I am a Marine veteran. During my tenure in the Corps I typically called home to speak with the folks once a week on Sunday night. I tried to do so at a time that was convenient for them and fit within the duties I had. I did so because my Mom asked me to. Some duties interfered we adapted the schedule.
When my son left to become a Marine he agreed to a weekly call. It was typically dominated by X and when it became a competition I stopped playing.
Regular calling/skypeing is tough to impossible when deployed or at sea.
During Marine boot camp there is a call at the beginning of training. It is read from a script. No conversation is permitted. My son specifically asked I answer the phone he was concerned the manner of the call would upset his mother and he did not wish an emotive response to distract his focus. They need our love and support. They need to know they can focus on the tasks at hand. They have to focus to safely execute whatever they are engaged it.
Letters are a god send. Heartfelt uplifting letters describing the day to day occurrences around the house, town, family and friends get folded and saved, to be read again and again during downtimes. It is neigh impossible to review a telephone conversation. Hand written a page to a page and a half of chatty prose as if you’re having a conversation.
MARINE Mother toughest job in the Corps…….Wife too.
If he is going to the Corps there is an online resource for family. We can figure a way to make the address available without violating TOS.
BITS Me 55, ACK, when did that happen? Doesn't feel like 55 D 30 S 27
You create your own universe as you go along - Winston Churchill
