Parents Weekend

Another bit of advice: check with your plebe before posting any pics from PPW on social media, in case the plebe happens to be in attire or doing something not authorized by MidRegs for plebes on town liberty. The plebes will know what the rules are. It’s up to them to make decisions accordingly. If they choose to wear those favorite jeans and polo brought from home while posing in front of the Spy Museum, or waving from the driver’s seat of the car while on a Chick Fil A Run or lounging with a beer (even if 21) in the Air BnB backyard, it would be imprudent to share on social media.
 
We rented a house within walking distance and don't expect to leave the area at all, but I wouldn't surprised if somebody suggests, "Hey! Let's go visit Uncle XXXXX this afternoon!" It's a relatively short drive, but obviously I wouldn't want my Plebe to break any rules, even unknowingly.
 
THParent said:
And just to add to Capt MJ's post above, if you get your Plebe to the City Dock area (anywhere inside the red square below), he/she will probably be able to walk to Gate 1 faster than you can get there in your car.
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> Keep in mind that young Pleber doesn't necessarily know his/her way around Annapolis yet ! By the end of Plebe year, you can expect that your Plebe knows every alley, shortcut , and exactly how much time it takes to get back to their Company area from almost any point in Annapolis.
(Of course, life is more complicated these days with Security ...I can imagine the MAA's could have fun messing with Midshipmen coming in at 2355 trying to make that midnight curfew !)
 
Old Navy BGO said:
THParent said:
And just to add to Capt MJ's post above, if you get your Plebe to the City Dock area (anywhere inside the red square below), he/she will probably be able to walk to Gate 1 faster than you can get there in your car.
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> Keep in mind that young Pleber doesn't necessarily know his/her way around Annapolis yet ! By the end of Plebe year, you can expect that your Plebe knows every alley, shortcut , and exactly how much time it takes to get back to their Company area from almost any point in Annapolis.
(Of course, life is more complicated these days with Security ...I can imagine the MAA's could have fun messing with Midshipmen coming in at 2355 trying to make that midnight curfew !)
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Seems like most don't want to chance being late. Most of DD's squad was back on the Yard by their entrance door at least 30 minutes prior and headed in about 15 minutes prior.
 
Can’t say it enough - “If you’re on time, you’re late.”
 
helmsdown said:
Seems like most don't want to chance being late. Most of DD's squad was back on the Yard by their entrance door at least 30 minutes prior and headed in about 15 minutes prior.
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Capt MJ said:
Can’t say it enough - “If you’re on time, you’re late.”
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Except Town liberty.... on time means getting in at 2359 and a few seconds. Of course the Plebes are going to be afraid of their shadow during Parents Weekend, but with time, they learn to cut it close. It's the way of the Mid !

I was actually pretty careful as a Midshipman and believed the "on time is late " theory, but that changed during Nav Training (with the Air Force of all things), where it was drilled into us that time on target had to be precise. Since then, I am always on time , but consider being early a waste of time. (I will have to admit, that philosophy has led to some stressful drive to client meetings and perrhaps occasionally exceeding the speed limit)
 
My wife went to the Doctor last week. She was 15 minutes early as always. After 30 minutes (15 minutes past her appointment) they put her in an exam room. 45 minutes later, still no Doctor.
She got up, left the room and told the receptionist on the way out that they can pay her for him missing the appointment, since they charge patients for missing their appointments.

The Doctor was there. They never said he was running late. They didn't even call the next day to apologize. He's a Family Doctor. My family has been seeing him for 20 years.
We have a new Doctor now. :)
 
THParent said:
My wife went to the Doctor last week. She was 15 minutes early as always. After 30 minutes (15 minutes past her appointment) they put her in an exam room. 45 minutes later, still no Doctor.
She got up, left the room and told the receptionist on the way out that they can pay her for him missing the appointment, since they charge patients for missing their appointments.

The Doctor was there. They never said he was running late. They didn't even call the next day to apologize. He's a Family Doctor. My family has been seeing him for 20 years.
We have a new Doctor now. :)
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Good for you folks. I hate that they charge even for being late. I dropped my last doctor for that very reason and went elsewhere.

I must say though that immediately after reading this:
My wife went to the Doctor last week. She was 15 minutes early as always.
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I started looking for a punch line. Ba-dump-bump. :D
 
Parents: Enjoy your time with your plebes! It's an awesome weekend, but it goes really fast. We really enjoyed the checking out process from our DS's room in Bancroft. Seeing him interact with the detailers exhibited real change from the boy we dropped off just 7 weeks prior. One thing that we were not quite prepared for was Sunday. We were under the impression that the hardest part was done on I Day when we said our goodbyes right before the march in. DS started to get really quiet right around lunchtime. As our departure time crept closer that Sunday afternoon, reality for all of us was slowly creeping in. Perhaps it's not what most others go through, but that Sunday afternoon goodbye was very difficult for us. I think it was the first time that the reality of the situation had really set in. I mean, goodbyes are never fun, but I'll never forget that one.
 
