Parent Preparation for Plebe Summer?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>Reading Zanerdude09's post and the accompanying responses got me to thinking.......what about parent prep for plebe summer?</p>

<p>I have read/heard on this and the other forum various things. The obvious, like enjoying that kiddo now and wrapping them in "bubble wrap." There have also been aluded to a few specific things on which I would like more info.</p>

<p>For eg.: I read where it is a good idea to have your plebe's first care package assembled when you come to Annapolis for I-Day and mail it from Annapolis before you leave. Is this so? What to include? What NOT to include? How many care packages to send through the summer? 1/week? </p>

<p>What about the phone calls? Am I to carry the cell everywhere with me for the summer knowing he will make only one or two phone calls? I have heard that the parents are notified of a window of time that the call will come. Notified by mail? email?</p>

<p>Our family (I am zanerdude09's mom) plans to be in DC a couple of days the weekend before I-day, then to Annapolis on Monday. We rented a house very near USNA for Mon-Wed nights. Only immediate family going. Since there are 6 of us, the kids and I are going to drive from Texas so we will have our large vehicle, Dad will fly up on the weekend. Kind of making it a last family vacation before plebe summer!</p>

<p>Anyway, prep tips from parents would be welcomed!</p>

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<p>Just to add on to that post--does anyone know if PPW date is posted yet? I looked for this a week or two ago, but couldn't find anything. The only date that that I've seen so far is 8/7-8/9, and that was unofficial. I'm also interested in advice for parents concerning Plebe Summer and PPW. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Care Packages:
Send first on from Annapolis (we did it middle of the afternoon of Iday - Class of 2010 had PO Boxes prior to IDay) Include Small American Flag, stamps, pre-addressed labels for envelopes (not many as they will not send all that many letters) I did one per grandparent, a couple for us) I think he wrote both grandparents once and us about 5 times. Nutritious sports bars - stay away from chocolate as it melts and they do not want to get chocolate on white works. Nalgene bottle, I made up pre-measured ziploc bags of powdered gatorade for mixing in nalgene. You do not need to send cleaning supplies - they get that. No medicine, gold bond is good. Put everything in a Plastic container about the size of a shoe box. They will need to store their stuff enclosed to keep critters out.</p>

<p>I sent a care package about every two weeks. Be careful not to send too much. Make sure there is "extras" to share with roommates and detailers.</p>

<p>I wrote a letter every single day - short - they do not have time to read much. Large printing so they don't need to strain reading it . Put a few pictures in each letter. I put three per letter that I printed out. Send pictures of family, have friends send you pictures from facebook that you can print so you can include pictures of the friends from the summer, pictures of the dog, the cat, the house... anything to remind them of home. My Second Class Mid will tell you that the daily letter and the pictures really made his days. In my Mids company letters were private so we could discuss anything. Boxes however are opened in public and the detailers will raid anything that the Plebes are not to have.</p>

<p>There will be a Plebe specific web page at USNA.edu Plebe</a> Summer Information Page
They will post parent things here. There will be a brief the afternoon of IDAy where the Supe, Academic Dean, Commandant, and AD will all speak. The last three years they have announced the phone call dates during that brief. Then they will post the times on the web site. Make sure you discuss what number your Plebe to be is to call on. If your family is split who is getting the phone call - Mom or Dad and if there is a GF/BF whether she will be at house to talk a minute or if you will have to miss one so she/he gets the call. The last three years there have been 3 calls, typically Sunday, about 4pm EDT.</p>

<p>Join the list servs - there is one official and one not so. I personally only do the one sponsored by the Alumni Association/Foundation When you register you register for the Plebe list serve. Lots of info, some good some suspect but at least a way to stay informed. <a href="https://www.usna.com/SSLPage.aspx?pid=415%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.usna.com/SSLPage.aspx?pid=415&lt;/a> Link to list serv is on this page.</p>

<p>Find your states Parent Club - Texas has a few, hopefully you are in an area that has an active club. Lots of support there. Here is the state listings <a href="https://www.usna.com/Page.aspx?pid=1024%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.usna.com/Page.aspx?pid=1024&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Fot the Class of 2010 we were not told the date for PPW until the IDAY booklet was published and sent to us. As I recall it was about two weeks prior to IDay. We booked both hotel and airline tickets on Thursday after IDay and had no problem with good fares and getting hotel within walking of the yard.</p>

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<p>I'm curious.....why the small American flag?</p>

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<p>We mailed first care package from post office in Bancroft. It was in a USPS flat rate box. Last year, plebes were issued stamps, paper, and envelopes. I mailed something everyday. I had my son's friends and family write something funny or encouraging on a
3X5 card at his graduation party. I mailed one of those and a corresponding picture everyday. That way I didn't have to come up with something interesting and new everyday and my son got to hear from friends. I had found some funny greeting cards ahead of time and saved them. Plebes may not receive mail everyday. Mail is picked up at the post office by detailers when they have time.</p>

