CO 2028 I-Day debrief

I was okay until…

We’re home from Annapolis and I-day was full of all the emotions others have spoken of. DS handled the day as expected, which was with solemnity for what he is committing himself to, courage for facing the challenges of these next few years head-on and pride for having made his dream come true. I could see the pride on his face as he walked towards us for the first time in his uniform.

Our hug after the oath was powerful and his emotions began to rise to the surface. He sat quietly and told us about his day. The waiting and waiting bothered him the most. He had to wait to see a doctor to talk about his surgery in the fall and apparently that took forever.

Once through that, he proceeded through the check in process and barely made it to his room to drop his sack of newly issued belongings off before he was being ushered out for the oath ceremony. He said he had no time to settle in, nothing was unpacked from the sack, and he hadn’t met his roommates yet. DH and I remained positive and encouraging.

I was okay when he said that some of the stations had run out of gear to issue him by the time he came through.

I was okay when we walked him towards his company meet-up to march into Bancroft and we hugged our final goodbye…and then he turned around after about 3 steps and came back to me for another hug. I don’t know how I didn’t break down right there because there was a random mother who witnessed it all and turned to me after he walked away the second time and started crying.

I was okay when we returned to the hotel room and I saw his water bottle decorated with all the stickers from his travels.

I was even okay when I packed up his monogrammed toiletry case the next morning as we prepared to leave Annapolis.

It wasn’t until we arrived home and I went to take his headphones up to his room as we unpacked that I wasn’t okay anymore…You see, when we were leaving in the early morning hours of Wednesday, I heard him coming down the stairs and he said “Mom, I have one last load of laundry”. Without even looking at him I said he should just leave it in the laundry room and I would take care of it when we returned. I assumed he had been too busy to do his own clothes from the days leading up to our departure as he visited friends and family, making the most of every day. But that was not the case, his hamper was empty, his clothes were all clean, his room neat and tidy as usual. It was his bedding. He had stripped his bedding and cleaned out his bathroom of all the used towels…not wanting to leave one of his normal responsibilities left unfinished. Seeing his bed stripped clean just made it all seem so final. I felt my heart actually squeeze.

He’ll be fine and he’ll do great. I-day was the beginning of the next phase of his life, and he’s ready for it. But my goodness, I was not prepared for the feeling I felt walking into his room and seeing his bed stripped bare.

PPW can’t come soon enough!
Well now I’m crying. The moments that this life and sea change and future change hit you are personal. And unexpected. And to each his own.

I’ve shared mine, it was a frozen food aisle and me abandoning my cart after dropping his favorite go to into the cart only to realize he was in quarantine 2400 miles away.

I appreciate you sharing. It makes it easier for others who have experienced something similar not feel isolated or alone. These are real feelings and moments that we experience as loved ones. Definitely not college.
 
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I was okay until…

We’re home from Annapolis and I-day was full of all the emotions others have spoken of. DS handled the day as expected, which was with solemnity for what he is committing himself to, courage for facing the challenges of these next few years head-on and pride for having made his dream come true. I could see the pride on his face as he walked towards us for the first time in his uniform.

Our hug after the oath was powerful and his emotions began to rise to the surface. He sat quietly and told us about his day. The waiting and waiting bothered him the most. He had to wait to see a doctor to talk about his surgery in the fall and apparently that took forever.

Once through that, he proceeded through the check in process and barely made it to his room to drop his sack of newly issued belongings off before he was being ushered out for the oath ceremony. He said he had no time to settle in, nothing was unpacked from the sack, and he hadn’t met his roommates yet. DH and I remained positive and encouraging.

I was okay when he said that some of the stations had run out of gear to issue him by the time he came through.

I was okay when we walked him towards his company meet-up to march into Bancroft and we hugged our final goodbye…and then he turned around after about 3 steps and came back to me for another hug. I don’t know how I didn’t break down right there because there was a random mother who witnessed it all and turned to me after he walked away the second time and started crying.

I was okay when we returned to the hotel room and I saw his water bottle decorated with all the stickers from his travels.

