<p>Love your sense of humor. Parents unite! We must do what we can to hover over our kids! ;););)</p>
<p>Good luck on that, doktrmom…
Wayyy before they go off to sea, even the most enthusiastic helicopter parent will have those helicopter blades worn to nubs. 
– just whirring and spinning in the corner. It’s for the best anyway.
…
Besides, by the time these kids go on their first sea year session, they are VERY ready to handle the responsibility.
Don’t get me wrong, I still embarrass the keck out of the kid… some intentional, some not.</p>
<p>I agree zonker. Them blades take a beatin. 4 yrs is a long time. Most parents land that thing by the end of plebe yr. Many will crash some time during sea yr.two. If they don’t set that puppy down.</p>
<p>As for being a helo parent - for us that was never an option the boy would even think of tolerating from Junior Year of High School on… he’s now on like day 5 of his Trans-pacific passage back from Shanghai to Long Beach - I think, I get a one or two line email about once every week or so - so I know he’s alive and well, when the ship is in port we usually get a call at least once and he lets us know he’s fine, and we talk a few minutes. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong every once in a while he’ll call and talk for an extended period but I’m pretty sure we are the anti-thesis of helecopter parents. That said I’m pretty sure I know as much or more then most parents as to what’s going on in his life…</p>
<p>My point - don’t be afraid to recognize that you’ve probably already let go and acknowledge it - they’ll probably keep you as in touch and informed or even more so then if you act as a helo parent.</p>
<p>nmlcfp…No payment system was set up. Actually was surprised to see it. Didn’t even have my sons new account no. Had his SSN and NFCU had no problem finding and depositing it into his account.</p>
<p>P.S. Zonker, Thought about it too…NOT!!! Very funny. I am sure my son would not have thought so.</p>
<p>You guys are too funny! We are going through exactly that. Short, infrequent emails… We are sure if he needs money he will find a way to reach us!</p>
<p>“they’ll probably keep you as in touch and informed or even more so then if you act as a helo parent.”</p>
<p>jasperdog, you got that one right. I already learned the best way to get info is to not initiate contact, then they miss you and call all by themselves. 
Befriending the girlfriend doesn’t hurt either. DS at USMMA is 3d child and one sister went to boarding school 1500 miles from home at 14 y/o.</p>