<p>Well, after nearly 3 years of thinking and talking about West Point along with 8 months or so of learning from this cc thread, it really happened. All of the anxiety, nervousness and waiting during the application process was worth it when my daughter received her nomination just before Christmas. Then the appointment came in January. We've talked about boots, flag stamps, sock liners, contact lenses, and women in combat (please don't take this as an invitation to start it up again) :-). We've talked about chances, SAT's, AP exams, advantages of different service academies, and so much more. </p>
<p>I've discussed all of these topics with my daughter as well as so many of you. I can't believe she's not going to walk in here and ask how my cc friends are doing, or tell me that she ran her best time today, or show me a newspaper article about R-Day. It really happened and she was actually one of the kids who walked out of Ike Hall. It was very surreal.</p>
<p>Yes, I was one of the crying moms. As a matter of fact some of you may find this amusing. I was unaware that 2 groups would be staggered in Ike Hall for the brief presentation and the 90-second goodbyes. We were seated with a group in the front. When I heard the noise in the back of the auditoreum and saw the goodbyes, then saw the kids leave their parents, I started crying - and it wasn't even my turn yet. That started a chain reaction of moms around me crying - I suspect it would not have taken much. I'm sure we embarrased our kids, but I also have a sneaky feeling they understood.</p>
<p>Of course I hope all of the kids we won't be hearing from are doing okay - but I sure hope the parents are, too. Good luck, all of you. See you at A-Day!</p>
<p>You were in great company when it came to tears. My wife made sure we drank plenty of water on R-Day to replace the tears we had shed the night before as the reality of our son's departure hit us. Since this was our first child to depart, I was blindsided by the feelings that hit me. I learned first hand that the sorrow associated with the sense of loss is a much more powerful emotion than parental pride. I always thought the college-bound parents' tears were due to the impending tuition payments, now I know different.</p>
<p>One of the veteran parents was kind enough to tell us that while R-Day with their cadet was one of the saddest days of their lives, A-Day was one of the happiest.</p>
<p>Hang in there with me parents. Let me know if it helps to hum a few verses of " the sun will come up tomorrow".</p>
<p>This was our first to depart also. The second one leaves in about 6 weeks - a few days after A Day. I'm bracing for the goodbye, but I know how different it will be. Her orientation schedule arrived and it includes lots of parties, dances, and information about rushing sororities. Yup, I really think it will be different.</p>
<p>My hubby has been overwhelmed with emotion also. I just don't think we knew what the impact would be. You said it best (as you always do), "I learned first hand that the sorrow associated with the sense of loss is a much more powerful emotion than parental pride."</p>
<p>I think I was more upset to see her go than my wife was! Aspen, sounds like you made it home ok! We are beat-tired after an hour delay in Atlanta!</p>
<p>We fortunately/unfortunately live about 50 miles south of West Point. So we were on the road and back home by 8 p.m. on R-Day. I was close to tears the whole drive back home - with my wife telling me what a great job we had done raising our son, how this was what he wanted, etc. Worse, we were driving back in my son's car, since we thought he'd enjoy driving up in his own car. It had all his crummy rap stations on the pre-sets and hip-hop on the cd. I wallowed in my misery listening to his music on the way home. Then I made the mistake of walking into his room when we got home. And it hit me again. He had packed nothing (even though his younger sister is planning to move into his attic room). It was like walking into FDR's preserved study on the day he passed (although I doubt FDR had an X-Box or PSP) - everything in place as my son left it. But never to be the same again. I'm having a hard time getting focused on my work.</p>
<p>Truth is that my son began his separation from us a year ago. He's really just been a ghost in the house and in his room. But to me he's still that 10-year old boy I took fishing and camping and threw the football around with.</p>
<p>Our oldest daughter is at McGill - she's been doing their summer term. It finished yesterday. My wife is going to pick her up today. Younger daughter is at Stanford this summer. I told my oldest that when she got home she'd be the "designated child" for the next 8 weeks with the others gone. </p>
<p>A few other side notes:<br>
*I can't believe how much WP "stuff" they were selling in Eisenhower Hall. Of course I bought a bunch of t-shirts, mugs, tote bag, etc.
