How to Keep From Crying When Your Child Goes to Basic Training

To avoid crying, focus on staying strong for your child's sake.

Saying goodbye to your child is a difficult, emotional experience. Whether it is his first day of kindergarten or his first journey as an independent adult, no parent enjoys letting go. However, it is important in these situations to stay strong and remember your role as parent. To keep from crying when your child goes to basic training, it helps to put yourself in your child's shoes and think about how important it is for him to have stability in that moment.

Instructions

1. Focus on your child, not on yourself. According to ProudArmyMoms.com, it is important to boost your child's morale and encourage her so she can stay focused in training. Think about how important it is for her to be confident and fearless on her journey and how your tears may jeopardize that outlook. Recognize that she is the one entering into this difficult endeavor, not you. Stay strong so that she can have a stable, reliable person to go to when she is in need.

2. Make it quick. When it comes time to say the actual "goodbye" to your child, do not linger for several minutes hugging, reiterating you will miss him and making him promise to write letters. Avoid the long goodbye by spending time with him the the weeks and days leading up to his departure rather than only on the day he leaves. The longer you drag out the moment of departure, the more likely you are to tear up.

3. Cry earlier in the day when she is not around. Get your own emotions out of the way so that when you say goodbye you can focus entirely on your child.

4. Remind yourself of the futility of crying and how your emotions will not change the situation. Once you see that there is no point in crying, you are less likely to tear up during the goodbye.

5. Think positively about the experience your child is about to partake in. Have an optimistic attitude toward the situation. For example, think about how many friends he will make, how strong he will become and how proud of himself he will be.

6. Drink water, wiggle your nose, and think about something entirely different if you do feel yourself tearing up. According to SocyBerty.com, these tricks help deter the tears once you feel the physical symptoms of crying beginning to creep up.

References

• Military Moms: Basic Training for Moms
• Proud Army Moms: Boot Camp Basics
• Womens Media; There Is No Crying in Business; Linda M. Poverny and Susan Picascia; October 2009
• SocyBerty: How to Stop Crying in Front of People; Kristie Leong MD; February 2008