Military Moms: May - June - Page 5

[malorie2284]

Hi!

Hi I'm Malorie! My husband is in the army, right now we are stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany. I have a little girl, Zuri, she is 2 and a half, I am new to mothering.com. I was wondering if anyone is in or around my area so I could meet some like minded mamas, and make friends in general, I don't have too many right now. Thanks!

[michelleklu]

My family's leaving Korea in less than a month and we are totally unprepared because we thought we had an extension coming and my husband has been working until really late at night. We haven't even painted the walls white yet. Does anyone know where we can get boxes for moving? I wanted to pack up some stuff like my daughter's toys and my craft stuff. I want to carefully organize it myself. I remember when we were leaving Fort Lewis I packed up some of my clothes and our electronics already because we just wanted to streamline the process. I'm afraid that we're just going to have to deal with stacks of books and clothes everywhere? We're borrowing some of our furniture like the drawers and chests and want to empty and thoroughly clean them asap. This is so much harder with a child involved! I really don't want to stay but I really hate moving! I go from stressed to exasperated and scared because I don't know anyone in Fort Drum and my husband's going to deploy within months of our arrival. Is it hard staying there with a young child? I don't really have experience driving in the snow but everything's on one base so it shouldn't be hard to get around, right? That's our only option right? We can't move to another state closer to my family because we won't have our furniture. I'm nervous and every time I think about it I freak out even more.

[~Katie~]

Hi Malorie!

Michelle - Is there any kind of classified's where people might list moving boxes? Whenever we move I always put our boxes up for free on Craigslist and they're gone within a day but I don't know if something like that exists there for you. As far as Fort Drum, I believe there are a couple of mama's here who are either moving there or already live there and might be able to give you tips. We haven't lived in that area in quite a while so I'm not up to date on how much it has changed, the snow can be a pain during the winter but you aren't too far from activities. Good luck with your move!

[MovingMomma]

Last time we moved (granted it's been almost 7 years!), the movers didn't bear any responsibility for damaged goods in boxes that we packed ourselves. You might want to double check on that before you go to the trouble of packing your own.

[LeslieB]

Originally Posted by appifanie

oh it's a breastfeeding group! i'm slow i don't need that - toddler groups i'm good with. thanks!

and the homeschoolers!! there were like 15-20 of them with one adult and they scared my kid off the playground. sigh.

That wasn't the homeschool group then. The homeschool group has all the mothers there with their kids. Maybe it was a class from the school across the street with the teacher.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by MovingMomma

Last time we moved (granted it's been almost 7 years!), the movers didn't bear any responsibility for damaged goods in boxes that we packed ourselves. You might want to double check on that before you go to the trouble of packing your own.

and our last move wasn't that long ago. I was also told that they'll want to open up your boxes to inventory everything in there and then repack them. You might be able to leave the boxes open so the movers can easily see what's in there. I don't know anything about FT Drum. I've never heard of it and have no idea where it is.

I did think of one thing that I wish someone had told me when my dh first joined the Marine Corps. Realistically, though, even if I had been told I probably would not have understood what it meant until I lived it, kind of like trying to get prepared for your first baby. Anyway, I wish someone had told me exactly how much he'd be gone. When we first talked about him joining the military I told him anything but the Navy because I knew how much Sailors are gone. They aren't just gone for the 6 month deployments every 1.5-2 years, which is what we were told. They're gone for work-ups and whatever else they call them for a month here and a week there. I knew the Marine Corps was a division of the Navy but I didn't make the connection in my head. My dh has been in the Marine Corps for 8 years now and he's been away from us for at least half of that time. He's really upset with this last separation about missing half of our ds2's life.

Of course, this is partly because of the wars. I don't know if the other branches have regular deployments schedules during times of peace. The Navy and the Marine Corps do. At the moment, Army and Air Force may not deploy as often but they usually deploy for longer periods. Where a Marine or Sailor may deploy for the usual 6-7 months (not including IAs that last a year), a Soldier may deploy for 15 months or more. I don't know about the Air Force but I'd guess they're about the same as the Army.

[~Katie~]

Less than a month out!

