Wednesday 19 August 2009

Future


Today I took myself to the National Memorial Arboretum near Tamworth. I went to pay my respects, to see the names of the fallen since the Second World War.The names are engraved in April of the men and women of the forces who have died the previous year.
It was a place of peace, even though it's still being built around the periphery. There are memorials to all sorts of groups, from individual regiments, to groups like St Dunstans or TocH.

It made me think how else could I help my son, even though in the helping him runs the risk of his name being here.....
But honestly better there, than knifed in a fight, which is I think more likely than death in the forces right now.

Today I phoned the RAF up.
My son kept telling me they wouldn't have him now.
Not true, once he's been sentenced he has to go see them, and they will tell him how long he will have to wait as part of their rehabilitation programme before he can apply. He will not be long term be penalised by the RAF, once he has done whatever the courts dish out to him. They will accept him, obviously depending on all other things on his application being okay.
There is a future after all that is positive.
Thank God.

Picture is of a Memorial outside Ypress for the poet who fell there.

9 comments:

Gin said...

There always is something positive in there somewhere isn't there?

Rosaria Williams said...

Tough love is hard, but necessary.

CheekyDani said...

Glad to hear you've found despite all odds something positive. Hope your son realises how lucky he's been in having you as a Mummy x

karen said...

Great news! I am so happy to read this post.. and always good to remember the lost ones from the forces, too. Touch choice for a mother, but glad to hear it's all postive..

By the way, I tried to comment on yesterday's but my connection was too slow.. always thinking of you! x

Unknown said...

My father received the purple heart in WWII -- shot 4 times and spent a year in the hospital.

You're a wonderful mother... :)

Sue

Angela said...

How good of you to have asked yourself!! You are quite a mother, I admire you!

Anonymous said...

Byrdie I wrote a tribute to my mother-in-law in my last post. Why? Because it's the toughest thing to be a mother sometimes.I can imagine how much you would like to be proud of him. He needs to step up to be the man he is capable of.You can't do it for him but you can certainly let him know how you feel. Good for you being firm with boundaries.Hang in there Mandy - keep strong. xox.

nitebyrd said...

This is a good decision. Moving forward is the way to go. I'm glad to hear he is also trying to move ahead.

trousers said...

Good.

(I hope that doesn't sound glib, I just can't think of any better way of saying it)

x