<p>We received our first letter from our son today. Sounded very upbeat but homesick at this point. He said that he really liked the Chapel and Service on Sunday. He thinks he did well on the math placement. Also did well enough to pass the swim test.</p>
<p>I hope that you all have gotten a letter,</p>
<p>CPASteve</p>
<p>I remember so well this time last year having a million questions as a parent and no way of having them answered. On this very website, I learned an idea that WORKED, so I thought I'd share it:</p>
<p>Send your PC a questionnaire - with circle yes/no answers. As they have no time/opportunity to write to you, they are able to quickly answer any/all questions you may have. I also enclosed a self-addressed, stamped envelope. It was great. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yes.
We got "A" letter... .and that one was enforced by his DI (thanks again!).</p>
<p>Apart from that , we have not gotten "A"nother letter.
Guess we'll have the first/only one bronzed or something. :)</p>
<p>Good luck to all the rest of you parents who have gotten more that one!</p>
<p>Same here, we have it in a plastic sleeve.</p>
<p>I remember a year ago, zonker complaining about no letters!</p>
<p>LOL Zonker!! I remember too; I thought you ran out an had the letter bronzed the day you received it :D</p>
<p>We've only received one letter also. We, probably like others, equipped him with a bunch of self addressed stamped envelopes with an enclosed sheet within each envelope. I didn't include a questionnaire although I think it's a great idea. He claims he wrote his letter in the dark. I wonder whether he has received our eight letters and two care packages. There was absolutely no mention of his receipt.</p>
<p>No, guys. Don't be silly...</p>
<p>The national archivist said that the ion-deposition process would be harmful, and that an acid-free, nitrogen-atmosphere, archivist preservation-environment frame in a temperature and polarized-light-controlled area would suffice. . . . You know the one, you've seen it... Like in that Nicholas Cage movie (National Treasure) where they keep the Declaration of Independence. :)</p>
<p>Attention all midshipmen and cadets to be. Please read the above exchanges very thoroughly. Never commit anything to letters. Your parent's taping of phone conversations is okay. In 10 years, the playback machine will break and since it will be obsolete, it will not be replaceable and the tapes will be useless. Emails are okay. Their computer will get a virus, it will crash, and everything will be lost. However, letters are forever. They will come back and haunt you. Just last year, my mom presented me with a shoebox full of midshipman/junior officer letters. Jeez, talk about embarassing. </p>
<p>I did learn one thing though. One is more open with their mom than anyone else the remainder of their lives. I told her stuff that now, I would not even admit to myself. Actually, I am very glad that mom is a packrat. I am very happy to be able to read my weekly letters for over 6 years of my life and very thankful that we did not have cell phones with unlimited minutes. My most revealing discovery. Absolutely nothing has changed in 40+ years.</p>
<p>Are the candidates only allowed to write a certain number of letter? I know it is probably at the bottom of their "to do" list, but just curious. Thanks!</p>
<p>big difference between "can" and "will".
last year we enclosed pre-addressed, stamped envelopes with paper. In the hustle to transfer things from his suitcase to the bag (with a DI yelling at him), his Underarmor shorts and the envelopes never made it. Instead we got little envelopes with notes written on torn out note pads (5x7). sorry Zonker, we still got 4 of them during indoc.
there is a delay on them receiving mail, by about 4 days. (during indoc). I made up a "newsletter" with color photos etc, that I sent to our son each day. sometimes they came each day, sometimes he got two at a time.
just remember- they'll get through it.</p>
<p>All parents of plebos (sorry, after 4 years of calling em that its just habit):</p>
<p>Your child is perfectly fine. Don't expect much in the way of letters during INDOC. I graduated in 06 and I think I maybe wrote 4 letters during my four years, including sea year. Your child is fine, the DIs may seem like evil guys but they are still midshipmen. You aren't getting many letters because there is little to no "free" time. The little they have is often spent shining shoes for morning inspection or getting something ready to save a little time on a later occasion. Remember it is ONLY 17 DAYS! They are under constant supervision and cant get into too much trouble. Don't worry it is not half as bad as they think. I made it through all four years, talked about quitting dozens of times, graduated, joined the Army and got sent to my current location...good ol Baghdad. KP is tons of fun. They'll realize it soon enough.</p>
<p>You know I'm still waiting for my FIRST letter--go figure!</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouraging words about the letters. It really helps! Now if we could only know if he got the brownies!</p>
<p>Unfortunately we did not know about this site before our son went to Indoc so we were totally in the dark and strictly followed the information that was sent to us. We didn't worry too much how he would fare as he had done numerous 50 mile kayak trips in the back country and a 60 mile high adventure trek with Scouts and hiked all the time & he was on track for his PT workout.... but we were worried about communicating with him.... so here's what we did...</p>
<p>He didn't want a graduation party, so we did a bon voyage party and at that party I had everyone write out a post card (they were pre addressed & stamped) and we kept them and sent him one a day until they were gone... he loved it!</p>
<p>For his first trimester, I had postcards with me everywhere I went... "Hey, you have a couple of minutes? Want to write Joe a note? I'll send it." No one ever declined! So he had plenty of "extra" mail on top of what we sent.</p>
<p>After first tri, I just asked people to drop him an email.</p>
<p>In his first year we only received two "notes" and one Christmas card... but I feel blessed.... that would be excellent for him!</p>
<p>AIM/email will be your friend.</p>
<p>Should have posted this earlier... sorry</p>
<p>Tomorrow will be a GREAT day... FIRST phone call...</p>
<p>Hang tough parents!</p>
<p>Son was in class of 2011. We are still waiting for that 1st letter. :D We raised him to be independent and when he was we were upset. Hang in there folks. Your sons and daughters are doing just fine.</p>
<p>kps2006....all the best to you...thanks for your service...we love you...Ga Parents</p>
<p>Took the advice of the seasoned parents and placed yes, no and boxed responses (so she could check off) as well as some blank lines, and she was able to fill them in. We have received so far 6 letters, which I think is just great. (Must be a girl thing) She's doing good so far, passed her IST and Swim test as well as the PFT (?). I am looking forward to the Met Game, not sure about the Parade. We live about 2 1/2 hours away so that may not be doable. Our inlaws live about 20 minutes away, so they may attend in our place. </p>
<p>The first phone call was awesome...sounded great. Love looking at the photos too. It sets our minds at ease.</p>
<p>This board has been invaluable to us as we have made this journey, Thank You!
We received our first letter and call also. S sounded really good. Can someone explain the points the candidates/platoons earn?</p>
<p>I moan and groan about not hearing from the kid.
Sometimes, it's not such a bad thing...
You've all probably sent your kids up to KP with your names on their accounts.. so you can make deposits and such..</p>
<p>My wife mused about sending THIS email:
"Dear Son: Hope you are doing well. We have transferred all the money from your account back into our savings. Write us a letter sometime to discuss... Love-Mom"</p>
<p>ohhhhhhh! She's VERRRYYYY good :)</p>