As a son who just received an appointment, I completely despise the helicopter parenting that I have witnessed on this website and in person. It is alright to be excited for your child's future, it is fine for you to counsel your child on important life decisions but if you find yourself attending every academy day, every single banquet, track meet, etc. you probably need to take a step back. I know that your children are your legacy and you want to celebrate their accomplishments and be there for them, but you have to realize that taking a step back and letting your child make their own decisions, good or bad, is the best way of parenting a teenager. Place a "governor" on their mistakes, expect them to f*** up, but don't let it get out of control. My parents set an expectation, my father lectures me when I am disrespectful, provides me advice when I ask for it, but he has never once asked me about registering for the ACT, or whether i have homework, or if i have finished my college apps. My parents have never attended a sporting event and they have never attended an academy day (they are frequent in my area). My parents will not even be with me at R-day (I don't even want them there, they might come for A-day or PPW). My dad didn't even seem to care about my appointment. He only cared about whether it was something I wanted to do. My parents have always believed in me, so they never worried about my future. They knew that I alone could define my path. No one else.
TO ALL CANDIDATES: do not let your parents apply to an academy or college for you, do yourself. Let your life be yours, not theirs.
TO ALL PARENTS: Place trust in your child, help them, but do not lead them on THEIR journey.
I am not upset about my parents' lack of involvement, because they have been with me, emotionally. I even praise their parenting style! People call it child rearing for a reason. It's because you are behind them and they are in front. PERIODT