Kathy, I can absolutely understand what your saying, and the best thing is... your feeling and expressing what you feel. I agree with you, that Colin is going to growup extremely fast from this. He will be a different person when he comes home, we all know that from military backgrounds / family. Nothing I say will lessen your concern Kathy, though all I can say to prevent further complications with PTSD is to not let Colin get away with not talking about his emotions, what he feels surrounding any events he is involved or witnesses during deployment and so forth. It is off absolute importance that the family not allow him to get away with it, as you all have plenty of experience what occurs when a person lives in trauma, witnesses trauma, and may have a part in trauma, and not speak about what they feel afterwards.

Your a mum.... your supposed to be concerned, your supposed to be worried, your supposed to have sleepless nights when something like this happens. Just accept and recognise what is normal for you as a mother compared to anything irregular. Your doing just fine Kathy and I am glad Evie piped up and agreed she felt the same, as I knew she did. No doubt Jim has some feelings surrounding it, though his will be different due to his background.

Keep talking, keep venting, and glad your doing it already Kathy. Well done.

Thank you Anthony, we will certainly keep talking amongst ourselves, here upon the forum, and also to Colin, as much as we are able. With the advent of the internet we will have a great deal of contact with him. I am determined that nothing happen to him, in the way of PTSD that is. Physically speaking we cannot help him, however all of us in the family have made a commitment to his mental health, for now and for when he returns. Thank you for confirming our decision is correct.

The situation has turned out to be far more difficult than we imagined. Evie was worrying over it for several days before Colin departed, however Jim and I were feeling quite smug about it, telling ourselves we have handled deployment so often before. Up until this morning that is. Seeing Colin off at the base was incredibly painful, it then hit us I suppose, the reality of it. I won't speak for Jim as I don't wish to embarrass him, however Evie and I have both cried many tears off and on all day long. Jacob has been very out of sorts as well. Dinner was a silent affair, which is unusual for us. Evie then mentioned how sorry she felt for Colin, for the rude awakening he was going to have, and what he was going to see, being in a war zone. At that we all resumed crying.

At this point I am mentally exhausted.

Yes Kathy I think my boy is in for a shock when he jets there. He is keen on going all I can hope is that the training that is given will kick in and he will cope ok?
He said once he is there we should be able to keep in contact via email which will certainly help!

Your son is in the Air Force, is that correct Jen? I seem to recall you saying so. Colin is going to have email and he wants a blog as well, Evie may set the blog up for him if he doesn't have time. Apparently many soldiers now have blogs. In any event, we plan on keeping touch with him as much as we can.

Kathy, I empathize with you and your family, and your many mixed emotions. There are s many different facets to his deployment--your exhaustion is understandable.

Yes thats right Kathy he is in the RAAF its great that we will be able to keep in contact. I keep thinking when I said goodbye to him at the airport I should have had one more hug even though we had heaps!
One thing about my boy is he is ok showing his feelings to his Mum in public and I love him for that he is always up for a cuddle in front of his mates and I an glad that is something he has and will never outgrown
In todays paper it said that it has been getting down to minus 15 in Afghan I dont know how a kid from the tropics will go with that?

To Jen & Kathy my thoughts are with you & your boys & family during this.

I have not been in the position that you are both in & don't envy the wave of emotions that you both must be feeling.

Please know that you are in my thoughts.

Hi All,

To All of you military moms...I pray God be with you and your families..

The young men and women will grow up fast... They come home different because of it...

I have talked with lots of Moms...(of military guys & gals) It's a common bond you all have to "worry" about them.

I'm a mom too, tho my daughter commutes daily round trip 130 miles.. It scares me that she is on the road... She is an EMT/firefighter and is careful about driving...yet we all know ____ happens that we can't control... So I worry about something a little different and try not to stress.

In no way am I trying to take away from your fears, saying I have my own..

I commend you all and your families of loved ones that have to go through the pain/stress/fear/etc. You are strong and you have each other and tho I can't wrap my arms around you for a hug know that if I could I would...

Take Care Thoughts & prayers are with you ALL !!!

Donna

Thanks very much Jods and Donna!!

Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers, Kathy. It's good you're all talking about it and have plenty of experience to help Colin avoid PTSD. Wish there was more I could say to help.....hugs.