I am a relatively new Marine mom. My son, Alex, is stationed at Camp Pendleton at SOI but has already been told they will be going to the sandbox, so I read all the posts and sit and worry and pray about the future, not just for my son, but for all our troops. But, I have to tell you something that happened this week that gave me strength.

I have four other children besides my Marine. My youngest, Eric, is 6 years old and he idolizes his big brother. In fact, when Alex was home on leave, Alex and another Marine walked Eric to first grade. They were on their way to their high school to talk, so they were dressed in their dress blues. All the problems Eric had with older boys picking on him on the playground went away when those boys saw Eric escorted by two handsome young Marines. Alex stayed until school started and answered their questions and let them touch his uniform. Since Alex stands 6'4", he looked like a giant standing next to all those first graders!

Anyway, I love to watch the Waltons and the other day the show was on where Ben is in a Japanese prison camp and then the family finds out he is alive. I'll admit it, I cry about that stuff! Anyway, I had tears in my eyes and Eric asked me if I was sad because I missed Alex. I said, "well, I'm really kind of crying about this dumb show, but I really do miss Alex too." Then Eric hugged me and said, "Did Alex sit on your lap and hug you when you cried when he was little like me?" I said, "Yes, Alex used to sit on my lap and give me hugs too." Eric looked incredulous and he said, "Alex was once little like me and he sat on your lap?" I said, "Yes, but now he's too big to sit on my lap."

Eric hugged me tight and said, "Mom, don't be sad. I'll give you two hugs a day - okay? One from me and one from Alex until Alex comes home." And, each morning and each evening, he does just that - he hugs me one for him and an extra tight hug that is from Alex.

It made me realize that this just doesn't affect me, it affects the rest of our families too. Sometimes I tend to have tunnel vision and think that I'm the only one lying awake at night worrying and praying. Hugs from Marines are great, but so are hugs from little brothers of Marines!