<p>Class of 2011, are your parents coming with you on I-Day? Alum, did your parents go? Parents, did you go? I can't decide if I should let my parents come. My Dad(USAFA Grad) has warned against having your parents there, and I think that I agree with him. Just looking for some opinions.</p>
<p>Dan</p>
<p>Not only yes, but HELL yes!</p>
<p>Who do you think helped the most in getting you there, sport? You would deny them the honor of watching you take the Oath? :confused:</p>
<p>Sorry, but I disagree vehemently with your dad's assertion.</p>
<p>If they can't come because of cost and would prefer to come Parents Weekend, that's a different story, but aside from that there is NO REASON why they shouldn't be there.</p>
<p>My dad's reasoning is the same reason why my mom didn't go with my dad to the airport when he left for Iraq. He says that at that point I need to concentrate on the mission at hand, and my wailing mother will be an unwanted distraction. Also my being given 90 seconds to say goodbye and then seeing me with a shaved head would not be good for my mothers mental health.</p>
<p>It doesn't need to be both or none. We chose to have me stay home on I- Day and have hubby go. That way, we could afford to bring our plebe's oldest sister to PPW with both of us. It was the right decision for our family.</p>
<p>danbrenn, I have to agree with Z</p>
<p>Ok.. I have been lurking on here for quite some time.. but I really had just jump in to give my 2cents on this issue. I would strongly suggest that all parents attend, if at all possible. It is such a memorable event -the whole day of activities, the oath, the AMAZING flyover and especially the last hug and kiss of the mid when still a kid! By PPW -they all seem so grown up! I am really glad that our family was able to go. That plebe summer is a loooong time and I had that wonderful day as the last memory to keep until PPW. My DD was glad that we were there. I did keep the tears in, until my mid had rejoined her company, and was out of sight. I certainly did not want her last memory of me to be one of hysteria, especially when she was the one with challenges of Plebe Summer ahead of her! </p>
<p>I agree with your Dad's idea of focus, but you will focus quickly by the end of the 1st day. Right after the 15minute goodbye, and a few words of support... ...and maybe a snack and a cold drink too! Good Luck!</p>
<p>Hey Dan, I think your dad spent half yr at Coast Guard on the cadet/mid exchange program. Tell him that many other parents including myself will be there. The moms may not be the only ones wailing. It's only hair! Coast Guard Academy Class of 1982 sends!!!</p>
<p>danbrenn...the most wonderful thing is that you and your parents can even HAVE this discussion. There are hundreds if not thousands of young people hoping for the opportunity to be in the place you and your mom and your dad are....and so many of them will get that thin letter in the mail and NEVER have this opportunity.....so I hope rather than this becoming a stress issue or a source of an argument between the 3 of you - it becomes something you all see as a precious gift to work out amongst you all.</p>
<p>Lots of families, lots of situations, lots of personal issues, lots of financial questions....all of this adds up to your question being a very personal one.</p>
<p>You will have families who make decisions with every possible permutation and it works for each one just fine. There is no RIGHT decision.</p>
<p>In our case, our daughter wanted to go alone, back early for a few days, and have us come for PPW. This was her call and it worked well for us all. We are 3000 miles away from USNA and that I-Day it felt like I was on the moon in terms of how physically close I felt to my daughter. But she called me around what??? 5pm?? that night along with many many other 'unaccompanied' mids who had a cell phone handed to them to call home - got hugs from the Chaplains of all faiths who made themselves readily available...had photos taken by the Chaplains and other mid families who graciously sent them my way....and she started her Plebe year in the way she wanted to. On her own - in her way. By August 6 weeks later with us and her brother as the surprise standing there on Stribling Walk waiting for those first hugs - we were all able to reconnect and experience USNA as a familiy together.</p>
<p>So talk with your parents and try to hear each other out on this - but I would say that ultimately it is YOUR decision and do your best to honor them.</p>
<p>God Bless you all and
Welcome to USNA Class of 2011!!!</p>
<p>If your parents can financially afford to come, they should do so. It's a wonderful day -- a very proud moment for parents. In some ways, second only to graduation. If parents have to choose b/t Parents' WE and I-Day, choose Parents' WE; if they can make it for both, do it. They won't have a lot of time w/you. But they'll be better off for having been there and so will you.</p>
<p>I'll be attending I-Day with my son. My husband and younger son are on standby for a Philmont trip and aren't sure, yet. We'll ALL be there for PPW (one week after boy's #18 b'day). My son wants at least one parent there with him. His decision, but I think he realizes I would be in agony if I couldn't give him one last hug.</p>
