Roller coaster III: Get Me (The Parent) Through 3/C Year Class of ‘25

One week in---DS still getting settled into new like as a Youngster. He got hit pretty hard with a sinus/cough crud but pushed through his first week. He was most disappointed with the fact that he could not circulate around his new company and make connections as he wanted to limit the spread of whatever sickness ailed him. But on call last night he sounded marginally better and confident he had turned corner on the illness.

He was looking forward to first parade and first home football game this weekend.
 
Page 5? Time to bump this thread back up the list.

Wow the 3/C roller coaster is definitely different. We had the opportunity to spend the past weekend on the Yard and in Annapolis. DS is amazingly different this year---more confident, holds his head a little higher and has his cover slightly canted (not really but you get the visual). Parade was fun to watch and it was DS first one due to "conflicts" with the first two. PRT went well even though he was definitely concerned as he did not feel as prepared as in past. Part of the 3/C struggle for NARPs is finding the time and motivation to go run and do pushups. Football game was amazing (except very cold by the end). This year we actually tailgated before hand with his company-mates families. Very cool.

Spent Sunday afternoon down at Mt Vernon. It is far enough away that he could relax and wear civilian clothes. Although we did run into at least one classmate and one Plebe (who was in SDB's).

Hit the MidStore (twice cause once is never enough) and even swung into the Visitors center so that we could look at their supply of Navy Swag. For those who did not know, you do get a 10% discount if you show your DBIDs or MidStore Card!

Almost completed the BINGO card-Parade, Tailgate, Football game, Walgreens secret package store, Service at USNA chapel, MidStore. Just missing Pa Dutch Market and a DTA restaurant (avoided DTA due to boat show craziness).

All in all 3/C year is going well. So Plebe parents hang in there! Dont Give Up the Ship! It will be better

Final thought: As we head into holidays and then dreaded Dark Days be prepared for ups and downs. Your Plebe will be tired, cold, and stressed. Be there to support just as you did during PS.
 
Pro-tip, Calvary Chapel in DTA has a cookie program. You can sign up for a dozen or two fresh-baked cookies to be delivered to your MIDN once a month. Very easy to place the order, very inexpensive, and great pick me up, especially during the Dark Ages. Our parent club sent them to all of our plebes last year in January, February, and March.
I just placed an order for 2 dozen for Oct., Nov., and Dec., for my MIDN and his roomies.

Super easy to place orders here: https://calvary-cookie-factory.square.site/
 
Good to hear! With the win on Saturday, my son said they (Plebes) got an additional weekend out of it. Not sure how that works for 3/C???
DS says they get a weekend too. Hope they carry the momentum to this weeks games.

The cookies are super nice treat for the mids and his roomies. I've been ordering them since last year and they've always gotten them promptly and devoured them right away!

This 3/C year does see different struggles. Especially for me... more awe at the growth and letting him soar on his own!

Let's see what the Dark Ages will bring. Hopefully some sunshine for the Calif boy!
 
Good to hear! With the win on Saturday, my son said they (Plebes) got an additional weekend out of it. Not sure how that works for 3/C???
Weekends are good for everyone! Weekends allow you to stay off the Yard without having to come back, sign Taps, and sleep in Bancroft. Weekends probably have the least bang for buck for 3/C since they have off-Yard liberty on Sundays. The only real benefit is a night away from Bancroft. 2/C and 1/C get more bang for their buck since they can leave on Fridays and not come back until Sunday night.
 
We're local, so a weekend means my kid can go spend the night at his girlfriend's place, or here at home. Works out nicely!!
 
Pro-tip, Calvary Chapel in DTA has a cookie program. You can sign up for a dozen or two fresh-baked cookies to be delivered to your MIDN once a month. Very easy to place the order, very inexpensive, and great pick me up, especially during the Dark Ages. Our parent club sent them to all of our plebes last year in January, February, and March.
I just placed an order for 2 dozen for Oct., Nov., and Dec., for my MIDN and his roomies.

Super easy to place orders here: https://calvary-cookie-factory.square.site/
Love this idea for the dark ages - I do for my daughter but never thought of doing it for our Wisconsin mids. Love it! Great way to spend club funds on our mids to help brighten their days!
 
