<p>This is a message to all naval academy moms- Talked to my mentor family and guess what their daughter was home and talked to me at length. Asked her a number of questions- one majore thing she told me- if possible- make sure your kid gets a care package on Junly 5th- she said it was one of the hardest days. Apparently, they give the kids some time off on the 4th- and the 5th is a real bear- so if you can time it with the postal service- she says it makes a big difference on that day. It was neat talking to someone who had gone through it and survived. Beat Army!</p>
<p>JamsMom - thank you for the kind words - submariners are always a tad bit supersticious - hence the connection to the K-19 - I am writing Kyle today, so will pass on your greetings -</p>
<p>Zaphod - I was interested in the squad # just because the pic website wanted the info - I tried registering on there and have still not received confirmation - I would love to search for "waldo" - anybody out there from Washington state??</p>
<p>middiesmom - I live just east of Columbus in Pickerington.</p>
<p>"I just saw a picture of Jake on the Thornton website.............."</p>
<p>How do I get to that web site. The sites I went to did not have my cadet's pic.</p>
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Just wait until one of your daughters wants to go to West Point.
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<p>They're too smart for that. ;)</p>
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Or to punish you, she'll get a scholarship to UC-Berkeley.
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She'd have to, because I sure as hell wouldn't pay for it.</p>
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Zaphod - I was interested in the squad # just because the pic website wanted the info
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<p>Interesting. I would have expected them to ask for company and platoon. Hmmm...</p>
<p>Morning Zaphod,</p>
<p>The Thornton website asked for the company, platoon and then squad - I wanted to make sure I filled in all of the info - but from what I have read, squad isn't important....</p>
<p>The squad doesn't matter according to the Thornton people.</p>
<p>Well I have finally out-slept any residual exhaustion from our I-day marathon- and trying to catch up with y'all with these posts...</p>
<p>JM...you are going to be a GRANDMOTHER???!!!! HOW EXCITING!!! Oh I hope it is a GIRL!!! You need some pink in that mansion of yours!!!! How wonderful- you must be on cloud nine!!!</p>
<p>Z- hope you are enjoying your visit with your girls- no doubt they were THRILLED with their new room! How wonderful! Please do give a big ooh-rah to any plebes you see on the yard during your visit!</p>
<p>Feels as if we just got home, but already I am dying to get back! I have found some connection through the Thornton site, which posts the schedule of what activities are planned for each day- just the thought of the thorpedo out on the water brings tears of joy to my eyes!</p>
<p>JM- you have GOT TO GET that little merlot figurene for your mantle---I would do the same, only I have dark hair! LOL! Z, that was priceless! And no, I am not responsible for the flooding down in Maryland- our son looked just SO GOOD and SO HAPPY that I could not cry!!!! I barely used an inch of tissues the entire day!!! It's amazing what a simple "yes" answer to "can you do this" can do for a person! I AM SO PROUD OF HIM I COULD BUST!!!!! </p>
<p>And what a happy thought to think that there are THOUSANDS of us parents out there feeling EXACTLY the same way!!!!! Now THAT brings tears to my eyes!!!!</p>
<p>Have a great Navy day!!!!</p>
<p>Glad you're rested Navy2010. Yes, a Grandmother. Although I am changing the name. Still thinking on it. I liked Sealion's "Grand" suggestion. Maybe Grandie? I swear I just got the silliest grin on my face when I typed that... I must be still in shock! A girl... Yep, I'd like that ALOT! If its a boy, I'm sending it back. ;) (kidding ok) My virtual self is kinda cool isn't she. LOL</p>
<p>We're hoping (hint hint) that Z gets many photos when he goes on his visit. I take it the excitement remains? GOOD! LOL Trust me, its gonna go on the rest of the year. I don't think you truly ever come down from this thing. The roller coaster ride never stops. I can't wait for you guys to get to PPW though. Talk about busting!</p>
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He sent me two girls who love the ocean.
