<p>I go to USMMA but I felt I'd offer my 2 cents about it. </p>
<p>First off...my parents wouldn't let me go along, I live close enough to school where it wasn't a big deal money wise...and as far as they were concerned they weren't going to miss it!</p>
<p>Second...I'm not gonna lie, I might have had a look on my face like "I got this" but I was probably crapping my pants, it's good to have your parents there. </p>
<p>Lastly, at USMMA you can say good-bye to your parents for as long as you want kinda...but once you are in that gymnasium you won't see them again at all until parents weekend. There is a point before lunch muster on the first day when we all turned and waived good-bye but I don't know if I was waving at my parents or not...but I was waving at somebody!</p>
<p>I had the pleasure of being at USNA on I-Day to be there for the Plebes that did not have any family present. Many of us were there with the chaplains to provide cell phones, support and food to those who chose to go it alone. For many, especially those from NAPS or prior experience, they took it in stride. There were however, many who no doubt had wanted to go it alone, that needed a hug, a bit of support and probably would have loved to have a family member there. I think the hardest thing for those individuals was watching the majority of their classmates spending some time with their loved ones and sharing the experiences of that first day. Bottom line is there will be many of the go it alone candidates that will regret their decision and there is nothing about having family there on that day that makes you less tough. Have a serious talk with your candidate and if they still want to go it alone, honor their wishes. I would have been sad to have missed that day, it will continue to be a very special memory for all of us, including our son.</p>
<p>We have (almost) decided to go to the orientation but not to I-Day, since we can't do both. DS was actually the one who suggested this course of action. Of course, <em>I</em> want to move to Colorado and be his "sponsor" mom. Sigh... that's not working out well.</p>
<p>fencersmother,
I was really hoping you could give me some pointers on how to convince my DH to move to CO! Oh well...
My DD filled out her B&B paper work yesterday for the AFA I-day. We will be at orientation on April 20. I did not even give my DD the option of us not going with her to orientation. There is only so much a mom can take!</p>
<p>re I-day: several years ago the TV show "While You Were Out" did a makeover on a B&B house for AFA...lovely people who look forward to hosting cadets each year!</p>
<p>I have a son who aspires to USNA. If he's successful, I plan on being at I-day - although I will probably play it a little more "low-key" than my dad did on my I-day. I can remember him appearing occasionally during the course of the day, Kodak super-8 movie camera in hand, recording me and my future squadmates in various locations and activites. I was more than slightly embarrased at the time and divulged to no one that the man with the movie camera was my father. He's since passed on, but I still have the movie footage and am planning to convert it to DVD for our next reunion (#30). It will be emotional watching the video. My squadmates appearing with me on I day are now lifelong friends..a few are no longer with us. My father was kind of a pain that day, but now the memories and images he captured and preserved are priceless. Thanks Dad! I love you!</p>
<p>I just took photographs of my youngest daughter's eight grade graduation. Now, when I graduted [did we even use that term] eighth grade, we had NO ceremony, no recogniztion, etc. It was basically: Don't let the door hit you in the butt. So, I think th is whole eighth grade graduation thing is kind of silly; but, it is held and I am not responsible for that. SO, my job is to record it as best as I can.
My philosophy has always been that it is my responsibility as a dad to embarass myself and my children tog et whatever photograph or video I may want because. . . thirty years later, my kids would be pleased. I wish photography had abeen as prevalent forty years ago.
As a result, on I-day, I plopped my self down right in the front row, right in front of some people who were hrrrmphing as loud as they could to get the photos that I wanted.
While there may be no "I" in team there is one on "Winner" and, for a moment, they can put up w/ one guy sitting in front of them so he can get "the" shot.</p>
<p>I [sometimes proudly sometimes not] am the guy who gets right up front to get the photo that counts. I am no longer embarassed.