Love this idea for the dark ages - I do for my daughter but never thought of doing it for our Wisconsin mids. Love it! Great way to spend club funds on our mids to help brighten their days!
I think we sent one dozen per month for three months for approximately 12 MIDN (can’t recall last year, finding and mentoring this year’s plebe parents wiped my brain’s database). The pastor worked with us and we provided company numbers and names in a quick excel sheet and we placed the order via email. He told us the total we mailed a check. It was not expensive. And we all know how MIDN feel about going to check a P.O. Box. Fresh cookies!!!!
 
First year that DS was not our table for T-dinner. He stayed in USNA for many reasons-cost, short trip, recent MOs that brought him home and close to home first two weekends in Nov and us visiting this past weekend. He was well taken care by a fellow company mate who is local and had him over for two nights and fed him well on T-day. He did spend two nights in Mother B which he said was not bad but super creepy quiet.

We got to see him this past weekend when we shot down to USNA for the Glee Club performance of the Messiah. Super cool and I will probably start a thread just on this topic. Short visit and he did not have an overnight with us but lunch (Lures!) and shopping on Saturday, and then Church and breakfast (Iron Rooster) refilled our empty tanks.

He will be home in less than 2 weeks! Anxiously awaiting.

I will remark how much he has changed even since start of this year. More confident, more sure of self and a little more relaxed. All good changes.
 
Wow. For all you parents of Plebes (C/O '26) and for parents of Plebes to Be (C/O '27) take note of the number and types of posts on this thread. Compare that to the with previous "Rollercoaster" threads for the C/O '25! Youngster year is way better as a parent and Midshipman. To be fair, there are still daily, weekly, monthly struggles but that is life. My DS has matured (still long way to go) but is more independent and making his own choices.

We had the opportunity for a recent weekend visit and we had a good time. He was able to have town liberty on Friday for us to have dinner and then had overnight liberty on Saturday. We did some shopping, found our way to an activity and dinner outside the UOD radius, and in general had a great visit.

While he is frustrated with certain aspects of the Yard (construction delays at McDonough, freshly started rebuild of the sea wall at Triton point, King hall menu monotony, sometimes questionable medical advice at BMU, etc) he is still excited to be at THE USNA. I asked him and few of his buddies if they plan to return in the fall and sign "2 for 7". All responded with a "H*ll yes...we made it through Plebe year why quit now?"

For those keeping score---we made purchases at both the MidStore and Visitor center (note they have slightly different inventories and Midstore discount applies); bought breakfast treats at the Pa Dutch market; stopped in the package store at Walgreens; shopped at Target and ate Sunday breakfast at Iron Rooster. I think I covered the obligaotry dance card when visiting the Yard.

Newly found seafood place... Blue Dolphin in Crofton...great prices, good portions and outside the UOD radius!
 
Wow. For all you parents of Plebes (C/O '26) and for parents of Plebes to Be (C/O '27) take note of the number and types of posts on this thread. Compare that to the with previous "Rollercoaster" threads for the C/O '25! Youngster year is way better as a parent and Midshipman. To be fair, there are still daily, weekly, monthly struggles but that is life. My DS has matured (still long way to go) but is more independent and making his own choices.

We had the opportunity for a recent weekend visit and we had a good time. He was able to have town liberty on Friday for us to have dinner and then had overnight liberty on Saturday. We did some shopping, found our way to an activity and dinner outside the UOD radius, and in general had a great visit.

While he is frustrated with certain aspects of the Yard (construction delays at McDonough, freshly started rebuild of the sea wall at Triton point, King hall menu monotony, sometimes questionable medical advice at BMU, etc) he is still excited to be at THE USNA. I asked him and few of his buddies if they plan to return in the fall and sign "2 for 7". All responded with a "H*ll yes...we made it through Plebe year why quit now?"

For those keeping score---we made purchases at both the MidStore and Visitor center (note they have slightly different inventories and Midstore discount applies); bought breakfast treats at the Pa Dutch market; stopped in the package store at Walgreens; shopped at Target and ate Sunday breakfast at Iron Rooster. I think I covered the obligaotry dance card when visiting the Yard.

Newly found seafood place... Blue Dolphin in Crofton...great prices, good portions and outside the UOD radius!
Bingo! On your Annapolis Checklist Card.
 
It is almost done. This roller coaster definitely calmer and smoother. Or is it that we have figured out how to go with the ups and downs?