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<p>Sound like Kings Pointers to me :-)</p>
<p>Well......... it beats West Point, at any rate. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>Okay, i have a question to ask of the group- I'm doing okay with my plebe being away- but his girlfriend here at home is having a really tough time with everything. I had her over tonight- and we talked- the last couple of months before Bobby left, they spent a great deal of time togher- In fact, that is why I think its going easier for me. I am taking her to parents weekend with us, because I can't think of anything my son would like more than to see her. Does anyone other there have any advice for me? i would appreciate any suggestions of how to make it easier for her to handle this long separation with no communication. Thanks- Middiesmom</p>
<p>I don't want to sound to blunt.....But I read on this forum somewhere that the chances of pre-academy relationships rarely last. With that said, this young lady will need to realize she will have to endure this separation time. Both your son and the girlfriend have been given an opportunity to grow as individuals. Your son may mature at a faster pace than the girl. Stress may cause your son to end the "corting" part of the relationship. Encourage her to go after her own dreams. If the relationship is ment to be, she will have more of life's experiences and stronger coping skills to share with your son. Just as your son will bring his experiences into the mix. Be supportive. The two of them have to work this one out.</p>
<p>Amen, Momof3boyz.</p>
<p>During the past few weeks, lots of posts have involved bringing the GF to I-Day and PPW and so forth. I haven't wanted to rain on any parades (especially with the soon-to-be-Plebes reading), but I recall thinking, "Oh, yeah.... like THAT'S going to last."</p>
<p>I was the one who posted the blunt comments a while back (surprise surprise). While I certainly don't WISH a breakup on anyone, the fact is that, as you said, few pre-academy relationships last. OTOH, some do.</p>
<p>If this young lady is worth keeping (Moms are the best judges of this, of course, and the fact she has come to see YOU is a good sign), then the poor thing is simply going to have to roll with the punches and learn to live with them. The rest will be up to her and your son, subject to the vagaries of Time and Fate, who as we all know play by their own rules.</p>
<p>Hang in there. I hope they hang in there together, as that is the sign of a REAL relationship. :)</p>
<p>Middiesmom:</p>
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Does anyone other there have any advice for me? i would appreciate any suggestions of how to make it easier for her to handle this long separation with no communication.
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<p>Things will declare themselves. Keep the communication, and the welcome mat, open. Share the letters. Share the visits. Bake cookies!</p>
<p>(please join the baking for a mid challenge....see the other post....bake his favorite cookies together....bake extra for that additional care package......it will make the time fly by!)</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that she should be cut loose. I made poor decisions in the past, in retrospect, because of girls and you DO NOT want your son's experience to be clouded by thoughts of a lonesome girl back home. Nor do you want his decisions to be clouded by the types of thoughts that young, energetic men tend tothink of.
Admittedly, this is not your decision to make but I would not encourage a continued relationship.
If she is having this hard a time now, it will only get worse as his adventure continues.
At the end of the day, this separation is something that maturity enables one to endure. Immaturity pines away for a love who is away.
You either get rid of the distance or get rid of the relationship. Its a simple as that and I don't think you want the distance to evaporate.</p>
<p>They don't call it the 2% club for nothing...</p>
<p>Doggonit Z - I was thinkin' that but you said it so much better.</p>
<p>Middiesmom - we have close friends (as in two doors away) where he went to the Naval Academy and she pined for him at home. They were exceptionally close during highschool and he ended up leaving the academy after two years so they could get married. He's now a successful lawyer and they are still married but I think they have regrets about a decision made by two twenty-year olds. </p>
<p>They often talk about the lack of foresight and input from people around them (not that they would have listened at that age anyway.) Knowing them, I think they would have made it as a couple and she would have been a stellar officer's wife. If they could have waited twenty-four months. </p>
<p>If you want your son to see this thing through then Momof 3boys is right; encourage the GF to have an interesting, fulfilling life in addition to her relationship with your son. Girls like that are the best anyway. Hope it turns out well.</p>
<p>I am thankful we did not have to deal with GF separation issues. Our son will admit he avoided a close "personal" relationship with a girl because he saw the bigger picture. He did not want to add distractions to the already demanding schedule cadets face. He knows his first priority is his service to his country. </p>
<p>Love them both. Some time down the road you may be the comforting your son's broken heart. The GF may be the one that decides to let your son go. </p>
<p>Bossf51 has pointed out that only 2% of these Fairy Tales make it to "Happily Ever After." :(</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice. I too read about the 2% club as did my son. In fact, tht was one reason he choose not to have a girlfriend during his senior year, but as fate would allow, they met late in january and just started hanging out. She is a sweet girl still in high school- and even through I know the relationship will not last, i would like to help her get through the summer. Both of them had issues with their friends during the last months of school with drinking and partying. Both of them are atheles who view drinking as something they didn't want to do. So they ended up spending a great deal of time at the end together. She is looking for a job to finish off the summer, and cross country starts soon- so things will get easier. In fact, one of the reasons that I choose to bring her to parents weekend versus going to a football game in the fall- was that I don't think the relationship will last ( due to distance, etc) past the beginning of school.
For some reason, this separation from my son has been easier for me- I have had him for 18 years and will always play a part in his life- she's only known him for 6 months- AHHHH young love. Thanks again</p>