Plebes writing home

I was quite surprised when, at the Parents Meeting on I Day, the Superintendent talked about the kids writing home by July 5. Is this a new thing? We didn't think we would hear anything from our son until the phone call. Plus, he has never been a letter writer. I am trying to picture it....I bet he is asking his roommates "what should I write?"......

letter writer

Here's a suggestion my friend gave me who has a third year at Airforce--
If your son/daughter doesn't like to write or can't find the time, send them a
multiple choice/yes-no questionnaire. They can quickly answer and send it back (provide self-addressed envelope for quicker response). You can ask:
Are you getting enough sleep? y n
Do you get along with your roommates (cabin mates)?

And maybe end with something like--what was the funniest thing that happened this week; or what was your best moment; toughest...maybe you'll get a little extra info.

Good luck. I am still waiting for my first letter.

Last year the detailers gave the plebe's stationery and an assignment to write home on about July 5. Just to let Mom and Dad know they had survived the first few days. Our son is not a letter writer either; I think we got two during plebe summer. By the way, his "letter" was maybe 4 sentences. But it made me feel good. He wrote that he liked it. Big sigh of relief for Mom!

lovethenavy said:

Plus, he has never been a letter writer. I am trying to picture it....I bet he is asking his roommates "what should I write?"......

Click to expand...

Our first letter:
" Dear Mom,
I have 30 seconds to write this, so I love you."
-signed

Our son isn't a letter writer either. This letter said a lot. The handwriting on the enveloped was so bad, that it got delayed by the postal service. I kept the letter and the envelope with post office message. He must have been really rushed and stressed when he wrote it. I did sent him a multiple choice letter. That was fun to receive back. I made one of the options for each question funny. It was enteraining for him as well as us.

Our son wrote home 9 times last year ... including the postcards we sent. The first two were really sad ... the third, written July 7, started to sound better

I have arrived, and already cannot wait to call home. It is a lot different than I expected, the culture shock still hasn’t worn off. Some parts of the day are almost unbearable. PEP is actually one of the better parts of the day. There is no other way to put it, but the detailers are complete a****. My favorite part of the summer so far is the validation tests because nobody can yell at you. Can’t really talk to or get to know my squad mates.

Letter 2
Life here sucks, I don’t know why anyone would want to come here. We are active from before sunrise to after sunset, and every little detail is noticed. I can’t believe I still have 33 more days of this. Still haven’t received the initial care package. The culture shock is starting to wear off, but it is still there at times. We have yet to do anything even remotely fun.

Our first letter:
" Dear Mom,
I have 30 seconds to write this, so I love you."
-signed

Click to expand...

Priceless!

We also sent multichoice letters-got one back but that's pretty good from our DS who has an allergy to pen and paper. (Only allergy not checked by DoDmerb)

jennyp said:

Last year the detailers gave the plebe's stationery and an assignment to write home on about July 5. Just to let Mom and Dad know they had survived the first few days. Our son is not a letter writer either; I think we got two during plebe summer. By the way, his "letter" was maybe 4 sentences. But it made me feel good. He wrote that he liked it. Big sigh of relief for Mom!

Click to expand...

Yes, within the first week they are ORDERED to write home. I think the academy has learned, over the years, that it lowers the anxiety levels of the parents quite a bit. But it doesn't always work out that way.

The first letter we got from one of my sons was written on a piece of scratch paper. All it said was, "OMG! I have to write you a letter."

That was it.

It's not important that they write you. They're fine. The best thing you should do is write them. Even if they do not respond - there is something special about getting a letter.

I used to write them every other day (and I had twins!)

I would do silly stuff and pretend that the letter was actually coming from the dog. I would purposely write sloppy and misspell words. I signed it with a paw print. I included a picture of the dog at a laptop computer, as if he was writing it. (I had to put a treat on the keyboard to create the effect.)

I would put comments that their friends were writing on their Facebook sites.

Write them - don't worry if they write you.

You're the one with all the time - not them.

Our first also stated thirty seconds and the detail of the letter was "I am still Alive". Love and signed. MEMPHIS love the letter from the Dog. Wish we had thought of that. Could have sent some from the fish with bubbles and some water marks.

I love the letter from the dog. That is creative. My younger son is going to National Jamboree with Boy Scouts. He will be gone almost 3 weeks. I think he will get a letter from the dog.

If I remember correctly, we received a letter - make that a note- 3 lines - short ones - scribbled out on a pad in pencil, written the night of I-Day. Alive and well is about all it said. It was plenty!

We got a phone call on day 3.
long story, but were we shocked.

We received 2 other letters- each one getting a bit longer- over the summer. A few more calls sprinkled in here and there [ 3 official, the rest- a rare treat indeed]. General theme: send food, send more letters, send some photos. I wrote every day, sometimes twice. Care packages 2 and 3 times each week. First name basis with the postmaster.

Wait. You will be in the same place, if you are not already there!
All good!
Cherish each day! It really is over in a flash!!!

