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Comment by Paymaster on July 17, 2010 at 11:18am

Camera, batteries, sunscreen and refillible sport bottles. It will be the time of your life. If you live close enough you can bake their favorite goodie to take along which is a big hit!

Comment by B mom of S on July 17, 2010 at 11:13am

PPW is right around the corner! I remember it fondly. Scott was a mix of emotions. He was exhausted and when we did venture out he was on pins and needles the entire time.

One thing we learned is that their detailers dress up in civi's (civilian clothes) and wander through Annapolis observing the Plebes. Nothing like having liberty under a watchful eye. He was not sure when to sit, stand, etc. He was of course worried about keeping his summer whites clean. We chose sprite instead of coke, and kept stain wipes, stain pen, and a bleach pen, but never needed them. It was more of a safety net, just in case.

The best advice, from our own experience, was to let our mid decide. Of the few plans we made, we asked Scott what HE wanted to do. If he wanted to sleep, we left him alone for a few hours and returned later for a meal. I know he was called his friends, and was on facebook in between naps, so we just took in all in stride. We did not bring extended family, just our small group. We did tell him early that we wanted to save some time for pictures before we left. Most mids want OFF the yard as fast as they can, so we agreed to save it for the last day, that we picked him up.

We did do some shopping, for a few essentials. HOWEVER, keep in mind that they need to lug all this stuff back, and most parents cannot drive on base. Your mid will need to pack it up and move it again when the academic year starts. Scott moved 2x before academic year started. The mid store really does have the best prices, no tax, and a really good selection. We stood in line with everyone new plebe parent and purchased a printer that weekend, only to find out he would have had time later after he moved, before the semester started.

We did not ask him 20 questions, but instead tried to pick a "broad" topic and let him expand. I did ask him what the most significant thing he had learned was. His response is that while he may not like everybody, he knows he can count on them.

One of the most important things is to read the parent packet, and make sure you have your mid back earlier than the time stated. Traffic does get busy, and they are NOT tolerant of late plebes. It could affect your plebe, and his entire company if the detailer so chooses. Scott made it back 1 1/2 hours early, and he and his buddy were sent by the detailer to go find another plebe. When the 3 of them came back 3 minutes late the entire company had early extra PT the morning. They were all pretty unhappy about it, but Scott lived to laugh about it a year later.

Scott is now a youngster (sophomore) and the year has fond memories for us both. He now laughs at PPW. We were at a steak house having a late lunch, and after we were done he saw HIS detailer sitting at a table in civi's. He said hello MR... and his detailer said hello MR.... He NOW wishes he had told the server that it was the detailer's birthday and sent a complimentary slice of cake over!

I wish your Plebe and your family a wonderful PPW. Keep us posted, we love hearing from you.

Comment by Quentin'smom on July 16, 2010 at 11:20am

I'm counting down til PPW! Any advice on what to take, what to plan, problems to avoid??? It sounds like (from what I read) the plebes will just want to sleep, eat, sleep, and stay clean/unseen. Any words of wisdom from those who have been there????

Comment by Quentin'smom on July 5, 2010 at 7:34pm

Now I have even more motivation to make him laugh!

Comment by Quentin'smom on July 4, 2010 at 9:11am

Do you have any good resources for Navy jokes?? I was thinking I would write some letters from the cat's point of view just to make him smile :) Maybe I'll take postcards to the 4th party today for friends to write him. You have inspired me!

Comment by Quentin'smom on July 3, 2010 at 10:15pm

Thanks for the hugs and kind wishes! I am having that emotion combo: mostly pride with a side of bitter-sweet that this is a new stage of life that I cannot walk with him. I Day was a big step. An emotional step from being my boy to the Navy's man. How do I best support him now? I am praying. I am writing him letters. What else? Any advice on those picture packages for sale? Ummmm what other things have you learned along this journey??? Thanks for the advice!