I was even okay when I packed up his monogrammed toiletry case the next morning as we prepared to leave Annapolis.

It wasn’t until we arrived home and I went to take his headphones up to his room as we unpacked that I wasn’t okay anymore…You see, when we were leaving in the early morning hours of Wednesday, I heard him coming down the stairs and he said “Mom, I have one last load of laundry”. Without even looking at him I said he should just leave it in the laundry room and I would take care of it when we returned. I assumed he had been too busy to do his own clothes from the days leading up to our departure as he visited friends and family, making the most of every day. But that was not the case, his hamper was empty, his clothes were all clean, his room neat and tidy as usual. It was his bedding. He had stripped his bedding and cleaned out his bathroom of all the used towels…not wanting to leave one of his normal responsibilities left unfinished. Seeing his bed stripped clean just made it all seem so final. I felt my heart actually squeeze.

He’ll be fine and he’ll do great. I-day was the beginning of the next phase of his life, and he’s ready for it. But my goodness, I was not prepared for the feeling I felt walking into his room and seeing his bed stripped bare.

PPW can’t come soon enough!
Every single parent that has been through this, feels this.

My moment was after we returned to our hotel room. I opened the bathroom door, and his tiny little pile of sleep shorts and t-shirt were on the floor. Exactly where he had stepped out of them. As if he had just *POOF* disappeared. And his toothbrush on the counter. That’s when it all hit me emotionally.

And adding that you can’t simply send the text, that has been done millions of times, without thought, and it was impactful.

Like everything else, those moments disappear as you get used to this new normal. So does the dread of them leaving from a leave. Bc you know the next one is right around the corner. Eventually, you don’t miss them. Eventually you smile when you think about the amazing things they are doing.

My advice, especially if this is your last to leave the nest, is to find a hobby 😂. Empty Nesting isn’t for the faint of heart!

Happy Waldo hunting, looking for your person in pics. Join the photo programs. When you lock eyes through photography, be prepared for you heart to take a hit of pride. So big it feels as if it’ll burst.

And head over to your Roller Coaster 🎢 thread as y’all move forward through this fantastic journey….

 
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My moment was after we returned to our hotel room. I opened the bathroom door, and his tiny little pile of sleep shorts and t-shirt were on the floor.
Like everything else, those moments disappear as you get used to this new normal.
DD, now a 1LT, is home this weekend on leave. She brought along a shipmate from her USNA class, a LTjg. They're meeting up with more shipmates to then make a long drive to the wedding of yet another shipmate.

If form holds, DD will leave her room in shambles, with sheets and towels strewn about. She's always done that, ever since midshipman days. It bothered me at first, but I've accepted it as a "leave well lived." She was comfortable to be home -- channeling her teenage DD -- and isn't that what leave is about?

Very early this morning, I dropped off DS, an Army MS4, at the airport for Advanced Camp. He'll be the exact opposite when he's on leave -- a spic-and-span room that looks like no one ever visited. And that's OK too. God bless them both.
 
DD, now a 1LT, is home this weekend on leave. She brought along a shipmate from her USNA class, a LTjg. They're meeting up with more shipmates to then make a long drive to the wedding of yet another shipmate.

If form holds, DD will leave her room in shambles, with sheets and towels strewn about. She's always done that, ever since midshipman days. It bothered me at first, but I've accepted it as a "leave well lived." She was comfortable to be home -- channeling her teenage DD -- and isn't that what leave is about?

Very early this morning, I dropped off DS, an Army MS4, at the airport for Advanced Camp. He'll be the exact opposite when he's on leave -- a spic-and-span room that looks like no one ever visited. And that's OK too. God bless them both.
Love that. Enjoy your time together!!! All of mine are messy at home. For them, it’s part of the total let down while “off duty”. And I don’t mind, either. What else do I have to do after they leave 😂? Literally nothing.

Today, I’m furthering the purge of the house. It’s been in steps, that I’ve gotten rid of stuff: they have finally outgrown this shirt. These shoes are out of style. No, they won’t heed their high school classwork.

