BUBBLE WRAP

Maplerock

Maplerock

Proud to be an American
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Bubble wrapping is ordinarily a problem parents encounter with their new appointees during springtime before induction day. These days though, parents of graduating seniors are exhibiting anxiety over the upcoming actions and plans of their offspring.
Mids and cadets have been overheard planning trips to Cabo, Cancun, and even Rio and Europe for Spring break. Trips are being planned after commissioning too, to places like Peru, England, Hawaii, and even Antarctica! How to keep them safe and in one piece?
Some thoughtful parents saved their bubble wrap for four years. They are all set. For those that didn't, Amazon sells it in 100 foot rolls for $7.99.
Here's to hoping that all of those hard charging first class kids use good judgement and stay safe in this topsy turvy world.
 
Maplerock said:
parents of graduating seniors are exhibiting anxiety over the upcoming actions and plans of their offspring...How to keep them safe and in one piece?
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If the military hasn’t taught them by now to take care of their adult selves, nothing will. No anxiety here, not my job anymore. Hasn’t been for a long time.
 
The other side of the story is that they are still kids in a sense, so let them live. We ski every year over Christmas and spring break and that is not changing this year. No bubble wrap for us! This is where your faith comes in....faith in God, faith that you have raised them with awareness (I will tell my boys to be smart on the double black diamond runs, lol), and faith that they can overcome whatever obstacles come before them. I will do a few black runs with them, but last year I officially passed the skiing baton to them as they are now officially better skiers than their dad. I can still beat them in basketball 2-on-1, however ;)
 
I have never been one to believe in the bubble wrap philosophy. The activities that made these candidates stand out to the academies are a part of their person. I would have never suggested that my son stop playing football/powerlifting/track after he got his appointment because the way he plays on the field is who he is. He is a warrior and a leader. At USAFA he took up snowboarding and mountain climbing because they were new challenges. Hiding in bubble wrap is not the way that I would expect them to approach anything in their lives.

Stealth_81
 
Just be smart about what you do from now until I-day. A few stories from years past from our friends and other parents.

1) Kid goes out drinking after graduation, gets pulled over for DUI, USAFA gets informed of arrest = no I- day
2) Kid plays catch football at a BBQ party a week before I-day, trips and breaks wrist = no I-day
3) Kid posts picture on Facebook holding a beer at a spring break party of her senior year, kid is 17, BCT cadre brings it to the attention of USAFA = no I-day
4) Kid decides "I have an appointment and I do not need to attend this boring gym class", school decides this is the year we do not give these students a pass, does not graduate them = no I-day
5) Kid is given an LOA for sports, decides to bad mouth coach, coach yanks LOA = Goodbye appointment.
6) Kid plays last lacrosse game after no sleep from partying the night before, gets a concussion = no I-day

Just a few things that could have been avoided. I'm sure there are many more. Enjoy your kids before you send them out, I wouldn't necessarily bubble wrap them.
 
Oh, not funny at all. I was getting my hair done yesterday and the shop owner was telling me that her son was accepted to USMA--and then tore his ACL doing his sport three weeks later, had surgery, and is out for this year...told his RC. I told her not to be discouraged and she should encourage her son to stay in touch with his RC, go to a great Plan B school, and reapply next year...
 
DrMom said:
Oh, not funny at all. I was getting my hair done yesterday and the shop owner was telling me that her son was accepted to USMA--and then tore his ACL doing his sport three weeks later, had surgery, and is out for this year...told his RC. I told her not to be discouraged and she should encourage her son to stay in touch with his RC, go to a great Plan B school, and reapply next year...
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Just to clarify, I don't think it is funny if a candidate gets hurt and has to back out. I think the common desire to wrap the kids in bubble wrap is funny.
 
I'm just glad there is not much snow this year. DS wanted to go skiing spring break. The thought made me cringe. Thank God, we have a good excuse not to go, without having to go into helicopter mode.
 
DesertCaliMom said:
DS wants to participate in the Bear Gryls survivor challenge race and I imagined what AROTC-Dad posted!
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Promise them you’ll pony up the dollars for a NOLS course for a summer option at their SA. Plenty of physical challenge there, enough to give you a new grey hair AFTER DS/DD comes home to tell you about it.

https://www.nols.edu/en/about/expeditions/
 
t-bo said:
Varsity athletics and EC activities are what got them to where they are. Bubble wrap is not what they want, so I won't even mention it to my DS.
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Not a subject I even will touch upon. None of these 'kids" got to where they are now by sitting home in bubble wrap. For the most part they are athletes and "work out warriors", can't get ready for Beast on the couch. If its meant to happen they could just as easily fall in the shower and there is NO WAY I will allow DS to skip showers until July!! I will however keep my fingers crossed and out of sight.
 
Mine was in his second semester of college when the BFE came. One of his activities in ROTC was Mountain Order of Columbo...as he puts it "voluntarily agreeing to do outrageous physical activities in the woods in sub-zero temps while getting screamed at." Anyone who quit was branded quitter and ignored by those who were members. 90% quit before completing the program and passing the "initiation." Mine quit in lieu of risking an injury. He worked too hard to get into wp to risk it. Three years later when he wrote an essay about what defines him, he used the word "tenacity," but wrote how it killed him to walk away from Columbo and be called a quitter. I gave no advice on this one. He had to figure it out. I could not have been more proud of this tough decision.
 
Parent of 4 said:
t-bo said:
Varsity athletics and EC activities are what got them to where they are. Bubble wrap is not what they want, so I won't even mention it to my DS.
Click to expand...
Not a subject I even will touch upon. None of these 'kids" got to where they are now by sitting home in bubble wrap. For the most part they are athletes and "work out warriors", can't get ready for Beast on the couch. If its meant to happen they could just as easily fall in the shower and there is NO WAY I will allow DS to skip showers until July!! I will however keep my fingers crossed and out of sight.
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You touched on it.
 
Capt MJ said:
DesertCaliMom said:
DS wants to participate in the Bear Gryls survivor challenge race and I imagined what AROTC-Dad posted!
Click to expand...

Promise them you’ll pony up the dollars for a NOLS course for a summer option at their SA. Plenty of physical challenge there, enough to give you a new grey hair AFTER DS/DD comes home to tell you about it.

https://www.nols.edu/en/about/expeditions/
Click to expand...
Highly recommend NOLS... Have done it for both of my sons (while in HS). Great program.
 
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