Perspective class of 2014 parent

mc46brpd...and others...if you did "boot" as enlisted, it seems Plebe Summer is a whole different animal. When we watched the Plebe Summer Company video, our enlisted son seemed pretty put out that his younger brother was actually allowed to SMILE during PS and TALK to his fellow Plebes...and do an obstacle course, and be by the water, and have people running around taking pictures of him, and etcetera ad nauseum...

Plebe Summer was just mildly annoying to DS, but he HATED his first semester. Second semester seems to be back to mildly annoying. :shake:

I do think the hardest thing for my son has been not being the 'big man on campus'. USNA is FULL of awesome kids (er, young men and women). Just being another one of the crowd...and actually struggling in some areas...was completely foreign to DS. However, HE had to work through that himself. He actually got angry with us, even hung up on us a couple of times, when we told him we had confidence in him, but I'm sure it was the right thing to say anyway. Please, parents, don't get discouraged if it seems like your child has lost his/her mind :eek: he/she will find it again...and it will be a new and improved model!

The best thing I think I did near the end of the first semester was to tell my son not to call me if he was just going to complain and get angry with me for being positive. That may not be the answer for anyone, but mine really needed to work things out on his own without having mom to whine to. I realized this when I thought about the fact that my older son had to go months with NO communication except a few letters. He grew up so fast, and I wanted the same for son #2, so I gave him some 'tough love'. It seems to be working. You will find what works for you and yours, too!

BTW, not all Plebes are as moody as mine has been on and off :rolleyes:, but just in case yours is, know you are not alone and things WILL get better.

So excited for all of you and your Plebes-to-be...and NOT just because that means mine will be a Plebe-no-more! :thumb: Welcome to the Navy Family!!!
 
Our son summed it up for us this way in an eye opening phone call.."mom and dad, I have never in my life worked so hard to be average". They are going to make mistakes, Chemistry will kick their butts, they will call you and be down. Whatever you do...don't buy into this mindset. Always talk about positive things and do not let yourself get sucked into feeling sorry for them. There is a method to the detailers training. You will also get the occassional letter making you feel like your Plebe might be throwing in the towell....again, suck it up and go out and make a care package. Keep all letters upbeat. This will be very hard to do at times. I guess that would be my best advice, never let your Plebe hear or see you upset or down. This is not helpful to them. Many a time, I cried as I wrote a very funny card, when instead I felt like saying...I am miserable thinking of how much I miss you. :thumb:
 
Agreed----if we can all give one unanimous suggestion its use this forum. Good advice or bad --it is all a perspective and no one plebe is the same. Pull what you need to get through and ignore the rest. And above all as a friend of mine once told me---it's not about YOU its about your mid. If you feel closer to one member or another PM them. Above all listen to the moderators they know more than we do and have more than likely been there and are the professional voice. The rest of us well----we are parents letting go and learning to let them go. It hurts but sometimes pain is a means to a better end. This is a road most do not travel and the turns get pretty hairy sometimes but if they trust and accept the process---the trip is worth it.( So far anyway--will hold breath till 2014).
 
I made a terrible mistake when my now-1/C Mid was @ NAPS, so I offer this advice to other soft-hearted mothers: Do NOT tell your kid, "Well, if you're that unhappy, you DO have other options."

My normally super-polite (even to his mother!) son became FURIOUS. "Never tell me that!" he squawked. "I have to do this!"

Apparently I was supposed to know that he was just dumping (NEVER did that w/ his father!) and I should have been sympathetic w/out suggesting solutions. Who knew?

Well, I do now.

If your Mid calls, miserable, convinced his world is beyond his/her abilities, DO NOT AGREE. S/he secretly wants you to tell him/her you have complete confidence in his/her success. Or just make cooing noises. I dunno. Just don't do what I did.
 
Back
Top