<p>It was a stretch for us to come all the way from the Intermountain West to I-Day but wouldn't have missed it. I also know our Mid was really happy. If you can, do it!</p>
<p>As a parent of a mid in the class of 2010 and a soon to be mid for 2011 I can speak from last years experience. I would not have missed I-day for anything! The Navy is very welcoming for parents and friends and the entire day is has activities planned for not only the mids but for family as well. </p>
<p>There are opportunities for the parents to watch the mids throughout the day. The best part of the day was the ceremony of the mids taking the oath of office and the informal swearing in of my son by my husband after the formal ceremony. </p>
<p>The other great part of the day is the time with your son/daughter at the end of the day before they return to their company and begin their new their journey as a midshipman. The photos taken are priceless and the memories will be with us forever!</p>
<p>I can assure you that my husband and I will not miss I-day on June 27th and watch our daugher begin her journey with the class of 2011. It is as important for the mid as it is for the parent.</p>
<p>
[Quote]
It is as important for the mid as it is for the parent.
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Very true. It is more important for the mid than for the parent. Comply with their wishes. Let them make the decision. If they don't want you parents there, stay away. Respect their decision.</p>
<p>Well, we were fortunate enough to attend both I-day & PPW. Wouldn't trade either of them for the world!<br>
I-day was more of a "family thing" since we had several generations of "navy men" share in the experience (private oath, etc.); then PPW was a bit more social - gathered w/ family in the area, brought the gf, and all that. It all worked out really well.
Aside from the private oath ceremony (something to take advantage of if given the opportunity), I like to think that our plebe benefitted from knowing that we were there (somewhere!) on I-day. He would've done fine on his own, but it was awesome for all of us. We appreciate him letting us tag along! Of course we didn't see much of our plebe on I-day, but there was plenty for us to do. And when it was all over, we all gathered in the motorhome, popped a bottle of champagne & toasted our plebe in absentia. What a heartwarming day!
I-day & PPW were both wonderful experiences that will be cherished by everyone in our family forever.<br>
Anyway, that's what worked for us - whatever you decide, I hope it is as enjoyable and memorable as ours was! (Well, maybe not so enjoyable for the plebe, but the rest of us had a blast - right up until that drum started beating...).</p>
<p>What does "I-Day" stand for? Induction Day. The day candidates are PROCESSED into the United States Navy. In other words, candidates get haircuts, uniforms; shots if they need them, take the oath, and join the US Navy for a summer of indoctrination and basic training/boot camp. I-day is not your typical moving-into-the-dorm university weekend; nor is it parents' weekend. (I'm curious about WHEN in the history of USNA, families were even allowed to show up on I-day!) I also wonder how many families accompany Navy or Marine recruits to Great Lakes or Perris Island for indoctrination and basic training?</p>
<p>I agree with peskemom, that this is an individual decision. USNA69 said it best: it should be left up to the candidate. If they want or need their family at I-day, so be it. If they don't, the family should respect their wishes.</p>
<p>The past president of our local USNA parents' club has three children who attended USNA, and the dad is a former naval aviator. They didn't attend I-day for ANYof their children, and their midshipmen did very well at USNA and in the Navy/Marines. In fact, one of their LTs is currently getting his PhD at MIT, courtesy of the US Navy. </p>
<p>My midshipman showed up on I-day by herself, two weeks after graduating from high school. However, she had already traveled a lot with our family and on her own: summer tennis camps, Europe to visit family, Washington, D.C. for a summer congressional scholarship, summer seminar at USNA, etc. She was very comfortable attending I-day without her family. It would have been an unnecessary distraction.</p>
<p>However, Plebe Parents' Weekend is not to be missed. I also highly recommend Sea Trials/Herndon, birthdays, long weekends, Army/Navy game, etc. Why waste a plane ticket on I-day? Let me put it this way, if I lived within three hours' driving distance of Annapolis, I may have considered going to I-day--only if my daughter wanted me there.</p>
<p>So, just like Peskemom said, it's all individual.</p>
<p>cga82, my dad did spend a semester at the coast guard academy. how did you figure out it was him? if you send me a personal message, ill let him know you said hi.</p>
<p>Besides financial issues, I don't understand why anyone would not want their parents at this event. With the exception of 30 minutes or so, you don't even see each other. The funny thing is, for the most part, those who don't have family there, are calling them on the phone...<br>
There is plenty of time for focusing later. They will have many long days all summer to focus.
