Not to highjack the thread but parents should start thinking about PPW. It is a long way off in parents scheme but not that long away as it is 8/11/16 on Plebe calendar or hotel and realtor calendar. Questions to ask. How many will go? How will they get there? Transportation for all from BWI or Amtrak and back and forth to gate 1 or walk? Just parents, maybe a hotel. More than two but less than or four total, maybe two hotel rooms. More, maybe a rental? We have had great luck with "Home Away" for rentals in the Annapolis area (PPW, Graduation and Wedding). There are some other great rental sights in Annapolis with some great rentals for families and friends. Daily cost may look high but figure the hotel rate per night for a number of rooms and it doesn't look so bad and some have yards with grills. Without friends from home your plebe will probably only shower and sleep so plan accordingly. Friends of my Plebe said that touring DTA with her in her summer whites was like being with a rock star but then again when in your life do you get to be a tourist attraction. As an aside, curfew during PPW is a nightmare and you will see Plebes jumping out of cars and running to check in as you wait in your car in the long line to get to the gate. Don't know if they still play the Christmas Carols out the windows of Bancroft as parents leave at end of PPW but I still laugh when I think of that.
In the moment, I-Day is everything, because, at the end of the first day, it's all you know. It's startling, it's a shock, it's madness, it's emotional, it's mind-numbing . . . all at once. However, by the end of the first week, by the end of the summer, by the end of plebe year, by graduation . . . and the rest of your life, it really is nothing more than a blip or a blur. My memories of the day are more from the pictures my parents took than actually remembering the day itself.
IMHO, it's harder on parents. For them, I-Day symbolizes the beginning of true independence/emancipation of their child. It's all done in a single day -- hugging them at Alumni Hall as a civilian and, then, 8-10 hours later, seeing them as a member of the military. And knowing they won't see their kid for another ~45 days. And that their child is now truly an adult. It's a lot to process.
For both, it's kind of like jumping into cold water. Immediate shock and then gradual acceptance. It's just the memories are more the shock for the parents and the gradual acceptance for the mid.
I'm a Zoomie, not a Squid, but the stories have a similarity. Here are 2 quick ones from a couple of my USAFA classmates -- stories from 37 years ago . . .
Story #1: "The barber leaned down and whispered "You want to keep your hair?" My friend had cut his hair fairly short before showing up, so hope sprang and he replied "Sure". The barber then boomed "Well then hold out your hands, 'cause here it comes!" . . . .
Story #2: "My Dad was a musician, which should impart my level of "military preparedness" for basic. After the PTSD trauma of exiting the bus, getting my Bruce Jenner hairstyle shaved off, and being issued mystery items as a newly minted basic, I was deposited in my room shortly before lunch time and told to "get squared away..."--I had no idea what "squared away" meant. About twenty minutes later I saw a blue shirt walking past, which was fortunate, because I was getting tired and thirsty. I walked out into the hall (in my socks, no less), and asked, "Hey man, where's a coke machine around here?" My immediate response to his reaction in that first 1/4 second was, "What does this dude have against Coca-Cola?" Then I realized, under his spittal-assisted tutelage, that maybe I shouldn't be prosecuting this line of questioning. For the next week, I was "Coke Man" and the default demo basic--at least until succeeded by [name withheld out of respect ], who, when reciting his knowledge of Air Force ranks, when asked about Colonel, responded, "Colonel, O-6, denoted by a silver...bird..." "What kind of bird, Mr. XXXXXX?"
"Ma'am, it's a ...chicken!" Saved by basic cadet chicken."
Try not to be "Coke Man" . . . definitely don't become basic cadet chicken
You will have your own stories . . eventually they will even seem funny . . . you will be fine
Mine didn't cry IDay--he cried PPW--each night when we took him back. He tried to hide it and we pretended not to see. He now openly admits each night he didn't want to go back. My husband and I just wanted to grab him and run like hell to the airport. He's 2c now and when he visits home I STILL wish I could just keep him here. It's gotten easier--but I know our time together will be less and less every year. I did my job now it's his time to soar--I just don't have to like it!!
Reading your post is making me sad. I am excited to see DS in Aug. but will be extremely sad to send him off the last day of Parents weekend? He just turned 18yrs old last month and still a baby. He loves Pokemon & would love the new Pokemon searching game, lol.Mine didn't cry IDay--he cried PPW--each night when we took him back. He tried to hide it and we pretended not to see. He now openly admits each night he didn't want to go back. My husband and I just wanted to grab him and run like hell to the airport. He's 2c now and when he visits home I STILL wish I could just keep him here. It's gotten easier--but I know our time together will be less and less every year. I did my job now it's his time to soar--I just don't have to like it!!
Reading your post is making me sad. I am excited to see DS in Aug. but will be extremely sad to send him off the last day of Parents weekend? He just turned 18yrs old last month and still a baby. He loves Pokemon & would love the new Pokemon searching game, lol.