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<p>Tradition Prevents a charge of "Mutany"
Mutany: The gathering of more than 4 Plebes in a room is said to allow for the planning and execution of a Mutany by the Plebes in the room unless there is an American Flag displayed - usually a small (3" x 4") desktop flag.</p>

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<p>Agree with Profmom and USNA2012mom's comments. </p>

<p>You soon-to-be Plebe will have room for two shoebox sized, sealable plastic containers. Listen to Profmom about sending nutritious snacks. Don't send junk food during PS! It will just be confiscated. </p>

<p>While my current Plebe enjoyed receiving care packages (~1/wk), she has consistently said that the letters & pictures were really more important. Even if she didn't have time to actually read them at first, just getting the envelope was a sign that family and friends loved her and cared about what she was doing.</p>

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<p>Letters and pictures way beat the stuff in care packages (although homemade cookies were tops too)</p>

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<p>One of the most useful suggestions I received when my son went to NAPS was that I could get Priority Mail cartons delivered to my home, free, by visiting usps.gov</p>

<p>Three years later, I think I'm on my third or fourth set of 25. Dropping them @ the automated shipping machine @ my local P.O. means no standing in line to ship and takes about 1 minute. (In theory, your letter carrier will even pick up Priority Mail shipments in these cartons @ your home address, but given the eye roll I got the first time I tried this ... I find time to hit the P.O's machine.)</p>

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<p>Good point, NorCalMother. Getting boxes early-ish also gives you time to shop for the right size plastic shoe box. </p>

<p>When I was at Target yesterday the Rubbermaid/Sterilite boxes happened to catch my eye and I just grabbed one (a Sterilite shoe box). Turns out it is too wide for the USPS box. I seem to remember that the Rubbermaid box was even wider. Bummer! But at least there's still plenty of time to find one that fits.</p>

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<p>^^^ Get the plastic box that you think is the best. They really only need one for food items. Fill it, wrap in paper and send. After that use the flat rate priority boxes.</p>

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<p>Ha, I knew there had to be a simple solution. Thanks :)</p>

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<p>Here a suggestion: Print your priority label--with postage and everything--at home. </p>

<p>Then there is NO standing in line at th emachine or the counter. Just paste the label to your flat rate box, drop in the box and go.</p>

<p>Oh . . . and use media mail to send the books home after plebe year. Lot's cheaper and easier than you trying to lug 'em home on the plane.</p>

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<p>As a parent of a future midshipman you are smart to start thinking of some of the logistics like care packages and such but these are things you do not need to worry about until after I-day. I-Day will be one of the best and worst days of your life as a parent.</p>

<p>My advise:</p>

<p>Pre- I Day - TIME is a precious comodity that is running out on you. Your son/daughter has been a major part of your daily life and household. That is about to change. Spend as much time together as a family as possible in the next few months. This is an opportunity that will never come back to spend this much time with them again. Enjoy the little things in every day life and maybe plan a vaction. Once they are a midshipman the longest period of time they will be with you is the 3 week leave at Christmas and even this may not always be true. Life going forward will be a series of vists that always seem all to short. Take advantage of what you have today, because that clock is running.</p>

<p>I-Day - This is the day that your son/daughters childhood abruptly ends and you have to step back and release them to fates unknown. It is a highly emotional day, you are super proud of them but the sense of loss really hits you at the same time. Also, you are scared for them what if they don't make it, but you are powerless to help. That realiztion is a real shock. Then there is the trip home and the first time you walk back in your house and they are not there. The whole family feels the loss. Nothing you can do but deal with this.</p>

<p>Post I-Day - You are going to bless and curse the parents who are close enough to visit the yard almost every weekend becuse they live close while you are on the other coast. You will spend countless hours on your PC looking for your "waldo" in the thousands of pictures that other parents post up of plebe summer. The care packages and letters from you will brighten your mids day. Hopefully they will write to you. The first phone call is a memorable event. You will start counting down to PPW. The first time you see them in their summer whites will take your breath away. They are still your child but they are different.</p>

<p>AC year starts and brings a whole new set of issues but you have communications. Life is better but they are on their own. Plebe year can be a real rollercoaster and the best thing you can do is listen to the good days and bad days and maybe offer advice if it's asked for. Their success or falilure is their hands and you are more spectator than parent. Enjoy the ride.</p>

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<p>MidnDad</p>

<p>Your post hits many correct notes.
As we get close to finishing this NA adventure, you got me to thinking about one of my BGO interviews.
The mom sitting on the couch wanting to know more about how things work, etc., etc.
She was surprised, for example, that she would even see her son during the AC year. That, for example, they came home for Thanksgiving. Even if only for about 60 hours. [Yes, we counted the hours.]
She was a little surprised about the limited contact during Plebe summer, e.g. the three three-minute [sometimes a little bit longer] telephone calls.</p>

<p>I was speaking w/ a parent of a schoolmate of our daughter, he asked "how often did you get to go up to see him?] I averaged about two times a year; once there was three times. He came home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break. Also, three weeks in the summer.
So, it wasn't terrible. The truth be told, because of the parent's list-serve, I probably knew more about the general goings on at the Academy than a comparable civilian college.</p>

