I made hot meals for three. I had no blue and gold clothing. I had no cell phone numbers entered in the directory of my cell phone.

I slept late on Saturday or Sunday, never worried about what breakfast would be for the teenagers who "took a weekend" and spent it in my basement or who was coming over to watch THE GAME that afternoon.

I cleaned my house each week. I never tripped over duffel bags or sea bags or ironing boards left here over Summer Leave or dress clothes or civvies and hiking boots in the basement closet.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were subject to cigar ashes or leftover O'Doul's. I never bought a case of Cokes at a time. I never thought about Cruise Assignments or Billets or Sea Trials or Plebe Summer Command.

I had never been hugged by 10 midshipmen in one day, or invited to the King Hall Experience, or watched one class beat another by climbing Herndon in less time, or heard the Blue and Gold or the Navy Hymn and never had tears pouring down my cheeks as I realized the strength and meaning of the words of those songs.

I had complete control of my car, my deck, my camera, my downstairs TV, my freezer -- especially my freezer.

I never stood on the seawall and watched the YP’s return, tears in my eyes at the sheer spectacle afforded by seeing a couple of teenage kids I only knew remotely at the time, as they steamed past and stood at attention, saluting an Admiral, while the band played and the flags blew in the wind. I never heard the Glee Club sing in the Chapel as if they were on a direct line with a Heavenly being. I never met students so serious about their physical condition, their studies, and their respect for the men and women who had gone before them on this very special course they have chosen.

I didn't know the feeling of waiting to see WHO would show up for pizza on the weekend. I didn't know how special it could feel to sit between two handsome Mids at the Kennedy Center and watch a performance with them. I didn't know that someone so young could make me feel so important.

I never had swelled with pride when I watched MY boys march on Worden Field. (Or taken a header and fallen out of the stands on that same field.) I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I thought of their graduating and leaving me behind.

I didn't know that the bond between a Sponsor Mother and someone ELSE's child could affect my life so much. I never knew I would love being a Sponsor Mom.

By: Joyce Hoffer
Sponsor Mom