Comment by B mom of S on July 3, 2010 at 1:14pm

Hi All,

By now the new Plebe Class of 2014 is underway. Many of you are still reeling from the overwhelming emotions. Pride, Fear, Sadness, Grief, Joy, Laughter and others. It's all normal. You and your family will all cycle up and down, and it will not feel this way forever. I cried for several months before I-Day, and it allowed me to put the tears aside for Scott's sake. Dad (step-dad), however has almost every photo with a grimace and or tear. As hard as it was on us parents, it was hardest on our 6 year old. He had the hardest time expressing what was going on, let alone understanding it and being able to talk about it. It showed mostly in his behavior by acting out and being somewhat mean and angry. I kept asking if he missed Scott and he told me no. He was just angry that he was gone. He was angry that I MADE him leave. Then he was angry that I let him leave. That was a big pill to swallow. As he progressed through his grief, he told me that I seems like Scott was never real. Talk about ripping my heart out. Once we were able to talk about it, we were able to get through it. Pictures, letters, and doing special things like care packages together helped find a way to keep Scott present.

It still happens every time Scott makes an appearance for what we call a "touch and go", They tough the steps of the front door, on the way out the back door as they head out to see their friends in an effort to recapture the familiar. As our mid progressed, the touch and go's did not happen as quickly nor as often. A sign that he had worked through the "new and improved" familiar.

Our son had a 4 day leave. I spent the better part, well ALL, of yesterday driving from Charlotte, NC to Norfolk, VA to get him and 2 other mids. We drove back and arrived just before the stroke of midnight. They left with car in gear, just about 12 hours later. Tough, selfish perhaps, but he is doing what HE needs to do to take are of himself. He did get to spend some wonderful time with his little brother, now 7. And.... of course the lil guy was crushed, but he bounced back sooner. The sadness is still there for us all, as we miss him terribly. We saw this when our oldest went 15 miles down the road to GA Tech (when we lived in GA), and we saw him about as much. So for now, we have promised to do things that we enjoy, no matter how bad we feel. For Blake a movie, for Dad putzing around the garage, and for me.... I just chat a while here.

Best wishes, and BIG hug to all the new plebe mommies.....

Comment by Paymaster on June 25, 2010 at 3:14pm

Report day is a long day for everyone. If I was to share one thing it would be to make sure my plebe to be had a good breakfast. Often because of in processing they do not get lunch and dinner is questionable.

Try taking a couple of things that are prepackaged that you could quickly hand off to your plebe in the evening after the oath.

Best of luck to you!

Comment by Quentin'smom on June 25, 2010 at 12:47pm

Thanks for the good info :)
I am soooooo excited!!!

Comment by B mom of S on June 25, 2010 at 12:31pm

I took a pack with sunscreen, camera, soft cooler pack/lunchbox & a few ziploc baggies that you can put some ice in to keep things cool, cell phone (you will need it to keep up with the others in your party LOL!), some cash, my debit card, ID etc.

Folding chairs are a good idea, but you many be carrying them around a bit. Often, the parents club for your state (??) will allow you to put the bulkier items at their booth it not too crowded. Bring a white towel for your mid to sit on or use a a lap cover if he sits or eats after the Oath of Office, later that evening. Some stain wipes or stain pen would be good, just in case. You can purchase a cool drink and a sandwich or snack when you meet you mid after the Oath. They will be hot, tired, and a bit dazed. It is overwhelming for plebes, and parents, but it will not be for long.

They do have food there @ what they call the Dry Dock. Hot food, salads, pizza, sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, chips etc. So if you want to bring your mid a snack later, you can purchase there. I would encourage you to get it at least hour or two before the Oath. It gets busy. A single soft sided insulated lunch pack,cooler will help keep things cool. You can leave and come back also, buses run all day long about every 10-15 min. They do a fantastic job!

Last year they had a Plebe Parent Picnic, and several informational sessions then.

Once your son reports for duty you will NOT see him until AFTER the Oath of Office. If you are lucky to catch a glimpse, all parents are encouraged NOT to yell out or distract. Remember, he belongs to the Navy then. One of the things I noticed most was that soooooo many parents were just waiting to see or pushing forward in hopes of seeing their mid. I can assure you many were disappointed. Remember there are 1200 mids, ALL in whites, who ALL look very similar. I chose to just enjoy the sights of the mids as a whole and be in awe of the sheer number of tremendous young men and women who at such an early age chose this path. They were all there together, enduring those experiences. It will forever change their lives and bond them in so many ways. Parents too!

When I asked Scott the ONE most significant thing (as if???) he learned, he told me that he may not like everybody.... BUT he knows he can count on them.... sniff sniff!

I can't wait to hear how wonderful your I-day is.

I will be thinking of all of you on I-day!

Barbara

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