like the regimen that goes with the military - the uniformity, the camaraderie, the structure, the guidance. I for one, loved the esprit de corps that came with the military. When I got out of the military, I came close several times of re-enlisting but opted not to for various reasons. I've yet to find a job in the civilian world that comes even remotely close to having the same kind of camaraderie that I had with my USN gig. I really miss that to. I'll also never have another career that gave me so many great friends, experiences, cool fun stories, laughs over cold beers, crazy travels & odd customs & habits. Glad to have experienced them all.
Jane,if you come back, thank you for your comment! And thanks for just not blasting me for my comments! Your experiences are exactly what I need to hear. I have not had anyone in my immediate family who was in the military. The only ones I did know had attended a military college and then went on to serve their country for a limited amount of time after. I have so many unanswered questions and even though it is his life, I want to make sure he is making the best possible choice. I have not said anything negative to him regarding what he might want to do because in the end it is his life and he will be the one that has to live with the decisions he makes. My husband thinks that the discipline will be good for him.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to email me, if you have anything else to add to the conversation, like I said, I want to hear the positives!
~N
PS I, personally, wouldn't be living vicariously through my child. I went to college, married a college grad who is now a very successful businessman. I have a great life and want the same for my children however they achieve it!
I am the aunt of a VERY smart young man who knew that he was not ready for college directly after high school. He enlisted in the Marines and serve 4 years. He earned many medals and commendations. He enrolled in college and spent a year studying engineering (deans list student). At the end of that year he knew that engineering wasn't for him despite excellent grades. He enrolled in school to become a fire fighter and is a very happy and content young man. I always tell people that I want a fire fighter that is as smart as he is to come to my house if we ever have a fire!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are the children of career Army officers (now deceased). My husband served 20 years of active duty service. They were all college educated with a desire to serve the country that gave them so many opportunities to find their own way in life. Service members (and their families!) are the most disciplined, law abiding, patriotic people in the world. Your son will make you prouder of him than you thought you could ever be. Please encourage him in this decision and support him through all of the training. Thank God that there are still people who are willing to sacrifice their lives and families to protect all of the rest of us. We should honor them every day.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are the children of career Army officers (now deceased). My husband served 20 years of active duty service. They were all college educated with a desire to serve the country that gave them so many opportunities to find their own way in life. Service members (and their families!) are the most disciplined, law abiding, patriotic people in the world. Your son will make you prouder of him than you thought you could ever be. Please encourage him in this decision and support him through all of the training. Thank God that there are still people who are willing to sacrifice their lives and families to protect all of the rest of us. We should honor them every day.
ReplyDeleteHow about suggest a "military college" I know the Naval Academy is great and he could get a full ride with spending money to boot, even though you saved..use that for your lake house.. Maybe that way he could ease into it and leave college with a degree and enter the military as an OFFICER!!
ReplyDeleteWe have quite a few friends of my children who have gone to the military academies after high school. The Air Force Academy and the Navel Academy seem to be where most of them ended up. They got into these because of high grades and recommendations from state senators. Once they graduate from the academies, they are officers. One family that we know had 3 of their 4 go thru the air force academy and they are all pilots or training to be pilots. (2 of the 3 are girls) I totally understand how you feel about not wanting your son to go in right out of high school. I think the college education is very important and I have seen too many military personnel who are not able to find jobs when the get out and many have families and are trying to go thru college at that point. I would have him look into the academies if the military is what he really wants to do. They complete their degree and then commit to service as an officer. The education is paid for as well. We also know 4 who are in medical school thru the military after completing the academy. Longwinded but just a thought that he might persue.
ReplyDeleteYou know, though, that he will probably change his mind ten more times....teenage boys are like that. Would he consider The Citadel? Best of both worldsand he would come out an officer..
ReplyDeleteThis is a hot topic isn't it? I am glad you are honest about it. Either way the hard part for you is the fact that what you pictured, and saved and worked very hard for is not what your son wants. I agree with Belle that like many things in teenagers' lives he may change his mind by tomorrow. My dad was in the Marines for 13 years. He enlisted after graduating college and attended law school while in the Marines. I am always proud to tell people he is/was a Marine. There are many options for your son. I am glad people are giving you both sides. and I hope this helps to ease your path as you work through this. Whatever you decide you are his Momma and you just want him to be happy, safe and life a good life. I know all of us can appreciate that xo
ReplyDeleteEncourage him to go to a college that has ROTC so he'll go in as an officer. Maybe the Citadel is in his future?? :)
ReplyDelete