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My Kid The Cadet

A Blog About Life At The United States Air Force Academy and the Air Force Academy Preparatory School

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After I Day, some perspectives are forever changed

June 24, 2022June 25, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ 2 Comments

Three I Days - 2016 at USNA, 2020 at USAFA Prep, and 2021 at USAFA. I’ve been through three I Days with two kids and while everyone’s experience is different, there’s one thing I can say with some certainty. Your perspective changes after  I Day. The most jarring change for us came on that first … Continue reading After I Day, some perspectives are forever changed

Happy (Imperfect) Father’s Day

June 18, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ Leave a comment

It’s Father’s Day season and this one strikes a little harder than some with my son preparing for an imminent deployment and my daughter neck-deep in summer training. The reminders are everywhere, from commercials touting tools and grills as gifts for dads to stores stocked with mugs proclaiming “#1 Dad” and “World’s Best Dad.” Perhaps … Continue reading Happy (Imperfect) Father’s Day

When just a little is enough

June 11, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ 2 Comments

The change in depth, frequency, and cadence of communication with your child represents one of the many difficult adjustments for academy parents. When my kids were in high school, I talked to them every day, usually at length. The conversations could cover everything from help with an English paper to a changing practice schedule to … Continue reading When just a little is enough

Trying not to wish summer away

June 4, 2022June 4, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ 2 Comments

My Facebook stream often confounds me, but that's almost a certainty this time of year. As our school district's year would careen to a close, many parents would make posts bemoaning the fact that the kids soon wouldn't be at school every day. As a practical matter, I understand some parents have to make accommodations … Continue reading Trying not to wish summer away

Summers sounds of silence

May 28, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ Leave a comment

Make sure you add summer to the list of things your friends at "normal" college will not understand, most notably the silence. Being male and female is only one of the myriad of differences between my kids. He's an omnivore who will clean his plate even if it's something he doesn't particularly like. She will … Continue reading Summers sounds of silence

Everyone strap in for transitions

May 22, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ Leave a comment

I love May and not just because it's my birthday month. It's usually time for some of the year's best weather and the promise of summer relaxation is within reach. For the cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, May has its share of celebrations, but it's also a time of transition. Image by … Continue reading Everyone strap in for transitions

Human nature, reality, and the ceaseless flow of time

May 7, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ 2 Comments

Most psychologists agree we are wired to resist change. In fact, a recent study showed that monkeys are more cognitively flexible than humans. That's not to say we're incapable of change or even enjoying change on occasion, but for the most part, we like things the way they are. Want to see someone resistant to … Continue reading Human nature, reality, and the ceaseless flow of time

There are no answers, only reasons to be strong

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ 5 Comments

Asking "Why?" can be a millstone. I know what happened. I know when it happened. I know how it happened. I know to whom it happened. The entire USAFA family knows the answers to all those questions. None of us know why. And the weight of not knowing why is unbearable. Why did Cadet Christopher … Continue reading There are no answers, only reasons to be strong

A somber introduction to #YourCadetIsMyCadet

May 1, 2022May 1, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ 2 Comments

I've written recently about how most of your friends and family really don't understand what it means to have a child at one of our military academies. And while many will talk about how close they are with the parents of their child's classmates, I am confident they will not understand our bond. That's not … Continue reading A somber introduction to #YourCadetIsMyCadet

I got rhythm, who could ask for anything more?

April 23, 2022 ~ Karl Smith ~ Leave a comment

Nearing the end of my sixth year as a military academy, I can definitely state that it's definitely a roller coaster ride. But like a lot of roller coasters (at least if memory serves), the biggest up and down is at the beginning then things kind of smooth out. Don't get me wrong, there are … Continue reading I got rhythm, who could ask for anything more?

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My Cadet’s backstory


Bringing Catie Home:
Notes from a trip to China meet my daughter

My USNA book

Mybook
Anchored in Tradition
An unofficial collection of fun, facts and figures about life at the United States Naval Academy

The other blog: : My Kid The Mid

After I Day, some perspectives are forever changed

After I Day, some perspectives are forever changed

Happy (Imperfect) Father’s Day

Happy (Imperfect) Father’s Day

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