<p>Some of your kids have already left home on their way to their respective Academy. The rest of you are biting your nails as Wednesday (or whatever day) approaches.</p>
<p>You guys doing OK? :)</p>
<p>Funny you should ask. I had a crying jag (borderline panic attack) in church today. DD wondered why I wasn't singing, saw me practically biting a hole through my lip and the tears streaming. </p>
<p>By the end of the service I had myself more or less together. But we have had a stream of people through the house all weekend and tomorrow we are having an open house for all of her friends. </p>
<p>Trying hard to show her a brave face, but she is my baby! Good thing big sis the Marine is coming home this weekend with her almost-fiance whom I have not yet met. Good distraction.</p>
<p>thanks for asking- these final days are an emotional roller coaster for sure-</p>
<p>was doing ok until the thorpedo told us he was up 'till 5am last night (?this morning?) writing letters to all of us- I lost it-</p>
<p>so i decided to can the pocket tissue wipes and bought 2 big boxes of kleenex-suppersized extra-softies- and to H*** with anyone who can't watch a grown woman cry. I know I won't be alone. And i am packing light- no makeup, no mascarra, no lipgloss to mar the white uniform- anyway, i would only cry it all off- so why bother I figure.</p>
<p>then the girlfriend comes home today with a ton of pasteries from her grandparent's bakery- every italian delicacy you can imagine- enough for an entire platoon- </p>
<p>and the house has been a revolving door of friends- lots of "last times"....i could cry all over again. 2 girls baked his favorite cookies. Have aleady cleaned out 2 post offices of all their flat-rate shipping boxes- they don't even ask, they just give me cartons of 'em- and I keep handing them out to anyone that asks-</p>
<p>such a long time waiting for this to happen- and now that it's finally here, wish we had just a bit more of it! </p>
<p>Best of luck to everyone! If you need a tissue, watch for the lady pushing Annabelle in her stroller- I'll have lots of tissues for everyone! And Annabelle will have lots of kisses for anyone in need!</p>
<p>Hang in there parents, the toughest moment for us was at the end of the day when we returned to our hotel room without our new cadet. Write letters!!! OFTEN!!!!! Your son or daughter will need them.</p>
<p>Please remember, that as hard as it is for you, it really will get better. With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that this experience has become part of our life. I was a basket case on R-Day and became choked up for weeks afterwards. By A-Day, I cried a bit. By PPW, I felt sad. Now I just look forward to the times we get to see her and am happy that she is doing just what she wants to be doing.</p>
<p>We want all the details when you guys return! I'd like to be there so I could get kisses from Annabelle. You'd probably have to pry her out of my hands & voices would be raised so its probably good I won't be there. LOL I will be thinking of all of you, knowing that you are about to be intiated. Service academy parent style! There's nothing in this world that compares to what you're about to experience. Your initiation will last all the way through Parents week-end. Enjoy all of these new and exciting experiences! </p>
<p>Stay safe in your travels & report back in! We'll be watching for those picture pages on the academy web sites for sure! </p>
<p>USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA, USGCA parents - let the crying festival begin!
Best of luck to all the kids.</p>
<p>I was just yesterday transferring files from a small digital recorder and I remembered the recordings I had made of our telephone calls last summer. . . Record your three plebe-summer telephone calls, you will be glad you did.</p>
<p>Laugh at the little stuff: At the end of I-day, as our tired puppy found us in the crowd, he sat down, exhausted and said: "Can we go back to the hotel room now?"
We always remember that and say it at the end of a day now.</p>
<p>Time to "Let the Good Tears Roll".</p>
<p>Moms, go ahead and cry your eyes out if you feel like it. You will be in good company. Just be sure to drink plenty of fluids to replenish the lost fluids. Remember, clear and copious.</p>
<p>As the other parents have advised, the beginning is tough but it does get better, much better, as the summer passes and basic training ends. Write often. If you don't know what to say, send copies of comic strips, church bulletins, sports scores, anything. The letters are as important to the writer as to the cadet receiving them.</p>
<p>Stoic dads beware! Last year's R-day knocked me off the "tough guys don't cry list" - big time. And that was just the start. I cried so much over the next few days that I thought I was turning into a democrat. </p>
<p>Shogun is right, the night of R-day was a real tester for me. That's when the reality of our son's departure hit home. While I wouldn't trade the experience of watching the events of R-day for the world, I hope I don't replay the emotions of R-day night anytime soon.</p>
<p>Please share your experiences with us. I promise not to overdo the "been there, done that" responses. Do it for yourself as well as the other new cadet parents. Believe me, this forum can provide great comfort, support and occasional comic relief. It has been a godsend for me.</p>
<p>There are no "tough guys don't cry" in this house. Yestarday at church, our Pastor had our son come forward telling the congregation this was his last worship service before he leaves for the AFA on wednesday. The applauses were non stop (just like my tears). The pastor asked all of the veterans and service people to come forward and lay hands on our son. It was also a wonderful way to say thanks to all that have chosen to serve our country. Our Pastor was a pilot in WWII before he went to seminary. We also said goodbye to a soldier heading back to Iraq. The wife of this soldier gave me a hug and confirmed he was going to be fine. My husband and two teenage sons were sobbing. After the church service, a friend of ours made the comment, "I have to stop sitting behind you guys! I can't help crying when I see your boys freely show how much they love each other." We have been blessed to have boys that are not embarrassed to kiss or hug their parents infront of their peers.</p>
<p>my son spent the entire day with me (Dad was out of town and celebrated my b-day on Saturday). He was my chaffeur for the day and encouraged me to do anything I wanted to do. And that exactly what's I did! It was a wonderful day and we talked about many things that we haven't spoke about in ages and new things that I felt I wanted to say to him before he leaves on Wednesday. I won't forget this particular birthday. One thing he said to me last night when I was heading to bed was..."Ya know Mom, this will be the last long vacation I spend at home with you guys--it'll be no more than 3 weeks from now on until I graduate in 4 years." And he looked really sad...</p>
<p>Although he didn't see it, I was really choked up. This is going to be a difficult week for me, but as long as he is enthusiastic and happy about his decision---I will be okay. </p>
<p>Thank you for asking.</p>
<p>Instead of tissue, I recommend you bring a nice soft towel. Just wring it out every now and then. You can use it for sweat, too!</p>
<p>This helpful tip brought to you by Zaphod. :D</p>
<p>Oh, and for all you new USNA Plebes out there....</p>
<p>If, near the end of next week, you guys spot an overweight, buzz-cut guy with two little girls walking around the Yard and pointing things out to them (including you), that will be me! :D</p>
<p>
[Quote]
I cried so much over the next few days that I thought I was turning into a democrat.
