<p>I haven't received one yet, but am curious about those who have: How close to USMA do you live? Am hoping I'm just too far away to have received one yet! Maybe they come "Pony Express."</p>
<p>We had one waiting for us when we arrived home in Colorado on July 3. However, the return address was not written in the hand of our new cadet so I have a feeling that the letter-writing exercise was an 'assignment'.</p>
<p>Join the long line of parents who have watched for their mailperson to bring that special letter. I believe that first letter is done under the watchful eye of the cadre within the first day or two of Beast. After that I believe that it will be up to your cadet to find time to write, and their time is limited.</p>
<p>I strongly suggest you do the "form letter" approach. Use the multiple-choice and fill in the blank formats. At the top make sure you ask them to circle all the answers that apply, and at the bottom leave a few blank lines for extra comments. Last year, I made my answers from one extreme to the other, trying to throw in some humor at either end. At times, my cadet circled several choices and crossed out portions that didn't apply; she even wrote in the margins. I got a few hand-written letters over the 6 weeks, but I got back all of the form letters I sent with a SASE. A huge benefit was that I got the answers to the questions that I really wanted to know that she didn't think to write home about.</p>
<p>Example of one question in my first form letter:</p>
<p>R-day:
a. wasn’t too bad; flew through with flying colors. (Oh, sorry, that’s the air force.)
b. was stressful, but made it through okay.
c. was totally stressful, I wanted to cry (but didn’t).
d. totally fell apart, and they had to scrape me off the blacktop and cart me away.</p>
<p>Parents, this is the tough part for you. Once they get through Beast you'll have contact with them again and it's not quite as hard on you.</p>
<p>mom3boys - no letter here either. <em>sigh</em> that first letter was supposed to be an assignment but she may have written someone else.
I am also not sure if I will get a phone call since she said before she left that NC's can give up their phone time if someone in their company is really homesick. we'll see about that.
I keep sending the mail though. Form letter with a SASE went on Sat. How hard can that be? LOL.</p>
<p>It looks like they are having fun though.</p>
<p>I just want the first one....am not expecting much else....he has a folder full of multiple choice letters. Was just wondering how slow the mail is, but if it can get to CO, surely it has had time to get to GA...unless they stopped to water the horses.</p>
<p>Don't fret; our 'letter' was 4 short lines with no meat. I love JAM's idea and that will be my letter tomorrow.</p>
<p>I am working on one now...it's multiple choice and fill in the blank...w/ a short discussion question at the end (can you tell I'm a teacher??). I'm not worried...just would like to hear from him. Have been fortunate enough to "find Waldo" on several occassions so far!</p>
<p>Mom3boys and JAM4: no letter in TN, either. At least not to mom and dad. I've only spotted waldo a couple of times in the background of R-Day photos, still in civies.</p>
<p>Unfortunately some write and some don't. My oldest never sent the "required" letter, although he told us he wrote it. We only received 1 piece of mail from him the whole time. (That was despite my sending form letters with SASEs.) My youngest wrote regularly, although I think it was about 10 days before we received his first one. Just keep the outgoing mail going, and know that they are appreciating it. One of the things I discovered in helping my recent grad move was a box containing every piece of mail he had received during beast -- reading through them brought us both to laughter and tears!</p>
<p>no letter here, he is more of a text message, e-mail kind of guy. I expect lots of both of those after cbt.</p>
<p>It took us about 10 days to get that first letter. Although they are "required" to write one day 1 or 2, my D reported last year on Jul. 2 and her letter had a line drawn with the notation that it was now Jul. 7. So although she started it at the required time, she didn't get it mailed and it took her another week to get it finished. We were lucky throughout her Beast experience in that we got letters at least once a week. I remember one day I got 2 at the same time. What an exciting day that was!</p>
<p>However, her letters were not always "uplifting," so don't fret too much if the letter is far from "having a wonderful time, wish you were here."</p>
<p>KateMac is right -- my son's first letter home last summer began, "This is supposed to suck, and it does...". We got a good laugh about that THIS summer -- wasn't so funny at the time...</p>
<p>we're waiting in Missouri too and Mom3boys said exactly what I've been thinking - maybe those who received them live on the east coast. We've read all the books and information and listened to all the briefings, so we do anticipate that first letter to be "honest"....we just really want that contact like all the other parents. I've wondered if they are "allowed" to send it to someone special instead of parents. It's nice to read this thread and be reminded, again, that we're not alone.</p>
<p>
[quote]
those who received them live on the east coast
[/quote]
LOL - I live one state away!</p>
<p>They are "required" to write a letter -- to anyone they choose. They are NOT required to mail the letter. They are SO busy right now -- sometimes it is just overcome by events. Even if you send the SASE, they still must find the time to walk to the post office, or find a mailbox, and mail it. (and must be accompanied by cadre to do it -- they are not ever just given "free" time.) Or remember to take it with them when they go to check the box. I certainly sympathize with those waiting and remember what it feels like, but it may be a while. I know of a couple of parents who never got any mail. Doesn't mean your child has forgotten you or doesn't care, just means they are totally focused somewhere else right now! Keep you chin up, I am sure they are doing great!!! First phone calls aren't too far away now!</p>
<p>I know of three parents who have gotten letters. Alas, we are not one of them. All those families live east, and we are in Texas, so I am using that as the excuse.</p>
<p>Can anyone point me to the 'form' (fill in the blanks) letter? Think it was somewhere on the USMA website but I'm not finding it right now. Thanks!</p>
<p>Plebe</a> Net</p>
<p>You can also make your own. I found the ones provided to be a great starting point. Hope they are returned to you.</p>
<p>JUST got a letter! He says its rough, but it sounds like he's holding up okay. It feels good to have heard from him. Only days before he's able to call now. Hope all those who haven't had word get something soon.</p>
<p>Thanks, Markerr and congrats on getting a letter! With the holiday and weekend, I imagine more letters will be arriving today.</p>