<p>BUT, for I-day, it is a true RIPPING sound that comes from the mother's bosom. They WILL be TAKEN away from you. The result, however, three short years later is a confident young adult. [Perhaps not particularly prepapred for the vagueries of life; like how to cook for themself, how to wash clothes, how to maintain a car but they do know how to drive a ship and navigate an airport.] You will NOT be prepared. [Especially if this is the first to leave home.]</p>

<p>Enjoy your time together. If you like each other now, you will like each other even more. If you communicate well now, you will communicate w/ each other even more.</p>

<p>What was the advice on the other thread? Don't overthink it. There is only so much that will be within the control of either one of you. He/She must do what they are told. They will have to overcome the inner fear that maybe they are not doing the right thing. You will have to support them; remind them of why they chose the NA over [substitute your favorite "dream" school here.] THEN, it really WILL get all better. THEN, the years will fly by and, before either one of you know it, they will be tellling you they are n ot coming home for spring break because "this is the last time we all will get to be with each other. It's kind of sad, we are all going through the 'last' one of our events together."</p>

<p>Enjoy your time together. It REALLY is an adventure.</p>

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<p>MIDNDAD, thanks for making me laugh with the "looking for Waldo" line, you had me wiping tears before that.</p>

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<p>Great great great advice from all. I almost can't think of anything to add--except this.</p>

<p>Hang on tight! It's a wild ride.</p>

<p>Phone calls for Plebe Summer and the first half of Ac Year (at least) are either from the pits of despair or the height of pride. Things are either going perfectly or horribly. I think of our first 50 communications from our plebe, 48 of them were one extreme or the other. There was no middle road.</p>

<p>They'll call to vent, cry, complain, or rant. Life is horrible, things are horrible, feet hurt, sickness sets in, detailers change, etc. They blow off steam to mom or dad...and then their life is better. YOU, moms and dads, spend the next set of days, sick about what you just sent/let your child get into. They, on the other hand, have since moved on--and life is good again!</p>

<p>They call the next time, and you're "there" for them...and they're thinking--what's wrong with you? I'm GREAT!! ;-)</p>

<p>That roller coaster took a while to adjust to, and I'm not sure we're even close to mastering the ride yet. 3 years to go. By the time we get it down pat, they'll be commissioned, and we'll move on to much bigger risks and rewards!</p>

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<p>Someone mentioned something on the "other" board which I thought was very good advice for us parents:</p>

<p>Get a hobby!</p>

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<p>In ADDITION to gloating after Army-Navy (and Air Force - Navy) football scrimmages...:cool:</p>

<p>And you may wanna get a night job, too ...due to Midstore Madness! :eek: And it happens year-round! :confused: This'll be the mose expensive "free" education you'll ever spend. :(</p>

<p>GO NAVY! Beat Army all the time! :) :) :)</p>

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<p>Make sure you don't pack medications (even OTC "simple" stuff like vitamins, too).</p>

<p>One of the best things I ever, ever, ever did? We arrived at Annapolis 4 days before I-Day and just spent time together, walking, talking, etc.... We had some fun - renting kayaks, renting those standing people movers (so much fun!!), and snacking. We walked the Yard about 3 days before I-Day and then never went back on. My Mid said the nice thing was there was such a comfort with the weather, surroundings, etc. compared to other plebes. We aren't from a coast, so even the smell and breeze is different. It also got my Mid not so nostalgic to get off the yard during plebe summer, as we had already spent a lot of time around Annapolis. I look back to those days as some of my most precious memories. I wasn't competing with friends, Facebook, other family, phone calls, etc. It was just us.</p>

<p>That night before I-Day I got such little sleep and literally watched my plebe crashed in bed sound asleep. I took such comfort knowing that my plebe was so comfortable that sleep was not an issue. I got about 3 hours that night and literally walked to the hotel lobby and just bawled at 1am. Interestingly enough, there was another Mom coming down at that time to do the same thing and that's when I learned that the #1 thing to do is to find other parents of plebes. You all go through the same thing and understand. I exchanged e-mail addresses with some other parents - and we e-mailed DAILY supporting each other. We literally typed in our plebes' letters and sent them to each other because it gave us a much bigger picture of what they were doing and going through.</p>

<p>BUT -- not to worry.... I heard it, and it's so true. Plebe summer will just take every wonderful quality of your child and accentuate it. LOL -- after the summer, I was wanting to know if I could send every child of mine to plebe summer!</p>

<p>LOL -- Midstore Madness! I cracked up at that! You drop your child off and head to the Midstore and spend 100s of dollars on EVERYTHING... major retail therapy! I'm glad I did, though. It was nice to have a piece of the Academy at home. (Get to the store BEFORE I-Day if you can and get the t-shirts with all the plebes' names on them. They were sold out in many sizes by Noon on I-Day.)</p>

<p>Oh - and if you show up to the Yard early on I-Day, don't think you will have time to just hang out and say goodbye. They will push them on in.</p>