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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Before my kids expressed an interest in our military academies, I'll be honest, I didn't know much about them. Now that I'm immersed in them, they are a huge part of my life. When most people learn of my kids' circumstances, they respond with congratulations and "you must be so proud" and other congratulatory phrases. … Continue reading Of pressure, temptation, opportunity, consequences, and lessons learned