Agree with
@usna1985. I-Day gets all the press, but Plebe Parents Weekend is the better time for “extra visitors” like grandparents. I-Day is a lot of sizzle and not much steak. Part of the sizzle is the heat and humidity. The lack of steak is driven by the fact that it’s several hours of downtime between when you drop them off and when you see them again after the oath. Great for parents and maybe siblings, but can be tough for others. There’s plenty of emotion tied into it, and usually that’s best shared by a very small and tight group.
I have to say, I’m very perplexed by the parents who choose to hang out by doorways and walkways hoping to get a glimpse of Junior coming by. Some yell encouragement and others cheer. It just feels so…so…helicopterish and high-schoolish. I know that if we’d done that and DD had spotted us, she would’ve been mortified. They don’t need an audience or cheering section after drop-off. Let them focus on getting indoctrinated. There’s a lot coming at them and I just don’t see how mom and dad hovering nearby helps. Go into DTA, grab a cool drink, maybe a nap back at the place, then come back with a drink and a sandwich for Junior to enjoy after the oath.