DS is dealing with a poor grade on a recent essay. He met with Prof but did not get specifics on why the grade. Prof offered him chance to re-write but DS is confident he wrote a paper deserving a higher grade but unsure of how to proceed. He is meeting with his Company Officer today to discuss. Tough to hear the stress in DS voice but he needs to navigate and figure out his path.
 
It is almost done. This roller coaster definitely calmer and smoother. Or is it that we have figured out how to go with the ups and downs?

DS is dealing with a poor grade on a recent essay. He met with Prof but did not get specifics on whyr the grade. Prof offered him chance to re-write but DS is confident he wrote a paper deserving a higher grade but unsure of how to proceed. He isl but meeting with his Company Officer today to discuss. Tough to hear the stress in DS voice butcke he needs to navigate and figure out his path.
Concur. He needs to navigate on his own. DS ('26) made a D- on History last semester while making As on Calculus, Chemistry, and Literature. It's not that he's not smart enough, he just doesn't see eye to eye with this professor. His voice too sounded cold and determined when talking about this fellow. I backed off... letting him grow his baby leadership claws and fangs.
 
It is almost done. This roller coaster definitely calmer and smoother. Or is it that we have figured out how to go with the ups and downs?

DS is dealing with a poor grade on a recent essay. He met with Prof but did not get specifics on why the grade. Prof offered him chance to re-write but DS is confident he wrote a paper deserving a higher grade but unsure of how to proceed. He is meeting with his Company Officer today to discuss. Tough to hear the stress in DS voice but he needs to navigate and figure out his path.
Agree, this roller coaster is definitely calmer and smoother. Can’t believe almost 2 years have passed us by since I-Day 🫡
DS said a Professor was removed from one of his classes 2 weeks ago. He has already had a training canceled this summer that he qualified for. I am not sad about him missing the experience because it sounded too dangerous and now he gets to come home for a week! ❤
 
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Agree, this roller coaster is definitely calmer and smoother. Can’t believe almost 2 years have passed us by since I-Day 🫡
DS said a Professor was removed from one of his classes 2 weeks ago. He has already had a training canceled this summer that he qualified for. I am not sad about him missing the experience because it sounded too dangerous and now he gets to come home for a week! ❤
Turn that Pirates of the Caribbean lamp on. Grilled steak, oysters and calamari back on the menu? What’s his summer training looking like? Just think, he’s half way to graduation!
 
While he is frustrated with certain aspects of the Yard (construction delays at McDonough, freshly started rebuild of the sea wall at Triton point, King hall menu monotony, sometimes questionable medical advice at BMU, etc) he is still excited to be at THE USNA. I asked him and few of his buddies if they plan to return in the fall and sign "2 for 7". All responded with a "H*ll yes...we made it through Plebe year why quit now?"
This sounds just like my DS & friends. I got to see them two weekends ago, and I am inspired by their growth through all the ups and downs they've endured.
 
Concur. He needs to navigate on his own. DS ('26) made a D- on History last semester while making As on Calculus, Chemistry, and Literature. It's not that he's not smart enough, he just doesn't see eye to eye with this professor. His voice too sounded cold and determined when talking about this fellow. I backed off... letting him grow his baby leadership claws and fangs.
DS met with his CO and ultimately re-wrote the paper much to his dismay. He was disheartened as he felt his first paper was superior and he was being punished because Prof did not like his stance. I reminded him that is part of life---civilian and military. I have experienced similar situations in civilian job were the boss did not like what I thought was a better proposal and sent me back to re-do my work.
 
WarDS met with his CO and ultimately re-wrotewar thewar paper much to his dismay. He wasic, disheartened as he felt his first paper was superior and he wasstall being punished because Prof didw not like his stance. I reminded him that is parts of1980 life---civilian and military. I haved experienced similar situations in civilian job were the boss did not like what I thought was a better proposal and sent me back to re-do my work.
Ahhh... Flashback time. Motto from Command and General Staff College - "monkey see, monkey do, monkey redo." The writing requirement from the War College was more basic, "expand here, and there." Reality, I still have my old military manual from the 1980s, Staff Writing Guide. Dog Barks, Cat chases mouse. Guide encourages Staff to write Subject Verb Subject. I have not yet given the Staff Writing Guide to DS.
 
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