Marine Mom Adopts Platoon

Tissue warning!

You know you're a Marine Mom when...

*I brought this back up to the top. It's one of my favorites and I'm in too big of a hurry to post anything else this morning! ;)

This list has been added to from Marine moms all over the place and posted on several message boards. We think it's hilarious and oh so true! Feel free to add some of your own.

You know you're a Marine Mom when...
1. Your last good night's sleep was 6 months before he left for bootcamp.
2. You have finally resigned yourself to the fact that Marine mail is delivered seasonally rather than daily.
3. Your Marine gives you ironing tips.
4. Your Marine's version of pneumonia is "It's just a cold, I'm fine."
5. You realize the Marine Corps cure-all is Motrin.
6. The mere word "deployment" has you on the phone refilling your Xanax.
7. You can't quite figure out what non-Marine mothers worry about.
8. You finally realize that Drill Instructors are not the anti-Christ and are more like heroes.
9. You've mailed at least a few packages that have been on around-the-world tours.
10. You forgot there were TV stations other than Fox News.
11. You find yourself bragging to friends about your Marine's accuracy with an M-16.
12. You will get in a high speed chase just to catch up with someone's Marine Corps bumper sticker.
13. When everything in your closet has Marine Mom on it and if it doesn't, you put pins and yellow ribbons on it.
14. When you recognize the haircut and ask if you can have a hug because your son is deployed.
15. Someone says to you "My son has a high ASVAB and a great GP so after he leaves PI for CL and finishes his MOS at the SOI he is going to try for MSG." and it makes sense to you.
16. When you don't mind watching military movies even though you hated them growing up.
17. You tell your nephews they need a "high and tight".
18. You and your husband buy a "good" flagpole for the front yard for Christmas and fly the American flag and the USMC flag 24/7, lighted, and money is no object.
19. You buy cadence CDs and listen to them when you power walk.
20. Your friends and family always start conversations with "How are the boys?"
21. You make sure to get up early to watch the Rose Bowl Parade so you can see the Marine Band.
22. You tear up every time you see someone in uniform.
23. When you have no small children, but you search toy stores for Marine G.I. Joes and buy them.
24. When the post office personnel know you by your first name.
25. When your son is in Iraq and you dial his cell phone so you can hear his voice on his outgoing message.
26. When you always know what time it is in Iraq or Okinawa or San Diego.
27. Your son has the ability to iron his own shirt...while he is wearing it!
28. You don't mind the long lines at the post office because you are NOT leaving until you get that care package mailed to your Marine.
29. You BEG his life-long best friend to do a "David impression" and then everyone eats David's favorite foods.
30. When the phone rings you don't answer it unless the caller ID shows it is your Marine and then you run over husband, cats, dogs, small children and little old ladies to answer the phone, no matter what injuries any of them might sustain in the process.
31. You purchase Marine shirts for grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
32. You have a bad day at work and your co-workers serenade you with the Marine Hymn and give you a red rose and the whole office is crying.
33. Your son, who had such a messy room growing up that is was a health hazard, informs you on a visit home that you flunked inspection because of a little dust.
34. When your Marine calls YOU for information because he knows you'll get it from the other moms online.
35. When watching the West Wing you care nothing about the plot, you are just peering closely to see the Marines in dress blues at the White House.
36. You are mopping the kitchen floor and your son walks in and says "You call that cleaning?"
37. You have a blue star banner proudly displayed in your picture window.
38. You search military websites for any news of where your son or daughter might be/has been.
39. Your email has the Iwo Jima background, an animated American flag, a "We Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon icon and plays the Marine Hymn in a continuous loop.
40. When you try to read aloud to others the "You know you are a Marine mom when..." list you can't because of the lump in your throat and the tears in your eyes.
41. You taped the Marine's Toys for Tots commercial where the little boy tells the Marine "you really are Santa Claus" and you cry every time you see it.

You know You're a Marine Mom When...Part II

Due to the popularity of "You Know You're a Marine Mom When..." we are adding a few more. Most of these apply to all military moms of course, but since we are Marine moms and these were written by Marine moms, we'll leave it at that.

You Know You're a Marine Mom When...

42. Your weather check page includes Doha, Kuwait, Baghdad, Okinawa and San Diego.
43. You stalk a man at the grocery store in a Marine cap so you can tell him about your Marine.
44. You find a way to work into every conversation that your son/daughter is a Marine. "Would you like to supersize that ma'am?" "No, but speaking of super, did you know that my son is a Marine?"
45. You have to move a pile of priority mail boxes, bubble wrap, and "special: to be shipped" items to sit down in the living room.
46. You leave a special message to your Marine in your outgoing voicemail/answering machine. "If this is John I miss you and I love you!"
47. You stand in the checkout line with a cart full of Easy Mac, protein bars, and snuff and people stare at you and wonder what kind of strange diet you are on.
48. You sleep with your phone in your hand.
49. The new sacker at the grocery store puts your bread in the bottom of the bag and you ask to see his Sergeant.
50. Your boss asks if your are finished with your project and you say "good to go ma'am!"
51. You go out to your mail box with your reading glasses and a letter opener.
52. You wait for what seems like years for that first phone call from Iraq and then when you miss it by going out for the newspaper you lay on the floor and sob uncontrollably.
53. You don't really "sweat the small stuff". Just that fact that your Marine is in the same hemisphere is enough to make you do the happy dance.
54. You insist that your Marine wear his uniform to have a family portrait taken at Sears Photography Studio. ...I got there before my son and daughter did and when I saw them walking through the sales floor - in full uniform - I proudly and loudly announced, to the entire store, that 'that Marine and Sailor are MY BABIES'
55. Your idea of a dream date is R. Lee Ermey.
56. The proudest moment in your life is when your son calls and tells you he is the most hated DI in the platoon.
57. You tell your family that "chow" is on the table.