DH has been asking around about what will happen to us next year. His unit is supposed to deploy at the exact same time his national guard unit is supposed to do something with us. He thinks they might stop-move him at that time and make him stay with his unit, but I have no idea how that'd work since technically they're not in charge of anything that happens to him. It would ultimately be up to his national guard unit. Ideally, I'd like it if he could stay active duty and we could move somewhere else but we'll see.

[~Katie~]

They'll go through and inventory anything that's packed in a box and repack it. That's what they did when we put all of our stuff in storage in NY.

[sanssouci]

Hi ladies!
I'm new to the group, but so happy to find you!
We're new to the military, my husband is currently deployed, and our son and I are awaiting his return in Hawaii.
Looking forward to finding a community here.
(ps: check freecycle for moving boxes - you can post requests - and there are always boxes posted - it's a site to prevent reusable items from ending up in the landfill)

[appifanie]

Ft. Bragg moms -

1. I desperately need a haircut. Any advice where to/where not to go? Normally I'm up for a nice $50 haircut or so, but way cheaper would be nice this time.

2. Dentist recommendations for me and the kid?

Thanks!

[gagin37]

Originally Posted by appifanie

Ft. Bragg moms -

1. I desperately need a haircut. Any advice where to/where not to go? Normally I'm up for a nice $50 haircut or so, but way cheaper would be nice this time.

2. Dentist recommendations for me and the kid?

Thanks!

For nice expensive cuts I've heard Suki's on Yadkin is the place to go. The couple of times I've had my hair trimmed I went to Fantastic Sam's (the one in the Hobby Lobby Shopping Center on Skibo), it was about 15 or 20 dollars, and they did a decent job.

oh, eta: I've heard awful things about Smile Starters, and good things from folks who have gone to Dental Works- which I *think* is on Morganton, across from the mall, near Bed Bath and Beyond and Ulta.

[appifanie]

Originally Posted by gagin37

For nice expensive cuts I've heard Suki's on Yadkin is the place to go. The couple of times I've had my hair trimmed I went to Fantastic Sam's (the one in the Hobby Lobby Shopping Center on Skibo), it was about 15 or 20 dollars, and they did a decent job.

oh, eta: I've heard awful things about Smile Starters, and good things from folks who have gone to Dental Works- which I *think* is on Morganton, across from the mall, near Bed Bath and Beyond and Ulta.

thanks! also, isn't smile starters the place where they don't let parents watch the kids and they do unnecessary dental work to earn more money? if it is, those people should all be beaten and jailed. just sayin'

[LeslieB]

LOL! I think Claire knows all about my Smile Starters incident. That place is horrible. And yes, it's where they won't let you back with your kids. I'm going to try Dental Works. Everyone says it's good.
No help on the haircut. I'm growing mine out. I haven't had it cut since July in California.

[raspberry]

Originally Posted by michelleklu

My family's leaving Korea in less than a month and we are totally unprepared because we thought we had an extension coming and my husband has been working until really late at night. We haven't even painted the walls white yet. Does anyone know where we can get boxes for moving? I wanted to pack up some stuff like my daughter's toys and my craft stuff. I want to carefully organize it myself. I remember when we were leaving Fort Lewis I packed up some of my clothes and our electronics already because we just wanted to streamline the process. I'm afraid that we're just going to have to deal with stacks of books and clothes everywhere? We're borrowing some of our furniture like the drawers and chests and want to empty and thoroughly clean them asap. This is so much harder with a child involved! I really don't want to stay but I really hate moving! I go from stressed to exasperated and scared because I don't know anyone in Fort Drum and my husband's going to deploy within months of our arrival. Is it hard staying there with a young child? I don't really have experience driving in the snow but everything's on one base so it shouldn't be hard to get around, right? That's our only option right? We can't move to another state closer to my family because we won't have our furniture. I'm nervous and every time I think about it I freak out even more.

We left Drum this summer (now at Campbell). I'm not going to lie, it's pretty cold and snowy. They keep the roads extremely well plowed, it's a small base too, so getting to the commissary/px isn't a problem at all. I had no experience driving in the snow when we first moved there but I adjusted quickly. The worst part is not being able to take the kids outside to play in the winter. Good luck!

[raspberry]

Originally Posted by appifanie

Ft. Bragg moms -

1. I desperately need a haircut. Any advice where to/where not to go? Normally I'm up for a nice $50 haircut or so, but way cheaper would be nice this time.

