Band Of Moms

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
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<p>At Kings Point, this year I started a "Band of Sisters" among the female midshipmen. We are there for each other, look after each other, and band together when there is a problem. We are a support system among the females. Now the male midshipmen want to start a "Band of Brothers". They have been observing the Band of Sisters and want a group of their own. There is a strong possiblitiy that will be starting soon.</p>

<p>I just got thinking that maybe what we need is a Band of Moms and Band of Dads, and even a Band of Grandparents. This would be just a loose knit group of relatives or friends who are willing to be notified if there is a need among the midshipmen. It would be another support system for the students.</p>

<p>Recently there has been a group of Moms and Grandmoms who have been working on projects for a student in need. We have not met each other except via email. That is what got me thinking.</p>

<p>Here are some situations: 1. Students can't get home because they are international students, family is too far away, or they can't afford the travel cost. These students could be asked to come home with your midshipman.
2. Parents can't come to Parents weekend, or other activities, and you could be a substitute parent for the celebration. We did that last Parents' Weekend and it was fun. The student really appreciated belonging and having "parents" to share the experience. 3. A student needs encouragement. How about insight into what sailing is like, and old salts can help them learn the ropes via email. 4. Special needs come up where a student has a parent or family member die, and we need to reach out in love.</p>

<p>You are a very creative and motivated group. I know you could think of lots of other ideas. This is not an obligation , but you would be willing to be put on a list. If something comes up, you would get an email of the problem and you could decide if you wanted to help. This would not be a "form a committee" group. This would just be a group of caring people who live far from each other reaching out in love to the midshipmen.</p>

<p>There are Sponsor families for some of the students, if they sign up. There are not enough families however for everyone, and some don't work as well as others.</p>

<p>Well, what do you think, can we brainstorm????????</p>

<p>Let's hear your ideas. Remember in good brainstorming, any idea can be mentioned and no idea is criticized. Actually sometimes as you think about an idea that is not workable, new ideas begin to branch out from that original idea.</p>

<p>BOM, BOD, BOG, BOP(parents), BOF(friends). Don't even know what name would be best??</p>

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<p>Great idea! Put me on the list.</p>

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<p>I would vote for BOP (Band of Parents) as the group name. Or I would consider BOSS (Band of Super Supporters), that would include everyone!</p>

<p>An idea I have are prayer quilts for midshipmen going to sea for the first time. I understand that they don't have room for extra's after they do the required packing so I'm thinking something small that the could tuck in their pockets? Carry it with them if they want or stow under their pillow... something tangible that connects them with home. (KP)</p>

<p>Our church does prayer quilts for those with needs & they are available after every service in our gathering space. You go back there & say a prayer while you are tying a knot on their quilt. When all the knots are tied the quilt is given to the person in need. I have heard wonderful feedback on the positive impact these quilts have had on the lives they have touched & actually witnessed the importance of these quilts first hand with a friend of ours.</p>

<p>We could structure this like what our church does or we could structure it in a different way & still have the same impact. (I have thoughts on this as well)</p>

<p>These are very basic, machine made quilts, nothing fancy. I haven't sewn since high school & I'm not very good, but I am willing to do this, I think it would be awesome!</p>

<p>I also talked with our plebe's gramma who is a knitter & explained the comfort shawl idea & asked her, well first I had to ask her if she could knit a shawl. (she's really good at dish rags but she's still is sorta a beginner knitter) She was so up for it! here's her quote, "I can knit a shawl, you just tell me what you need & I'll do it!" She's an awesome lady!</p>

<p>And please put us on a list to help. We are on the west coast, so a fair piece from the academy but are very willing to help via email, hosting a midshipman or whatever we can do.</p>

<p>By the time our son got around to looking into host parents, they were all taken, so he spends the long weekends at KP with the other kids that have nowhere to go. Makes me wish we lived closer to take them all in.</p>

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<p>RENOMom~ I hate to hear that....sign me up please....I'd love to have one and all on long weekends or any weekend for that matter. Great idea KPMom.</p>

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<p>You mention long weekends and "getting home." How often do students (obviously after the plebe stage) get to do that?</p>

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<p>I can remember my son going to to a friend's house for Labor Day while he was still a Plebe. This year he was home for MLK and President's Day. Basically, you can look forward to most of the traditional federal holidays that fall on Fridays
or Mondays.</p>

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<p>I am developing some ideas from several comments made in this thread. Let me talk to the Chaplain about activites on Friday evenings for those on campus. What we see happen sometimes is that the midshipmen are bored, and there is no place to go, and they don't want to go alone. They then join up with a group who end up at bars. That is not a good option.</p>

<p>I also want to explore parents, and families who live nearby who might be open to having students on the weekends or part of the weekend. The midshipmen love to get into a home and just relax.</p>

<p>We often have students to our home for weekends, though we are limited with how many students we can fit into our van for transporting. I wish we had a 15 passenger van, we could fill it.</p>

<p>I have a new idea for a name, BOPS. That stands for Band of Parents and Supporters, based on a comment about including those who aren't parents. I ran the idea of the name BOSS by my husband as he exercised on his Nordic Track. He started to smile and said that he thought the jocks would tease us. The name stood for Band of Super Supporters. We ladies would not think of that.</p>

<p>Continuing to brainstorm............</p>

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<p>KPMom: You move about within the student life at KP and see a whole lot more than us parents can. How do you think students can be encouraged to help get this parent/friends of students "Band" going by letting a representative know they have a need of some kind? Would it be perhaps a "suggestion box" at Cookie Cafe where they could ask for a favor, or request a time when someone can listen to them? If a system can be put into place where students know they can share a confidence and it will be honored, that would be ideal. Then, hopefully, more and more students will follow suit and soon a beneficial, but informal support system will be in place. </p>

<p>Your idea about starting an activity for Friday nights is excellent. I know that Plebe Reps exist for the Plebe class, perhaps they can gather some ideas about what the students would consider fun/valuable. Are there similar "reps" for the other classes? Would a good old-fashioned movie night (double feature?) with popcorn be too hokey? What about having some enthusiastic alumni come in and speak about really interesting and different aspects of the industry to help spark career ideas? Just trying to figure out how to get the ball rolling on your great idea...</p>

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<p>You know you can count on me Mom! I brought a young female mid home with me last Friday and sent her on her way to Florida yesterday. :)</p>

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<p>You know, we may be on to something that could be wonderful for the academy. So many parents and friends want to know ways that they can make a difference. </p>

<p>Keep the brainstorming ideas coming, and we will see about acting on them.</p>

<p>Even the coordinating of rides, and students who need a home for a short time is important for parents and supporters to know. I like the idea of the popcorn and soda on Friday evenings. I'm going to run that by the chaplain. No, it's not "hocky". I am finding that what these students love is just old fashioned fun times. Why do you think something as simple as homebaked cookies and milk is "the most going thing on campus" according to the social director. </p>

<p>Something very special is going to happen next week, that was only possible because of the sacrifice of time by caring people. I can't share it yet, as it's a surprise for the midshipman, but I will share with you later. Thanks so much for reaching out in love.</p>

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<p>Count me in, too. We're not close enough to host for the long weekends but we can send items that are needed. BOPS - love it.</p>