Back in the day of the Food crisis it was: Send Food, Send Food, Send Food, Send Food. Care packages are the best with a letter inside.

Don't know if any of you have seen this but I always thought if my son ever goes to the USNA this would be added to my favorites...
http://www.usna.org/handbook/year.html

I'm sure you all have seen it but just in case you haven't it might come in handy. Don't forget to buy them a 4" flag. Info is in the care package section.

My son just attended the USAFA summer seminar and ended up messing up his ankle(playing frisbee, go figure) and was not able to attend the USNA summer seminar. Big diasappointment. However, he's not sure if the academy life is for him.

I'm praying for all your plebes. I've had them on my mind a lot lately.

Food crisis

]Back in the day of the Food crisis it was: Send Food, Send Food,

Remeber the great cartoon in D.C. Post?

A Mid standing outsidew the wall with a sign..."Will serve my country for food"

Got results that one.

The most I ever talked to either of my sons over the phone was during Plebe Summer. I never talked to them long BEFORE they went off to the Naval Academy.

And once Plebe Summer was over and the Plebes were handed back their cellphones ... they NEVER called.

In fact, I've found the most reliable way to communicate with your mid is via Facebook chat. Seriously. I know it sounds corny but they monitor that CONSTANTLY.

Cellphone reception within Bancroft Hall, depending on the room location, is virtually non-existent. You'll have much better luck with text messaging.

We got our first phone call for our son on day 2, from the Chaplains office with the Plebe there and all parties pleading for him to just give it 5 days...

Our first letter was about I have made a horrible mistake, something I have wanted so long has turned out to so disappoint me, asking to go to T Company but no one has given me the paper work yet. (Received July 3rd)

First picture on Drop shots July 4th (Class of 2010 I Day was June 28) Slight smile, not a big smile but was hanging with a group and not off to the side as some were)

First Phone call: How is it... great, can you send this that and the other, roommates are good, sailing a blast, made D&B but decided no... a regular chatty cathy! Has never looked back...

As for the T Company Paperwork, they never did give it to him. After a few days he stopped asking.

Second letter was a riot as he described weapons training and qualifications, and that PS was summer camp on steroids with guns!

Once the AC year began he would call from just out side Nimitz Library before entering to study for the evening. He went to the Library most nights. Also, they figured out their youngster year to get wireless earpieces for their cells, find a location in the room where they could get a good signal - usually the windowsill - park the cell there and that way they could get and make calls. They had obviously learned how to solve a problem! Instant message was also a normal way of communication, although he would text me first as I did not want to appear to be stalking him.

Hi,

I recently unpacked my daughter's Plebe year boxes (yes, you drop them off with nothing and they come back with very, very many boxes) and found a shoe box where she kept all the letters she received during Plebe summer and Plebe year.

I am really lucky in that I have a writer and a talker but I had no idea that they would be ordered to write and so was pleasantly surprised when I got that letter. She even wrote a letter to her brother (who tacked it to his wall).

When Plebe summer was over, my DD said that getting a letter at the end of the day was the best part of every day.

Hearing that made me glad I mailed something almost everyday. I didn't want her to be the one Plebe without any mail. Sometimes I sent post cards, sometimes a blank card with nothing more than a hello, I also sent cards from the dogs, I sent sea shells and sand from a beach, baseball results, military jokes, anything and everything I could think of that would make her smile and feel positive.

So write, plebe parents write!!!

GoNavyMom

lovethenavy said:

I was quite surprised when, at the Parents Meeting on I Day, the Superintendent talked about the kids writing home by July 5. Is this a new thing? We didn't think we would hear anything from our son until the phone call. Plus, he has never been a letter writer. I am trying to picture it....I bet he is asking his roommates "what should I write?"......

Click to expand...

Yes, it's a mandatory thing; granted it was 12yrs ago that I went through this process I do remember being told to write a letter home, they collected the letters you wrote to your parents during the evening Blue & Gold session (not sure if they call it that anymore). I think my letter was something like this "Hi, i'm being told I have to write. I'm good, gotta get back to studying"

Some ideas of what to send so your plebes so they aren't trying to read a novel under the light of the alarm clock, in the bathroom (head for you military type), etc...try sending them pictures w/ little quotes or a line that would make them smile, comic strips, pre-addressed letters/envelopes and postcards to assist them in sending something back to you quickly. Quotes on post-its (something they could fit inside Reef Points book (that little blue book you see plebes carrying with them all summer) is a great idea as it a small glimpse of something funny, encouraging, ect. can bring a smile to the face, or at least makes you smile inside since you have to maintain your bearing, can be a huge confidence booster). I like the idea of sending your plebe easy yes/no questions.

Don't expect a lot of correspondence back during plebe summer, time is precious and free time is rare. Don't be alarmed if the first phone call/letter home is sad. they are just letting their frustration out b/c they haven't been able to do so...

Just remember to encourage your plebe...one thing I remember telling a plebe last year is just know that the class of 2015 are going thru the process of getting their appointment, some may receive their appointment by the end of Plebe Summer