Plebe Candidate First Phone call home today

Thanks for the encouragement!

jessibee2013 said:
This is such a hard time for parents- and for the kids who are feeling overwhelmed. Your posts brought tears to my eyes with the memories from last summer and our waits for calls and then, flat, exhausted kids on the other end when they did call.
Remember they can do this, they are in good hands, and it will be parents weekend before you know it... I promise! And then Thanksgiving and Christmas... and when they are recognized, you will be saying to the other parents with whom you have formed friendships because your kids are friends, "can you believe we made it to recognition? it seems like yesterday that we were waiting for phone calls and feeling and acting a little bit C-R-A-Z-Y!"

GO 2014.. the second greatest class at KP :thumb:(can't wait to see the responses to that comment. :yllol:)
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It's good to hear that there are other kids with doubts. I know it's coming from exhaustion, but it's so hard to hear them second guess themselves when you know they want this. I know the attitude will change once indoc is over.:thumb:
 
call

Son in 301 called. Says place is tough. He is hoarse, hungry and exhausted, but he loves the food. Asked for cookies; at least 45. Loves the water front.
 
MrsMac,
For what it is worth, after Indoc was over last summer, DS told us on Day 4 or 5, he was going to quit but a buddy's girlfriend talked them both out of it. (The buddy caught the swine flu so he had unlimited use of his phone in sick bay).

Since then, DS has never openly expressed regret or doubt about his decision to attend KP. I think determination, a focus on the future and a wonderful sense of humor and irony have sustained him. I guess that would be my advise to parents of struggling candidates... Tell them to look for the humor and irony in difficult situations and always keep in mind- "this too shall pass".
 
also just got a call from DS in 202 sounded hoarse and happy
 
Enjoy those call, for anyone that did not get them there is still time. This week will be a bit easier
 
jessibee2013,

Thanks for the advice. I'll pass on the suggestions to him. I hope this week is a little easier.
 
The waiting is all worth it to hear their voices,, although our DS was really hoarse. He did say he got our cookies,,, but only got two! And that church is a good thing, and that the long letters really help. Gotta go write!
 
laisser said:
Just got our phone call. It is 5:52 mountain time. It was difficult to talk. He seemed very stressed and unsure. I hope it gets better. He thinks it is going to be like this all year. Yesterday, we were able to see a video of him and he was great. Here it ishttp://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=gasiorcj&target=PHOTO&id=5494973699795652194&aid=5494973461966664945&authkey=Gv1sRgCIe9hY60lo6qAQ&feat=email
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We too, had a DS -Band company-that was very unsure on the phone today,,but in viewing your son in the video,,he looked so great,,I would just keep replaying it and focus on it whenever you get worried!:wink:
 
Parents, keep supporting your dd/ds with what you know works for them. I know adults who have trouble keeping their heads and hearts straight when they have fatigue. Kids need to hear lack of sleep and soreness can mess with the mind, so they need to remind themselves everything LOOKS AND FEELS worse because of the fatigue and pain. It will ease up. My son sailed
trimester even though he was in band and had classes, but it really helped him get away from it all. Change of scenery is great. Keep up the good work moms and dads. You'll be here nex*t year doing what we are....then posing sea year questions as I do.....we keep learning:spacecraft:
 
KTB8

I got a call from my son this morning western time. He sounded good. He asked for cookies, at least 5 doz. and reeses peanut butter cups for someone else.
It was hard to talk to him because someone else was in the background asking what I was saying. Reminding my son how much time he had left. My son is in company 3. He loved the water activities.It was good to hear his voice. His letters were more informative than the phone call.
 
At the risk of sounding like a broken record but in response to the various ups and downs expressed here re both the mids and the parents of the Class of 2015:

1) Your kids sound tiered because they are likely over-tired at this point in time of Indoc. It's all part of the process - that isn't meant to comfort you but to explain/highlight that it happens every year. If our sons and daughters who went before yours could do it, so can yours and when these 16 days are over they Will go to what I call the next phase of Plebe year. It goes fast because there are, IMO, 8 parts 1) Indoc (16 days); 2) Indoc - Acceptance/Parents Weekend (4 weeks); 3) Acceptance - 1st trimester midterms (~3 1/2 weeks); 4) midterms - End of first tri/B Splits return from sea (7 weeks); 5) Start of 2nd Tri - Christmas Break; 6) Return from Christmas/Take 2nd Tri Mid Terms - End of 2nd Trimester; 7) Start of 3rd Tri/2013 B Splits return to Sea -Recognition (date TBD) - License Prep Starts; 8) License "Time" - Graduation. Throughout each of these 8 time periods your DS/DD PC - Plebe - Fourth Classmen will have a different focus/item driving them from the Regimental and Academic aspects of their lives, additionally depending on their extra - curricula rs overlay those events. If you look at this way you'll indeed probably better understand why it feels like you and they are on a roller coaster - because indeed things do move fast in this world. The truth is the 11 months between now and 2011 Graduation weekend, broken up into the various key parts Z Split/B Split - 3 Trimesters - Pre Acceptance - Pre Recognition - Post Recognition, etc makes for a dynamic, at times disheartening, at other times exhilarating experience.