I realize everyone makes a decision that is best for their situation, but for those who didn't go, they don't really know what they missed.
Having been there, I can honestly say, if any other of my kids attend USNA and don't want me there... I would sneak in and hide from them!!?!
I loved meeting all the families, seeing the yard, shopping, etc. Yes, these opportunities will be available at different events throughout the next four years. But, to see in person, the faces of all these young men and women on I-Day, and to hear the "I DO" during the induction ceremony was priceless. Pictures and videos are great, but it just isn't the same.
If you don't go to your child's I Day, I would go to another one. My child's BGO goes every year!
Oh yeah, and watching them "march" away at the end of the day...left...left....left....left,left!!!
And that last hug...can't do that over the phone...
As for the private swearing in, maybe not. Will save that topic for another thread...</p>
<p>"..........and then seeing me with a shaved head would not be good for my mothers mental health."</p>
<p>Apology in advance for interrrupting, but this just made me howl out loud. Probably because I am a mom & I can imagine the trauma :-)</p>
<p>Thanks for the hoot danbrenn. Onward.........reading. Great thoughts everyone, I'm enjoying the varying opinions.</p>
<p>I thought that my '08 mid had addressed this once before from his perspective, so I did a search and found this:</p>
<p>"I only know one plebe in my company who arrived alone, the other 40 of us came with relatives of some kind. Family is definitely important, but if your daughter will be better able to focus if she's alone, that's the better option. Plebe summer is ALL mental. From my point of view, after seven or so weeks and only two phone calls, seeing your family is just about the greatest thing ever. Make sure you get there for parent's weekend! That's your job! Remember, no mid does this alone. Care packages over the summer are awesome too, just don't include anything that will draw the attention of the cadre (I had a bad experience when my mom sent a slinky and some bubbles). Anyways, good luck, enjoy your kid while you can! </p>
<p>-super"</p>
<p>That pretty much encapsulates the argument from the mid point of view, and I honestly think that it was very important for my husband and I to be there and be involved in the briefs, etc. We really took the administration at their word and it was very comforting as the year progressed to revisit the comments that were made at the Parents' Brief. </p>
<p>Now, with almost 3 Ac years under our belts as parents and an increasingly successful mid, we still prize the series of pictures we have matted and framed at the top of the stairs~The mid in civvies before entering Alumni Hall, the mid on stribling in whiteworks, the mid steeling himself for walking back into Bancroft after visiting with parents, and, finally, the mid with youngster shouldboards after Herndon. To paraphrase a popular ad campaign, 18 years of parenting,$3,000.00 worth of tickets from Alaska, 16 hours on a plane, 4 photos=Priceless. </p>
<p>On another note, our son is going to be second set cadre and wanted me to make sure that the incoming class was very careful to go to a running store, have their stride diagnosed, buy appropriate shoes and RUN! Enough said. :)</p>