Well, I dropped my 3rd class daughter off yesterday. It was strange to see the new plebes behaving the way she did every time I saw her last year. I know it was an adjustment for her to be "greeted." Hand sanitizer dispensers have appeared in the hallways. There were a number of plebes still in Indoc uniforms rather than khakis. So it looks like some of those who were isolated are coming back. There are enough of them that no one will stand out for being the one needing the uniform fitted late.
Last year plebes were not permitted sweet snacks. Healthy snacks like trail mix, nuts, jerky and sports drinks (powdered) were allowed. My daughter did take her boxes to the sports building to open them and kept sweets in her sports locker. Cookie cafe will be up and running again soon, I'm sure. She asks the various state parents associations to sponsor weeks. So stay in touch with your parents group and prepare to bake LOTS of cookies for your turn. If you include something special for your PC in the package, she'll get it to them - probably with a hug too.
My daughter hated dealing with me via email because of the number of official emails she has to wade through every day. We only used email when necessary. Skype was not permitted until recognition. That's not to say Skype is never used. I learned to use IM. When I go on the computer, I automatically open the IM program. Then I let her decide whether to contact me. The few times I initiated contact just to chat were inevitably times when she was trying to finish a Physics lab or get something else done. I learned to let her initiate and not be offended if she didn't want to chat. I also got used to her chatting while doing 3 other things at once and sometimes being pulled away unexpectedly, with no explanation.
It's hard to send your kid to KP. It wasn't a whole lot easier dropping her off this year. But I watched her interact with her friends and could see the ties. I watched her with KP alums over the summer where she could have a long conversation with a perfect stranger - instant camaraderie. She is so confident and carries herself so differently that people who have known her for years didn't recognize her!
No one here will lie to you. Plebe year is HARD. But it can be done. They think Indoc was hard. It was just the beginning. The academics can be a killer. But help is there. Each room has a team leader, an upperclassman who is there not only to inspect, but to help. They can not afford to wait to get help if they need it. They will be extremely busy. They will not get enough sleep. But they will learn SOOO much. It's a wild ride. Indoc was a speed bump on that parental roller coaster. Hang on tight! Wish I could be at Parents weekend to meet you all and encourage you.
Last year plebes were not permitted sweet snacks. Healthy snacks like trail mix, nuts, jerky and sports drinks (powdered) were allowed. My daughter did take her boxes to the sports building to open them and kept sweets in her sports locker. Cookie cafe will be up and running again soon, I'm sure. She asks the various state parents associations to sponsor weeks. So stay in touch with your parents group and prepare to bake LOTS of cookies for your turn. If you include something special for your PC in the package, she'll get it to them - probably with a hug too.
My daughter hated dealing with me via email because of the number of official emails she has to wade through every day. We only used email when necessary. Skype was not permitted until recognition. That's not to say Skype is never used. I learned to use IM. When I go on the computer, I automatically open the IM program. Then I let her decide whether to contact me. The few times I initiated contact just to chat were inevitably times when she was trying to finish a Physics lab or get something else done. I learned to let her initiate and not be offended if she didn't want to chat. I also got used to her chatting while doing 3 other things at once and sometimes being pulled away unexpectedly, with no explanation.
It's hard to send your kid to KP. It wasn't a whole lot easier dropping her off this year. But I watched her interact with her friends and could see the ties. I watched her with KP alums over the summer where she could have a long conversation with a perfect stranger - instant camaraderie. She is so confident and carries herself so differently that people who have known her for years didn't recognize her!
No one here will lie to you. Plebe year is HARD. But it can be done. They think Indoc was hard. It was just the beginning. The academics can be a killer. But help is there. Each room has a team leader, an upperclassman who is there not only to inspect, but to help. They can not afford to wait to get help if they need it. They will be extremely busy. They will not get enough sleep. But they will learn SOOO much. It's a wild ride. Indoc was a speed bump on that parental roller coaster. Hang on tight! Wish I could be at Parents weekend to meet you all and encourage you.