In the end the majority of the 340 odd entering PCs for the class of 2014 will enjoy the June Weekend festivities at KP and watching the Class of 2011 graduate. However, the truth is, USMMA is indeed not for everyone and vice versa so some of each of the other classes won't stay from now through June. With my parent hat on, that makes me sad and also tells me above all else as a parent and mentor, it's incumbent on us to be non-judge mental, supportive, and understanding without misleading them or underestimating the challenges they are facing or will face the rest of the journey.

For those whose DS/DD are "thriving" - I say great, just don't get on too high an emotional peak though as it's likely your DS/DD will have their down moments too.

For those whose DS/DD sounded discouraged, bad, down, etc. I say offer them support and encouragement in whatever way works - you know your kids better than anybody - and count to whatever you have to until the next contact as you are just as likely to find, next time you correspond or talk they are as up as anybody else's kids.

Keep your hands and feet inside the cars and enjoy the ride folks...
 
jasperdog you are SOOOO RIGHT!!!

To the parents of the Class of 2014.

Read what jasperdog said again and again and one more time until it sinks in!

Our DS walked right though indoc. He was told by two upperclassman just play the game. Remember indoc is just a game. The really hard part comes after indoc, thats straight from our DS.

Before you know it Parents Weekend will be here, then Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, and then Recognition. Then the first year will be over. I say that because this year went by in a flash. Today our DS is on a ship sitting in Xiamen China and having a BLAST. (his own words)

Your in for a wild ride. Strap in tight.

Proud parent of a Midshipman of the Class of 2013
 
Plebe Computers - posting on the Parents Website

Hi all ~ I was just on the Parents link on the USMMA website and there is a letter from the Superintendent about a problem with the order for the Plebe computers...looks like they will not receive them until after classes begin...the new order was placed July 16th...with delivery in 15 calendar days...so it will be a little longer before we see our DS/DD's on the computer... :eek: You can read the whole letter if you go to the parents link...
 
computer issue

hmmm..maybe this is why my son was a little upset yesterday on the phone. He did mention something about not getting computers for two weeks but I just dismissed comment as I was focusing on other issues, like what do you need etc. This explains my sons attitude on the phone. All his letters prior to the call have been upbeat and the computer issue totally explains his demise. These kids are so hooked on the computers. Honestly, I am so relieved and no longer worried! Yea..I will continue to get the letters that I so love to receive from him!
:biggrin:

Thank you Jasperdog for your insight and information! Greatly appreciated.
 
Longer phone calls will come, but the timing depends on the company. Our DS got his phone for 20 minutes every Sunday afternoon starting right after Indoc. Other companies were shorter or longer. But just because they have their phone longer, your call will not necessarily be longer. There were times when DS got his phone and did not call at all. Other times, the call was 2 minutes. "Hi Mama. I love you. I have 5 exams and a paper due this week. Sorry, I gotta go.". Keep in mind, they have to make their phone calls outside standing at attention which is no fun in the rain, cold, snow, etc. Stay flexible, and plan to talk to them at length over Christmas vacation, that is, if they feel like it...
 
Another way to communicate with your plebe

As kpmom2013 pointed out, there are a lot of factors that make phone calls more complicated than you would think. Your ds/dd could be trying to chat with you and get called away to do something with little or no warning.

For us, phone calls have been extremely rare - granted we live overseas and that just makes it even harder. DD is not a writer (how many engineers are?) and so emails are few, far between, and very brief. Some of your sons & daughters will be happy to text you regularly once they get their phones. For us, we used Instant Messaging/Chat a lot. You can do this via Facebook if your plebe will accept you as a friend. (DD denied me.:rolleyes:) These days, we use the chat feature on Skype. I'll open Skype when I get on the computer and leave it open. If DD wants to chat (or, more likely, ask for something) she'll start a chat session with me. I don't initiate because I don't know how busy she is. Sometimes she just wants to ask me something before she forgets and doesn't really have time to talk. Other times, we chat off and on for over an hour as she does other things. Chat is flexible that way. If she gets called away for a few minutes, we don't have to disconnect.

I realize that the delay with computers means this isn't viable for 2014 for a while longer. But it is something to keep in mind. Above all, don't be offended or concerned if they don't call or email very often or if they seem quite distracted. There are a million and one little details they deal with constantly in addition to the thousand and one big ones.:wink:
 
Agree completely. Communication is minimal just because they are so busy. Even when they have their phones they may not have time to use them so calls will still be brief generally and infrequent per most parents. Initiating calls or contact is rare as we try to keep any distraction from academics and regimental responsibilities to a minimum. There is tremendous pressure on their time. As was said earlier, be available for them and they will reach out when they can or need to. As far as a consistent schedule or time for phone calls- there isn't one. I wouldn't expect lengthy emails either, again they just don't have time. Think back to when you were away at school.....Did you call your parents every day? Probably not, but you did reach out when you could or wanted too. They'll be in that position soon too.
 
Lest anyone get the wrong idea about calls...

As everyone has already mentioned in addition to being very busy, and not having acces to their own cell phones at all times until after recognition .. there is another factor at work here -

Simply put much of the USMMA Campus is a virtual "dead zone" for cell phone coverage; additionally cell reception inside the barracks/dorms is problematic as the buildings are made of granite and that inhibits transmission and reception. As such to get good cell reception you have to go outside much of the time, however, Plebes who are using their phones outside must as noted above stand at attention - until they become "fourth classmen" at recognition...

All of which for us meant we were far more likely to exchange emails regularly and lucky to get a call once a week before recognition...and usually the calls were short or hard to hear if the weather wasn't nice.....:rolleyes:
 
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