Here's a few from some Marine dads. You Know You're a Marine Dad when...

58. When other men talk of their son's accomplishments and you quietly know in your heart, my son is a man of honor, a warrior that is no longer a "boy", but a man capable of defending and protecting lesser men's sons.
59. When you pass un-kempt, slovenly, ragged boy/children on the street and know deep in your heart that a little Marine training and they too could be a man instead of a life long child.
60. When you pass a group of anti-American, cowardly, pierced, atheistic pagan, haters of western civilization spewing nonsense and venom and you know only because my son and others like him stand for freedom can you fools continue your lunacy.
61. The Commandant's Own comes to your town and you go to every single performance and shout OOOHRAAAH at all the appropriate times. You ask them to play "Semper Fi" at least twice. You wear out all their CDs playing them in your truck.
62. Your dog is named "Ammo" and your Marine put a M-16 A2 shell on his collar. You don't care that your neighbors are horrified.
63. You seek out and thank every veteran you can.
64. The repair man says "Thank your son for his service" and you wonder what tipped him off (could it be the yellow banner now tacked above your garage door that once flew downtown that has his name and
service on it, or maybe the blue star flag, yellow ribbons and Another Family Supporting Our Troops signs in the windows?)
65. When you drive 40 miles in a snowstorm to the next town to go to a Veteran's Day ceremony because there's a Marine Colonel speaking.
66. You get out of a speeding ticket when the officer sees your Marine stickers and asks "Whose the Marine?" Then hands you just a warning with the statement "Courtesy of your son."
67. Someone complains and you hand them a package of straws while saying "suck it up".

Gunz Up

Believe it or not we've had another contribution from yet another great blogger!! De'on from Gunz Up has sent us a donation! Thank you so much De'on! You know we've voted you a part of our group don't you? We just consider you our Marine Mom sister in New Mexico.

Be sure and read her posts from Marine Moms Online about "Why Does My Son Want To Be a Marine?". Here is some of part one. She has two up so far.

Why Does My Son Want to be A Marine?

The reasons why some young Americans have chosen to become
United States Marines


As told by their mothers, fathers, wives, and other loved ones


INTRODUCTION

Before our son was to leave for Marine Corps boot camp, I needed to learn why, Why, WHY was he choosing this at this most dangerous time, and of all the branches, why the Marine Corps? He cited a few reasons as “I need more discipline; my life needs to be put into perspective, I will be doing a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do,” none of which I was willing to accept as trade for the risks that I knew lie before him.

Discussions were held with our son for three years about his desire to join, but high school graduation arrived and so did his date for Marine Corps boot camp. We lost the battle. On August 21, 2006, off he went. Feeling lost and defeated, I turned to my ever-reliable confidants, the moms and friends of the support group, Marine Moms Online. Did I ever expect to get such an outpour of responses? Without a doubt, I knew they would come through for me. You see, I am speaking of son #2 who is following in his former Marine brother’s footsteps, so I was well aware and ready to reacquaint myself with the power of this group and the people who comprise it.

I would like to share a summary of stories and the reasons their sons and daughters shared with me, when I asked the group “Why?”

I compiled their replies as a keepsake for myself, but the words are so inspirational that they must be shared. As I read the close to 100 replies, I found myself sitting taller and taller in my computer chair, so tall I might as well have stood -- to salute each and every one of their Marines, and these parents as well, for raising children of such caliber. Ours are an elite breed of kids. They are young men and women who do not stand behind their flag, they stand in front of it, risking their lives, putting their parents’ emotions in peril along side of them, as they fight for what they believe in and are steadfast to protect the freedoms of not only their nation, but that of people in far away lands.

The following are excerpts, slightly modified, to fit into the context of this reporting. Names are removed, but the meanings run deep and clearly depict why a young American chooses to become A United States Marine. In reply to my posting stated as such:

Can anyone tell me why my son wants to be a Marine? I know about Honor, Courage, and Commitment. I know what the Recruiter promised. My son had other options, but said that first, He Must Become A Marine. He didn't share a lot about the whys, just that he had to do it, and is now in his 2nd week of boot camp. I would love to know why some kids chose to serve, and others wouldn't do it if their life depended on it. Can anyone share why they feel their son/daughter chose to become a United States Marine? Is it a "calling?” When does the pride overshadow the fears I have?