I am the mother of a solider.
In February my 18 year old son joined the Army and I joined the ranks of an elusive breed of women who raised their sons to be brave, bold, daring and adventurous.
Women who brought up their sons to be gentle, caring and yet able to pick up a gun and defend the country in time of danger.
Till he joined, I didn't know that this elusive club existed.
Mothers of soldiers keep their sons profession close to their hearts.
It hurts to talk about them knowing that they are not around.
His room is untouched. The magazines and photos lie where he left them on the day he went off on the biggest adventure of his life. His room is like a time capsule.
It is like living with a ghost. They are forever at the back of our minds, in our heart, invisible yet with a constant ache of missing.
We as mothers are strong because we have to be. We have to stay strong for the other children, husbands and for the absent son so far away. We do our fretting and worrying in the darkness of the night and appear strong and competent in the daylight.
I am counting the days till I will see him again, download every Snapchat photo he is willing to share with me and troll him on Facebook (which he rarely visits).
Mothers of Soldiers Unite.