BEFORE I WAS A SPONSOR MOM.....
3/13/01

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
I slept late on Saturday or Sunday
And 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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom.....
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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
I had complete control of my car, my deck, my camera, my downstairs TV, my 
freezer -- especially my freezer.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
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.

Before I was a Sponsor Mom....
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 Extraordinaire
(posted with her permission :-)