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</p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHA!!!!</p>
<p>Here I am, perpetually on the verge of tears, and I laughed out loud at that! Thanks for the comic relief, aspen! I needed that!</p>
<p>Up until this week I've either been in tears or in denial. Haha! Now, there is no time for denial! We're hanging in there, and trying to think about the future instead of the past. (It's when I start to remember him as a little boy that I can get choked up!). Dang, that 18 yrs went fast!</p>
<p>Thanks for thinking of us parents, Zaph - you know we're not about making this experience "all about us", but it's nice to be asked! </p>
<p>At least we know they are going to a good place! Right, guys?? Even tho' I know he could handle the freedom & responsibility of a big University, I sure am glad that isn't what he chose! Bet some of y'all feel the same way right about now!</p>
<p>Best wishes to all of you!<br>
Anybody going to be at the private swearing in??</p>
<p>We were planning to do the private swearing in, but are now thinking twice about it. DD may be so whipped that she will just want to sit quietly somewhere for a little bit. Still not sure what we will finally decide.</p>
<p>Right now there are a half dozen teenagers in my living room going through photo albums. There has been a steady stream of them for two days. Every time somebody leaves I get all choked up again. Since we are moving to Japan later this year, it may be the last time I see some of these kids...</p>
<p>I am planning to bring a chamois to I Day. They wring out much easier than towels!</p>
<p>My family room is filled with at least 15 friends watching a movie right now. One of the girls is planning on lining the exit of our neighborhood just before we leave for the airport on wednesday morning. I'm glad I won't be driving. I won't be able to see through the tears. I purchased a mini hellium tank and balloons at wal-mart today for $20.00. I dropped it off at the organizer's house so that my son won't have a clue about the send off.</p>
<p>Momofboyz: as I read this post I really had to smile. Isn't it wonderful that even though miles separate us, a real church works pretty much the same way in your part of the country as it does in New Jersey (yes, even the Northeast). I was also a little sad when I read how your congregation laid hands on your son because I couldn't help think about Confused23 and people like him. He couldn't possibly understand what that meant or why grown, rationale men and women would do such an "irrational" thing. Or, the meaning behind it, or the comfort and joy which covers the congregation when this happens. And so I will pray for him. Thanks for your post!</p>
<p>How are we doing? Well here, not well. She just went out the door. I did okay until I was looking at the stuff she boxed up--her stall sign for all the years she showed horses and a sheep coat that she won at Estes Park Wool Market last year--she was so proud--she got Reserve Champion in fleeces. She was playing with her dog this morning--of course Floss didn't know she was saying goodbye, but boy, I did. This is being so much harder that saying goodbye to dd#1. Please tell me she'll be okay.</p>
<p>She will be OK -- in fact, she'll be better than OK, eventually :) A year from now she'll be headed out for a summer cruise, maybe to Hawaii, Japan or the Mediterranean, with the confidence that only a Youngster stripe can bring.</p>
<p>Plebe summer is tough, but it is do-able and no matter how bad it gets she'll be too busy to dwell on anything for long. My kid took great comfort in this: they can't kill you and they can't stop time.</p>
<p>Nothing will ever be as beautiful to you as her smile when you see her for the first time on Parent's weekend -- and no matter how close you think you are to her now, you will become even closer over the next 4 years (hard to imagine, but so true!) </p>
<p>Hang in there -- the 6 weeks will pass and in August you are both in for the best weekend of your life.</p>
<p>My kid took great comfort in this: they can't kill you and they can't stop time.</p>
<p>Thanks--I needed to hear that again. I just heard her door close and thought, "She's going to be late to work." Of course, it was just her dog thumping around...</p>
<p>ACKKKK! Heartcross! Stop it. You're killing me here. Ooooo I know how much you must hate the silence. You can cry one more day lady then you need to get busy looking for her in some of the photos that will be coming. That will make you feel a wee bit better. You need to bake you & Floss some cookies today. Bless his heart. :) Sending you all kinds of virtual hugs & smiles (and tissues). Some duct tape to repair that huge loving heart of yours too. Countdown to August!</p>
<p>Merlot & chocolate anyone?</p>
<p>Sent Jake off this morning. There were 3 other boys on the same plane.They were together when we left them. Jake looked great and ready to go. I have to keep telling myself that he has wanted this for so long and now its happening. I am so proud of him but will miss him so much. The first letter was sent just now.</p>