It’s all a process!! And quality over quantity ♥️
 
Sorry folks, I haven't read any of this thread but I can imagine that experiences were varied. ;)

At some point (a lot of times on I-Day itself) every Plebe asks themselves "ooh, I think I made a big mistake here." That's pretty normal, because no one joins The Military they think they're joining. It is a shock to the system and easy to feel like an imposter, like "I'm not cut out for this!"

I will tell you that it gets better slowly. Plebe Summer is a walk in the park compared to the academic year ("AC Year", pronounced "Ack Year"). For a lot of Plebes, the AC year is the absolute worst. Adversity has a way of making everyone stronger, however. By and large, they all get through it and later look back on it as not that bad. Hard to imagine when they come home for Christmas during Plebe year and really, really don't want to go back.
As with everything in life, tomorrow is another day and things will inevitably get better.

It will go by really fast. If you are financially and geographically able, please try to visit while they are there for the next four years. We had such a wonderful experience visiting The Yard and taking on a much, much larger family. We only have the one son, but we never just picked him up to go to dinner or some other experience. There were always 3 or 4 more MIDNs invited to go with us. After 4 years of visiting, we were so sad to see those friends of his go to different corners of the World.

We used to feed and water those MIDNs every time we were in town. Many a visit was punctuated with a trip to the loading dock to offload cases and cases of energy drinks (wow, you can rack up a huge bill at Sam's Club with cases of energy drinks, let me tell you) and lots of home made food items. A parade of MIDNs would follow my son down to the loading dock to carry everything up to the 5th deck (it seemed like they were always on the 5th deck) and distribute it amongst the Company. The appreciation on their faces meant the world to us. Oh, and the hugs! Those MIDNs will hug you, because they miss their Moms and Dads. Being a stand-in for their parents is a great experience I wish upon you all.

It will be okay.

I assure you.
 
I was okay until…

We’re home from Annapolis and I-day was full of all the emotions others have spoken of. DS handled the day as expected, which was with solemnity for what he is committing himself to, courage for facing the challenges of these next few years head-on and pride for having made his dream come true. I could see the pride on his face as he walked towards us for the first time in his uniform.

Our hug after the oath was powerful and his emotions began to rise to the surface. He sat quietly and told us about his day. The waiting and waiting bothered him the most. He had to wait to see a doctor to talk about his surgery in the fall and apparently that took forever.

Once through that, he proceeded through the check in process and barely made it to his room to drop his sack of newly issued belongings off before he was being ushered out for the oath ceremony. He said he had no time to settle in, nothing was unpacked from the sack, and he hadn’t met his roommates yet. DH and I remained positive and encouraging.

I was okay when he said that some of the stations had run out of gear to issue him by the time he came through.

I was okay when we walked him towards his company meet-up to march into Bancroft and we hugged our final goodbye…and then he turned around after about 3 steps and came back to me for another hug. I don’t know how I didn’t break down right there because there was a random mother who witnessed it all and turned to me after he walked away the second time and started crying.

I was okay when we returned to the hotel room and I saw his water bottle decorated with all the stickers from his travels.

I was even okay when I packed up his monogrammed toiletry case the next morning as we prepared to leave Annapolis.

It wasn’t until we arrived home and I went to take his headphones up to his room as we unpacked that I wasn’t okay anymore…You see, when we were leaving in the early morning hours of Wednesday, I heard him coming down the stairs and he said “Mom, I have one last load of laundry”. Without even looking at him I said he should just leave it in the laundry room and I would take care of it when we returned. I assumed he had been too busy to do his own clothes from the days leading up to our departure as he visited friends and family, making the most of every day. But that was not the case, his hamper was empty, his clothes were all clean, his room neat and tidy as usual.

It was his bedding. He had stripped his bedding and cleaned out his bathroom of all the used towels…not wanting to leave one of his normal responsibilities left unfinished. Seeing his bed stripped clean just made it all seem so final. I felt my heart actually squeeze.