2. Dentist recommendations for me and the kid?

Thanks!

I'm originally from Fayetteville, I always liked going to Renaissance day spa for cuts and color, the one at Eutaw. I haven't been to the one by Harris Teeter. Joseph Catlett is a really good dentist, I don't believe he sees kids under 3 though.

[appifanie]

Originally Posted by LeslieB

LOL! I think Claire knows all about my Smile Starters incident. That place is horrible. And yes, it's where they won't let you back with your kids. I'm going to try Dental Works. Everyone says it's good.
No help on the haircut. I'm growing mine out. I haven't had it cut since July in California.

well, my experience with a vision works was okay so maybe dental works will be okay

Originally Posted by raspberry

I'm originally from Fayetteville, I always liked going to Renaissance day spa for cuts and color, the one at Eutaw. I haven't been to the one by Harris Teeter. Joseph Catlett is a really good dentist, I don't believe he sees kids under 3 though.

thanks raspberry! i need a good dentist for me too so i'll check him out.

[~Katie~]

I just need to vent for a minute, hopefully I don't offend anybody with what I'm going to say.

I have a friend on Facebook that I've known since junior high. She's dealing with a similar situation like mine in regards to deployment. She and her husband have had a lot of strife as a result, it seems like he's the one who is always trying to mend things and make things better and she's being really immature about it. She broadcasts every dispute on Facebook for the whole world to see and I'm so embarrassed for him because of it. He came home last night and she won't even answer any of his phone calls, he's never even met his own daughter. I just feel so horrible about the whole thing and it makes me so angry. I understand that deployments are hard on families but to witness this and knowing how hard it is for my husband, I can't imagine what this guy must be feeling

[Alohamelly]

Originally Posted by KatieJD

You can either do a search for providers on the tricare website, or try calling local midwives and ask them if they take tricare. Also try calling hospitals and asking for contact info.

Thanks. I think my sister finally found someone.

Originally Posted by KatieJD

I just need to vent for a minute, hopefully I don't offend anybody with what I'm going to say.

I have a friend on Facebook that I've known since junior high. She's dealing with a similar situation like mine in regards to deployment. She and her husband have had a lot of strife as a result, it seems like he's the one who is always trying to mend things and make things better and she's being really immature about it. She broadcasts every dispute on Facebook for the whole world to see and I'm so embarrassed for him because of it. He came home last night and she won't even answer any of his phone calls, he's never even met his own daughter. I just feel so horrible about the whole thing and it makes me so angry. I understand that deployments are hard on families but to witness this and knowing how hard it is for my husband, I can't imagine what this guy must be feeling

That's really sad.

I have a friend who posts stuff about her husband and it's going to be really awkward if I ever see or meet the guy! I don't think I'd ever post anything like that on FB! For one thing, I wouldn't want my in-laws to see me writing anything negative about their son!

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by Alohamelly

That's really sad.

I have a friend who posts stuff about her husband and it's going to be really awkward if I ever see or meet the guy! I don't think I'd ever post anything like that on FB! For one thing, I wouldn't want my in-laws to see me writing anything negative about their son!

Yeah, really. I mean Facebook just doesn't seem like the appropriate place to display your marital squabbles. My brother's wife does it too and I really have to refrain myself from saying something.

If it isn't bad enough, I'm pretty sure she's engaging in what appears to at least be an emotional affair with another guy. I really don't know what's going on with her but she seems really depressed, she told me that she wishes she could go back and do everything over (as in not marry her current husband). She lives with her family now and they pretty much do all of the care-taking of her daughter. I just have a hard time grasping it.

[MarineWife]

Deployments are so hard, especially if you aren't expecting them. I don't know if your friend's dh is/was NG or Reserve, too, but their deployments can be harder on everyone than ADs. I remember reading about a lot of families losing their homes and such when their Reserve and NG members were deployed because they took big pay cuts. Obviously, if a marriage is already in trouble, a deployment can move things closer to a break-up. It's unfortunate that she has to broadcast her marital problems to everyone on FB. Maybe she doesn't have anyone to talk to about it. If I had a family member doing that, I think I might have to say something to someone about the inappropriateness of it.