SconniDad said:
Perhaps it's not what most others go through, but that Sunday afternoon goodbye was very difficult for us. I think it was the first time that the reality of the situation had really set in.
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Ditto, @SconniDad. Leaving DD after PPW was far more emotional than leaving her on I-Day. The latter was filled with much anticipation and pride, and the knowledge that we’d see her in six weeks. The former brought a sense of finality, and the realization that it would be more than three months until we saw her again at Thanksgiving.
 
^^^

The good news is that you'll have much more contact with her. She will be able to call, Skype, or whatever much more often than once every 2 weeks. That said, keep in mind that Ac Year is much busier than PS. Your mid needs to study, learn his/her rates, work out, etc. Resist the urge to contact them daily or expect them to do the same. A little distance doesn't equate to any less love.
 
I am getting used to "the boy" being gone. It took a year to get here, but I'm used to it. With all the training blocks this Summer, we haven't seen him much at all, either.

With that said, it was a tearful goodbye for Mrs. THParent on that Sunday of Plebe Parents Weekend. I don't envy you all, that.
 
SconniDad said:
DS started to get really quiet right around lunchtime. As our departure time crept closer that Sunday afternoon, reality for all of us was slowly creeping in. Perhaps it's not what most others go through, but that Sunday afternoon goodbye was very difficult for us. I think it was the first time that the reality of the situation had really set in. I mean, goodbyes are never fun, but I'll never forget that one.
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One of the few Plebe Summer moments I recall clearly, almost 38 years later. From the Midshipman perspective (especially coming from NAPS), Plebe Summer is relatively easy. It is a finite duration, and the Plebes outnumber the Detailers 3-1 or better. Things turn around quickly after Parents Weekend , ie.. Upperclass outnumber Plebes, Academic year woes hit quickly, and it's a long time(16-18 weeks) until the next real break. Back in the day, that last formation of Parent's Weekend was accompanied by Bing Crosby's "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...", and after we marched in to Bancroft Hall, SHTF and the Detailers quickly assisted us in forgetting about Parent's Weekend. :(


Enjoy the weekend... Annapolis is a great place to visit. Keep it light and let your Plebe take the lead. Once its time to say goodbye, forge ahead and don't look back. Just like the Admissions process, USNA is a marathon, not a sprint !
 
If you are flying into town, rent the smallest car possible that will still fit you and your party. My W and I always rented a subcompact or smaller.

When trying to park in Annapolis, you will thank me for this suggestion. You might find street parking, if you're lucky, but I guarantee you the spot will be small.
 
MidCakePa said:
Ditto, @SconniDad. Leaving DD after PPW was far more emotional than leaving her on I-Day. The latter was filled with much anticipation and pride, and the knowledge that we’d see her in six weeks. The former brought a sense of finality, and the realization that it would be more than three months until we saw her again at Thanksgiving.
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Same. It was a quick hug at the car on a Kings street drop off on purpose. But boy did the ugly cry hit headed through DTA on our way towards home 1,009 miles later. A total release of a lot of emotion.

Fast forward, it’s not like that anymore as I’m conditioned to knowing that a good bye always means another hello. But that first one from PPW had a finality to it. More-so than Iday. And Thanksgiving seemed (and was) a loooong way off.

It does get easier!
 
MIHOSER said:
If you are flying into town, rent the smallest car possible that will still fit you and your party. My W and I always rented a subcompact or smaller.

When trying to park in Annapolis, you will thank me for this suggestion. You might find street parking, if you're lucky, but I guarantee you the spot will be small.
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SO TRUE!! We travelled in a suburban (big family that we are). That was a BEAST in DTA!!
 
Old Navy BGO said:
"I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...",
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THIS!!!!! Last year it was Elvis Christmas music blaring from speakers on Sunday evening as we dropped off the plebe! Never realized Christmas songs could sound so cruel...but it actually made us chuckle a little. Jokes on them cause we saw him at Thanksgiving :)
 
There used to be no Thanksgiving break, as my DH has reminded me, which is why the holiday carols were appropriate. This, of course, was Back In The Day of Saturday classes, no spring break and other bragging right deprivations and it-was-tough-in-my-day traditions.
[emoji6]
 
Capt MJ said:
There used to be no Thanksgiving break, as my DH has reminded me, which is why the holiday carols were appropriate. This, of course, was Back In The Day of Saturday classes, no spring break and other bragging right deprivations and it-was-tough-in-my-day traditions.
[emoji6]
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We had regular classes on the day after Thanksgiving (Friday)
 
OldRetSWO said:
We had regular classes on the day after Thanksgiving (Friday)
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And work! Anymore, Thanksgiving has morphed into Friday’s off, too.

Unless you are in the retail business. Buts that’s a whole different thread [emoji849]
 
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