I could care less--as we head towards it next year--about 1,085 of the graduates from the USNA. I only care about one. I will do what I have to do to get that photograph.</p>
<p>Live for a moment, on videotape forever.</p>
<p>Glad to hear that you NOW appreicate those photos.</p>
<p>As I keep rereading this post-I keep wondering: is it worse to be clueless about how you impact every one else attending a ceremony (who after all also really only care about just one person out of 1085), or to be absolutely obnoxious and not care because "I got mine" is all that really matters to you? And- if the latter is your approach- who would be so clueless as to admit it? There may not be an "I" in winner, but I'm pretty sure that the word winner isn't applied too often to anyone with this philosphy!</p>
<p>Bill0510 - Yes, I do now truly appreciate the movies my dad took 30 years ago. I'm the only one that was even aware of who he was. More importantly, he managed to capture the moment without "plopping himself down right in the front row".</p>
<p>Wow, I've just spent the last hour (?) reading all of the posts. It is good to see so many different perspectives and to glean the bits of relevant info I can use. </p>
<p>Over the last few months, I have been working on all of the arrangements for our family trip to take my daughter to USNA. It is not an easy task to get five children (one almost an adult), a boyfriend and myself all to Annapolis from the midwest and to have FUN while we're doing it! As I have made reservations and planned expenditures, the price tag is increasing. I really don't have extra funds to be doing this, but one of the perks of raising a big family (other than more love and noise than you can immagine) will be my ecconomic refund check! With that in my account and a little savings, we are setting out on a trip that I hope will be embedded in everybody's memory forever!</p>
<p>Back to the subject. I made the mistake of showing my daughter (future mid) my expense calculations. She has mentioned several times before and after seeing the amount of $ it will cost that she can just fly there (USNA) by herself and that I should try and save the money. She is very responsible and worries about our family's economic status often since I am a single mother of five. But what she doesn't fully understand yet is that it's "NOT JUST ABOUT HER/HIM" (said best by Christcorp on 1/31/08) and that it's not about the money either!</p>
<p>I need this to ease my way into letting go of an 18 year labor of love. Her other (sometimes judgemental) teenage sisters need to see the magnitude of her future and hopefully not always despise all of the past focus that she received and they feel they didn't. Her little sister's need to see some physical place so when they miss their big sister, (who will not really be involved in their lives much from here on out) I can remind them where she is and tell stories of the things they remember from that day (I-Day). It is all about a much bigger picture with all of us who have been woven together for some many years to be slowly separated and to move forward on our own paths. </p>
<p>Money comes and goes, family time doesn't. We never quite know what life holds in store for us. My daughter will have plenty of time in her future to be/feel independent. I know she will really be happy we are there to physically and emotionally support her. The money we spend will be long forgotten and never missed and maybe some of those I-Day memories will help carry her through her long, hard summer?</p>
<p>We're planning on going. We're going to stay at the Loew's Annapolis (188 per night..not bad) and plan to walk over to the visitor entrance rather than park at the stadium and shuttle over. Does anyone have any advice if this is a good idea?</p>
<p>That is a great idea. Easy walk and you do not need to be waiting on shuttle busses. Allows you the opportunity to go back to the hotel in the middle of the day, especially if it is warm (hot) out. Also, the Annapolis post office is on the walk, so if you have a box to mail, you can drop it there on your trip back to the yard.</p>
<p>We have stayed there for IDay, PPW and Herndon/SeaTrials Week.</p>
<p>We are staying at the Loews as well. We were in Annapolis earlier this spring, and took the walk from the yard to the hotel and back -- it was very easy!</p>
<p>Thank you Native Texan and Vaulter Mom. It is good to know that this should work out. Any suggestions for a quick breakfast before his 8 am report time?</p>
<p>There is a coffee shop next to the lobby if all you want is a coffee and maybe scone. City Dock Cafe also is good for a quick bite.(There is one down across from the dock if you are going in at gate 1, and one on Maryland Ave if you are going to walk in through gate 3. Our Mid had a 9am report time. We opted for the full breakfast in the hotel dining room. There were other families doing the same. He actually had a good appetite and knew he may not see food again until the snack that we were bring after the Oath of Office. (Now the night before he had no appetite and was afraid of eating with the nervous stomach he was having!)</p>
<p>You do not need to be in line outside of Alumni Hall much before 8am so you should have time to have breakfast.</p>
<p>From the Loews it is easiest and the shortest walk to Alumni Hall to plan on entering through gate 3 which is open to foot traffic starting at 6am. (Typically it closes at 7pm however they may keep it open longer on I Day)</p>