Current Mid has a very valid point. As I read the post, CM is not suggesting that the parents encourage a plebe to break the rules. I believe it is more - don't go quoting the rules...
When my son was a plebe (now a firstie) he told us very early on that it was not our job to be the enforcer. He knew the regs, he understood the regs, he knew the consequences for his action, he knew the consequences for his company-mates based on HIS actions and that we needed to trust him.
I took away the philosophy - I will not be his policeman. I will not question his requests. I will not enable him to break the law (that is well past with being over 21) When asked to "assist" him with breaking a reg - i.e. bringing civilian clothes since that is usually the item most parents get asked at some point of time, I would ask him if he understood the consequences for himself and his companymates. If he still insisted - I brought the clothing. It is not for me to be his policeman. I brought it for PPW - guess what - in the end he did the right thing - he never wore it.
That philosophy has saved us a lot of heart ache, arguing and disappointment. ( and probably money) Once the semester starts and your plebe finds themselves at the Annapolis Mall - plenty of civilian clothes can be bought. Many plebes will keep civies at their sponsor houses. Many sponsors will let plebes break some regs as it also is not their place to play detailer - if they do, the plebe will just find a more lenient sponsor house to adopt them.
Encouraging them to break the rules - absolutely not. Enabling when they have asked - each family can decide. All I know is that in 3 years - not one conduct or honor offense. The easy part was asking mom - its was much more difficult to actually go through with the plan!
Enjoy PPW. The academic fair in Dahlgren is well worth it as are the tours of the labs etc. The computer dept. had a computer set up so that parents could be the first to email the plebes to their new usna email account. If you have a plebe that will probably use the library a lot (mine did and still does) go meet the staff in Nimitz. They are great. (one note to keep in mind that we learned talking to one of the librarians - Nimitz is 'plebe safe' - there are no military employees - all civilian and upper class can not rate a plebe while in the library. Hassle free studying!)
Go to PEP - lots on the list-serv as to if it is allowed or not. Heard from an upper class they encouraged the plebes to pass on the info to attend to their parents in last night's phone call. Usually starts by 6am. It is amazing, and how their face will light up when they catch their first glimps of you.
If you go into DC - we had an amazing day site seeing on the mall and early dinner at a favorite restaurant - they will amaze you how they carry themselves in uniform. Many foreign tourists will ask to have their picture taken with your plebe - he got a charge out of that and had no problems posing - 6 weeks earlier and he would have not been so gracious.
Get back to the yard early on Sunday afternoon - take lots of pictures with your Plebe on the yard. You will probably meet a lot of your plebes new friends and even some of the detailers - just remember THEY are not your friends! Greet and move on, your plebe will appreciate that as the last thing they want is mom and dad talking to their detailers!
Enjoy the weekend and safe travels.