He’ll be fine and he’ll do great. I-day was the beginning of the next phase of his life, and he’s ready for it. But my goodness, I was not prepared for the feeling I felt walking into his room and seeing his bed stripped bare.

PPW can’t come soon enough!
Started tearing up just reading this💙
 
I was okay until…

We’re home from Annapolis and I-day was full of all the emotions others have spoken of. DS handled the day as expected, which was with solemnity for what he is committing himself to, courage for facing the challenges of these next few years head-on and pride for having made his dream come true. I could see the pride on his face as he walked towards us for the first time in his uniform.

Our hug after the oath was powerful and his emotions began to rise to the surface. He sat quietly and told us about his day. The waiting and waiting bothered him the most. He had to wait to see a doctor to talk about his surgery in the fall and apparently that took forever.

Once through that, he proceeded through the check in process and barely made it to his room to drop his sack of newly issued belongings off before he was being ushered out for the oath ceremony. He said he had no time to settle in, nothing was unpacked from the sack, and he hadn’t met his roommates yet. DH and I remained positive and encouraging.

I was okay when he said that some of the stations had run out of gear to issue him by the time he came through.

I was okay when we walked him towards his company meet-up to march into Bancroft and we hugged our final goodbye…and then he turned around after about 3 steps and came back to me for another hug. I don’t know how I didn’t break down right there because there was a random mother who witnessed it all and turned to me after he walked away the second time and started crying.

I was okay when we returned to the hotel room and I saw his water bottle decorated with all the stickers from his travels.

I was even okay when I packed up his monogrammed toiletry case the next morning as we prepared to leave Annapolis.

It wasn’t until we arrived home and I went to take his headphones up to his room as we unpacked that I wasn’t okay anymore…You see, when we were leaving in the early morning hours of Wednesday, I heard him coming down the stairs and he said “Mom, I have one last load of laundry”. Without even looking at him I said he should just leave it in the laundry room and I would take care of it when we returned. I assumed he had been too busy to do his own clothes from the days leading up to our departure as he visited friends and family, making the most of every day. But that was not the case, his hamper was empty, his clothes were all clean, his room neat and tidy as usual. It was his bedding. He had stripped his bedding and cleaned out his bathroom of all the used towels…not wanting to leave one of his normal responsibilities left unfinished. Seeing his bed stripped clean just made it all seem so final. I felt my heart actually squeeze.

He’ll be fine and he’ll do great. I-day was the beginning of the next phase of his life, and he’s ready for it. But my goodness, I was not prepared for the feeling I felt walking into his room and seeing his bed stripped bare.

PPW can’t come soon enough!

Fantastic post. My wife was bada$$ on I-day and PPW. She saved all of her tears for the car or the hotel room. I on the other hand, was a mess. But, what really hit my wife harder than anything was after commissioning. Breaking down his bed and bedroom for his move to his first duty station tore her up. To be truthful, I'm starting to tear up just writing this. But, as I established earlier in this post....I'm a wuss.
 
I was volunteering at the SE PA Parents Club table at the Parents and Guest Expo at Hospital Point on IDAY and met a ton of great '28 parents. Congrats & welcome '28!

Hard for me to believe I was in their shoes 2 years ago. Time flies!! Great to meet and chat with the Maryland, NY, FLA, & NJ club Parents. Very different IDAY experience & perspective with a now 2nd Class Midn. When the expo was done and we cleaned up and packed car, DW and I took a walk and hit the MID Store for a typical tuition payment (By 3:45pm the crowd was very light in there). We took a stroll to the Alley at 5pm for an early dinner and a table next to us had a group of USNA grads there to see a shipmate's son take the oath. The highlight of my day was over-hearing one of their wives comment how she saw a tiny female detailer screaming at a bunch of big Plebe dudes "Hey we don't walk here at The United States Naval Academy!!! If you wanted to walk you should have gone to West Point!!!" I nearly laughed out loud thinking of some of my DS's close female Midn friends who are height challenged and are the detailers this block.

