If it was your son?

Question

My son is joining the Marines soon. He's already getting crap from some of his young peers and I need to be able to nicely explain how proud I am and how important what he's doing for his country. Any suggestions?

Please, only respond if you have something positive to contribute. Please.

I may have not explained myself well.. In that I've already told him that I'm extremely proud and honored to have him do this.

I was trying to come up with a way to tell his friends in a grown up way to shut the hell up and go pound sand, or support him. He's got some chicks that are oooooooooh you don't love your son very much do you.....letting him march off to war.
I wanted to word it nicely, but still get the point across.

Answer 1

hi,i am a former combat marine and vietnam vet,i am proud of your son, because he knows that he will make a few friends in the corps and these are a totally different cliche.if you want to write to me.i am at [e-mail].
agter your son arrives at mcrd , he will think he arrived backwards in time about seventy years ago at dachau concentration camp.boot camp seperates the weak from the tough and has no place for modern day cowards or hoods as they can't hack it anyway and there is no draft to squeeze the bums off the streets anyway.they will tear into your son physically, mentally and emotionally and re-construct him together again.i hope you attend his graduation from bootcamp

Answer 2

You have raised your son to be a fine young man with high values, so I am sure he understands that those giving him a hard time don't know what they are talking about, or have the same set of morals he does. I dealt with this the whole time I was on recruiting duty from 2001-2004. Most people that are against joining the military are selfish and have no concept of a calling to serve a country that lets us make the most of who we want to be and not be told what we have to be. I applaud your support as well, I have met many parents that don't understand why their child would want to serve. My parents have been behind me my whole career, and have had to deal with the idiots that don't know why they are proud of me. The best thing to do is just say "your welcome". Even if they don't comprehend now, they will at some time know what you meant. I wish your son the best of luck, and maybe he and I will serve together some day. You can message me about any questions you may have about your son's time in the military.

Answer 3

I learned along time ago you probably wont change their opinions I would just tell them look I am very proud of what he has decided to do and they can either deal with it or stay away from him. If they were his real friends they wouldnt be giving him crap theyw ould be supporting him, sounds like he is better off getting away from them. Hopefully as they grow older they will realize how stupid they were and change their minds. I just try to keep in mind the military isnt for everyone. Quite frankly you may be trying to be too nice a little tough love doesnt hurt every once in a while.

Answer 4

My own son is a recent graduate of Army Basic Combat Training, and he is stationed at Fort Hood, TX. I cannot put into words how extremely proud I am of him.

We are a military family, all the way back to the civil war (and probably beyond). Each generation heard their fair share of "crap" about what was going on in the world during each time frame ... and we all dealt with it on our terms during our own time frames (even me -- Army Reserves during the '80's).

What I have told my own son is how proud I am of him, for defending our country, and our freedoms -- my freedoms -- despite the controversy that surrounds this current war. I remind him of the sacrifices made by all of our family to defend these same freedoms, and that it requires the dedication of young people, just like him, to keep even the naysayers of today free and able to speak. We live in a free country, unlike any other, and our military work diligently to defend these rights. If it weren't for young people like your and my son, the naysayers would not have a free voice -- speaking out against the government would definitely mean relinquishing their life in any other country. We are in a unique position in the United States -- we have the freedom of speech. And that freedom requires defense. Our young people of today, yesterday and tomorrow defend that freedom -- every single day. God Bless America! May Freedom Ring.

Answer 5

It suffices to be proud of a son for many things and to tell him accordingly. However, whatever he chooses to do / follow as a career in later years is and remains his choice.

I see no need to develop any strategy whatsoever to protect him from any related adolescent, glib or childish remarks stemming from the career he has chosen!

Its not necessary to overly protect him as as it could be retroactive in his dealing with others - i. e. no matter what he does - mummy rushing out to burst into protective adoration, excuse and/or praise to justify her sons decisions!

Let him be / stand on his own feet / deal with it in his own way.
He'll have to deal with all sorts of people when he's in the military, let him actively (on his own) start now!


Hes obviously mature enough to have made his own decision / full well knowing what the ultimate consequences may be.

It suffices for you to give him love, protection etc whenever talking privately together, whatever doubts or worries may assail him. The knowledge that his own family will always support him, listen, understand and thus ensure his confidence - paramount in every respect.

Answer 6

Ma'am, first let my congratulate you on raising a fine son. You are right to be proud of him.

But as far as your dilemma, don't worry about it. Your son knows he's doing the right thing and the consternation he's getting from his peers probably does not bother him in the least. (Besides these kids are really no longer his peers and were probably never his friends.)

Also your son is about to be a United States Marine. I seriously doubt that he needs or wants his mother sticking up for him.

Answer 7

I congratulate him and appreciate him and all the other who decided to defend our country. Its different now than it was 15 years or so ago a lot of people were joining not thinking we would every go to war again wanting the benefits of being in the army marines and air forces getting educational assistance but knowing that we are at war or when it even going to end i commend you and him and i thank you both in advance ill keep your family in my prayer and my god be with you all

Answer 8

Your pride is well placed, and I wouldn't have a hard time telling your son. The "nice" way to let him know how you feel is just tell him.

As for his peers that are giving him heat --- he'll soon be with a peer group that he'll never experience again in his lifetime. Marines are truly a genuine brotherhood. Your son will almost certainly come to realize how petty the members of his civilian peer group actually is.

Answer 9

I am a 15 year old son in a military family all the way back to my great-grandfather. When my brother left for the Air Force, we showed our appreciation by tying the yellow ribbon to support the troops around our tree. As a military brat, I understand how hard it is for a parent or any relative for that matter to see their son or daughter go to war. Congratulations for your son and may God be with him and every troop in the field of battle.

Answer 10

i have to agree with roy on this one. the "new guys " that he will meet are gonna be his brothers in arms and in peace and they never forget who their brothers are. what your son is doing also reflects upon his parents, you raised him to be respectful for this country (which a lot of young ones are only seeking the release of a new computer game). it's too bad that his peers don't share his noble ideals. nothing but the best wishes go out to you and your family for supporting your manly acting son. and by the way, you don't need to explain a thing, his actions are the explaination.