<p>well, i'm praying for all the candidates and their families...best of luck to all...USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, and USMMA plebes and their families.</p>
<p>Looked at the PICS posted by momoftwins, now waiting to see from the other academies.</p>
<p>Jamzmom...love the pic;)</p>
<p>Well, dh THINKS he has... ;-) It helps a bit that our Waldo is very tall...</p>
<p>Weather update for those of you not here in the Annapolis area: </p>
<p>After 3 solid days of deluge, the sun came out and stayed out today. Its a bit on the humid side (what else is new..) but it looks like the next round of thunderstorms will hold off until 9 or 10 tonight. </p>
<p>Jamzmon: you must have a direct line to the weather gods -- the new plebes and their families thank you ( as does everyone around here with a flooded basement!)</p>
<p>"So.... How are you PARENTS holding up? ..................."</p>
<p>I send my AFA girl off today early morning and I have been sitting whole day at the PC and reading the posts from other parents. I am worried for her so much that it hurts.</p>
<p>I am praying and hoping everything will go well for her and all the other young cadets, who are embarking into a new world about which they have only heard about. </p>
<p>I know we as parents worked very hard for our young cadets to be where they are right now, but I am in awe of their strength and innocence for their willingness to face this so called Beast.</p>
<p>Hang in there Proudmom.</p>
<p>The first few days are tough, but believe us when we tell you it gets better- much better.</p>
<p>Your daughter is in great hands at the AFA. And she's nowhere near the rain forests of West Point and Annapolis.</p>
<p>Send letters and whatever else the AFA allows the new cadets to receive. Your daughter will treasure each letter. </p>
<p>And share your thoughts with the other parents on CC. </p>
<p>Take care.</p>
<p>PROUDMOM- I don't have any girls but I feel your pain. We took our oldest to the airport today. Our cadet's flight was cancelled and rebooked on a flight two hours later. It all worked out but it just prolonged the emotions that came with the good bye. As time grew closer to boarding, it was comforting to see four other AFA cadets gather. First there were two, then another, then another. The other travelers at the gate could see there was something special about this group of shaved headed young men. All the on-lookers seemed to respect the significance of their journey. </p>
<p>Shortly after we got home, my 16 year old son gave me a poem he wrote this past Sunday. Both my husband and I were brought to tears as we read it. I want to share this for ALL Service Academy parents. You will have to change the gender but the message is still clear.........</p>
<pre><code> Tears Shed For the Marching
By: Nathan Corder
</code></pre>
<p>Could you hear the drummer drumming as your boy marched off to serve?
Did you hear the piper piping and feel charges through each nerve?</p>
<p>Your little boys a man now and hes ready for the fight
But hes still the tiny infant you kissed and said goodnight</p>
<p>Times hands have wound him forward to the man he is today
Youve never hated clocks so much as they ticked the years away</p>
<p>Just a little time ago you held him by the hand
The boy you once played catch with has now become a man</p>
<p>So listen for the drum beat as your soldier marches on
Horizons may now hide him but hell always be your son</p>
<p>Youll cry and miss him dearly but each tear that hits the floor
Will mark a trail for him to follow marching through your door</p>
<p>God Bless all of you!</p>
<p>Proudmom,</p>
<p>I have a daughter also. Although I don't think the parents of boys worry less or experience the mish-mosh of emotions any less, I certainly know what it's like to think of the little ballerina and wonder about the unconventional choice she has made. Welcome aboard, you'll find camaraderie here.</p>
<p>momof3boyz,</p>
<p>Your 2nd son has blown me away - "charges through each nerve" is a great description. That was beautiful - tell him I appreciate it.</p>
<p>momof3, I put my hand on my heart reading that. Tell Nathan that he just got a big virtual kiss on his forehead. That is tooooo sweet. I'm so glad that your son hooked up with some other kids going. I'm sure they were nervously talking to each other all the way & it took some of the edge off. </p>
<p>PRDMOM, I'm glad you found this forum! Welcome to the world of service academy parents!! You can bet that we all share every feeling that you are having today. </p>
<p>It's a good day to be a USAFA parent. Don't stress too badly. (Yeah, right huh?) Passing you a giant box of tissues! I'm happy today for all of you! </p>
<p>PS. My newly weds just told me that I'm getting a baby! My first Grandbaby! Its a good day to be me today as well!</p>
<p>Congrats to JM and family! She will soon have a new title:GRANNIE... :D</p>
<p>Jamzmom,</p>
<p>CONGRATULATIONS!! I think this is our first cyber-grandbaby on the forum. I can just see you teaching that baby to eat chocolate.</p>
<p>jamzsmom- Congratulations!!! Please hold off putting the merlot in the baby bottle until your grandchild is of legal age.;)</p>
<p>Momof3,</p>
<p>Wow, oh wow. Nathan is gifted, wise, and obviously has a big, big heart. </p>
<p>Whoo-whoo to JM! What will you go by? Granny? Maw Maw? What is Southern? :)</p>
<p>Big Mama!!! :D :D</p>
<p>momof3boyz - the poem was excellent and brought tears to my eyes. </p>
<p>jamzmom - congrats! You must be very excited. </p>
<p>After reading all these posts I have come to the conclusion that there is one advantage to having a son in the civil prep program...he doesn't have to be at NMMI until August 4th, which means I get to keep him home for a few more weeks. :)</p>
<p>jamzmom-congratulations! There are so many wonderful baby clothes and toys now. They are so cute and tiny....You are just on a never ending roller coaster.</p>
<p>I'm dying with Jake gone but I do have my game face on. My daughter is now dating a midshipman that she met at the parent's picnic that was right before Jake left. </p>
<p>I haven't gone in Jake's room yet. Still in a little bit of a fog.</p>
<p>Oh, and the new boy is a detailer! </p>
<p>On Jake's call, he said that it took him an hour to make his bed and that mealtimes were a particularly "fun" experience.</p>
<p>I plan on playing my son's music selection REAL LOUD. That way I can pretend he's still in the house. He left his room trashed. I figure I have until Thanksgiving to get it cleaned. I can still hug his pillow and smell his hair. (That might be a pit to much for some of you. Think back to when they were infants. Remember how they always knew they were in their mother's arms?. (sorry dads)) </p>
<p>Is it just a coincidence that jamzmom's news of a grandchild comes the same day we new parents lose ours?</p>
<p>momof3- I'm right there with you. The room is disgusting. He apparently left it on purpose (one last shove under the bed). I wish I could hug him and smell his hair too! Even the 8 half-eaten rotting lunch bags left on his floor don't seem that bad now.</p>
<p>Its really wierd, that he left his grad gown+awards just all over the floor like it was all unimportant. I suppose it is now. His BGO called me today and said that he doesn't have any time to think/miss home. He is just worrying/waiting for the next sh-t storm to hit. And it will all year, he said.</p>
<p>I'm fortunate my boys never took food in their rooms. I'd be in your shoes. The smell alone would put me over the edge. Expecting my boys to keep their room's clean was a battle I NEVER picked. They cleaned only when I said they had to. That again was not very often. There are more important things in life. Maybe I always knew my oldest would chose a military life. His cadre will teach him how to keep his room clean! ;)</p>
<p>Jamzmom:Let me add my congratulations. They don't call them "grand" parents for nothing. Saw somewhere that a Grandma is just an "antique little girl".</p>
<p>Before you get upset with the word antique, remember that an antique is collected or desirable because of its rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features. It's always a good day to be an antique.</p>