Best of Luck 2028 Families! PPW will be here before you know it, it is tough for the Plebe year but you'll look back and be amazed at your kid and their friends. For parents, it goes quick. Enjoy the ride.
 
Hi all, I missed the parent briefing on I-Day, did they talk about the plebe parent weekend? If so, can anyone share, which days we can spend time with them?
 
Hi all, I missed the parent briefing on I-Day, did they talk about the plebe parent weekend? If so, can anyone share, which days we can spend time with them?
Friday after Noon meal formation 12:15ish Midshipmen meet with parents at prearranged places (alphabetical signs)positioned along Stribling Walk. Town liberty till 10pm (in '22)

Saturday Town liberty starts after the Formal Parade 8:30am. Plebes will be dismissed from Bancroft Hall I think it was 10am in '22 Need to be back by 10pm.

Sunday I believe liberty was 8am - 6pm

Some suggestions I posted in the past...
  • Attend Friday AM PEP. See the Plebe class and how thay started their day all summer being led by the amazing Major Antonelli. That guy is is like 53 yrs old and can crush it and is in better shape than the majority of the Plebes.
  • Attend a parent briefing in Allumni Hall Friday morning lots of good info and they play a video of all your Plebe did over the summer.
  • Hit Friday Noon Lunch formation at T-Court (DS was able to take us to see room after)
  • go to the Formal Parade on Worden Field Sat morning.
Let your Plebe chill and relax in the AC at your hotel or rental. My DS just wanted to sleep and relax in the AC and text and catchup with friends.
While your Plebe is chillin, you can casually check out the Museum and the Yard Patrol boats, the Chapel/Crypt, Miller Chapel, any class or lab tours, Wesley A. Brown Field House and Lejeune Hall.

Your Plebe most likely will not want to do any of that, but don't be offended. Let them chill and if you want, go see what you can on the yard.
 
Friday after Noon meal formation 12:15ish Midshipmen meet with parents at prearranged places (alphabetical signs)positioned along Stribling Walk. Town liberty till 10pm (in '22)

Saturday Town liberty starts after the Formal Parade 8:30am. Plebes will be dismissed from Bancroft Hall I think it was 10am in '22 Need to be back by 10pm.

Sunday I believe liberty was 8am - 6pm

Some suggestions I posted in the past...
  • Attend Friday AM PEP. See the Plebe class and how thay started their day all summer being led by the amazing Major Antonelli. That guy is is like 53 yrs old and can crush it and is in better shape than the majority of the Plebes.
  • Attend a parent briefing in Allumni Hall Friday morning lots of good info and they play a video of all your Plebe did over the summer.
  • Hit Friday Noon Lunch formation at T-Court (DS was able to take us to see room after)
  • go to the Formal Parade on Worden Field Sat morning.
Let your Plebe chill and relax in the AC at your hotel or rental. My DS just wanted to sleep and relax in the AC and text and catchup with friends.
While your Plebe is chillin, you can casually check out the Museum and the Yard Patrol boats, the Chapel/Crypt, Miller Chapel, any class or lab tours, Wesley A. Brown Field House and Lejeune Hall.

Your Plebe most likely will not want to do any of that, but don't be offended. Let them chill and if you want, go see what you can on the yard.
Great summation of “Best Of” advice over the years. Your plebe wants. To. Get. Off. The. Yard. Don’t make them be your tour guide or escort you to the Mid Store. Favorite foods, long showers, AC, naps, social media, repeat.
 
My DS took advantage and squeezed us for a last Trinidadian meal of curry goat and roti, a breakfast of burger and fries at the Double T diner and a last night peach milkshake from Chick-fil-A.😂 It was worth it. He got up on I-day and was ready to go! Talking to him after the oath ceremony, I knew there and then that he was where he was supposed to be. He met his two roommates and said they were cool. One was a napster and he showed him how to fold and put things away. He was appreciative of his help and glad to have him as a source he could learn from. I was standing on the sidelines as they marched to mother B and I caught his eye as he went by. He gave me a little side smile. He's going to be ok.🙂
 
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