*We thought we saw our son during the Oath ceremony - my wife - an Army brat - thought he looked shaky, moving his head, not standing up straight (of course, that's the Army's problem now :))
*Found out on the way up my son only brought one pair of the boots he had broken in - either he'll regret it or they'll issue him a new pair
*Didn't need 90 seconds to say goodbye - by the time it happened he was more than ready to go
*Theme I picked up from other parents is that most of these new cadet "kids" are self-motivated, highly disciplined, and were ready for R-Day
*Heard a rumor early in the morning that one new cadet had already dropped out (girlfriend issues)
*Check out this webpage - has links to Cadet Basic Training schedules from recent years past - <a href="http://www.west-point.org/parent/wpp-net/cbt.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.west-point.org/parent/wpp-net/cbt.html</a> - will give you an idea - day-by-day - of what your cadet is doing. Also, notice how much training the cadre did to prepare for R-Day and CBT, including sessions on "counseling potential resignees".<br>
*I was encouraged by the Commandant's remarks in Ike, re: security and the throughness with which they've planned CBT.</p>
<p>oib, you just set me off again. I just packed away the mp3 player, discman, tank tops, jeans jacket, good luck tokens from friends, etc and didn't cry once. Then I read your post and started all over again - but, it's just not as bad. I have a sneaky feeling that it won't last much longer. Of course, I'll still miss her, but not get choked up everytime I see Cinnamon Altoids. </p>
<p>And I smile every time I see her standing in the front of Ike Hall as the shortest in the line of these huge guys towering over her. She and another girl gravitated together immediately, had big smiles on their faces and then walked out without looking back.</p>
<p>You guys are killing me! I had to walk away from reading your comments three times before I could sit down to write that I'm glad to hear you all have made it back alright. Is this what I can look forward to!?!? July 8th is our day. We should have put him on that plane by himself and been done with it..... I can see right now that I'm going to have "issues" when we return home and I go into his room for the first time with it empty of that crazy kid that watches the history channel, eats bagel bites non-stop and waits for his older brother to come over to pound on him. Oh me, oh my. Does it kinda feel like somebody taking a chain saw and cutting out your heart? :) The pride you all must have felt watching them walk away had to be overwhelming. Well, glad all of you are back safe and sound and hope your kids get that first phone call in soon! Take care all! Our adventure begins this saturday.</p>
<p>Keep this up and you'll have to change your name to puppydog.</p>
<p>Yah, your sendoff next week will be tough. Pack plenty of tissues.</p>
<p>On the positive side, I met several parents who have gone through the same experience and they all assured me that the pain will be replaced by pride soon. Funny, that's the same advice I got from my friends when Buffy told me she "hoped we could still be friends". They were right.</p>
<p>Take care. I'll say a special prayer for you and your son.</p>
<p>I am a parent of a cadet - class 2008. Congradulations to all. </p>
<p>I just wanted to say if you have not already done so make sure you register with Plebe-Net. The people on this list serve will be able to answer any and all questions you might have about the Plebe year. Also find out if there is a parent club in your area. They are also a great source of information and support. </p>
<p>oib1- You are very lucky to live so close. You will find out what an incredible place WP is. I live on Long Island and get up to WP quite often.</p>
<p>Momoftwins - My cadet is also a twin. His brother goes to the University of Richmond. Although dropping him off was different, it definitely was not any easier.</p>
<p>To all the parents - the first 6 weeks of CBT are long. After that the year will just fly by. (for the parents not the plebes). My wife and I were visiting my son at Camp Buckner (The Best Summer of Their Lives) the day before R-day. We past the Holiday Inn on 9WN. You could see all the Cadet Candidates (now New Cadets) in the parking lot. We could not believe that a year had already gone by. Good Luck to all.</p>