u/smorgan17

If your spouse joined and went to basic, OCS, then BOLC how long were you apart? I would love to stay together during BOLC after being apart for 11 months, but if we're just staying in a hotel that's not very feasible with 3 kids and 3 dogs. Financially it doesn't seem like a smart move to pay for a U-Haul, deposits, and all of that stuff for only a little over 5 months. Like two weeks short of it being a pcs. I'm a tired mom doing it all alone and my kids just want their dad. By the time BOLC is over we will have been apart for 14 months.

I know... we signed up for this life. Doesn't mean it doesn't suck though.

Husband graduates OCS soon and is not a very materialistic person. He wants to ask his parents for help paying for a hotel (and taking our kids) for me to come see him sooner instead of the gift they wanted to give him because it was both expensive and something he would never want/ use. For my gift I am hoping to bring our dog with me while staying on base. I don't remember what hotel it is. IHG maybe? She's 50 ish lbs boxer mix, spayed, UTD on vaccines, and parasite meds. She is 10 and basically sleeps all day so I don't worry about her being bored or destroying a hotel room and is great on car rides. She does bark at other dogs, but is fine when meeting them up close. I foster so she's no novice to being around lots of other animals. We never thought we would have kids so our dogs were our kids until we had them and honestly still are despite having a few crotch goblins running around. I know this would mean the world to him and would make me feel better making the drive through some sketchy areas alone. Is this a bad idea bringing a dog?

Could someone tell me the difference between branching board and branching ceremony in OCS? Do you only get your info on where you'll be at the ceremony?

Share all of your gluten free finds. Restaurants, grocery store finds, everything. I'm still heartbroken over Mama C's closing. Such sweet people and delicious food. Never tried anything I didn't like there and still think of her pumpkin rolls. When we moved away for a few years family would buy several and bring them to me to freeze because they knew my love for them and would commission an angel food cake (my fave) from there every year for my birthday even though it wasn't on the menu. They closed not long after we moved back home. I know Disco Chicken is great, but they only have donuts and chicken and sometimes I just want more ya know? Any places comparable to Mama C's in Knox or Sevierville or even Maryville? I'm in between everything. I reallllyyyy want pineapple upside down cake if anyone knows somewhere that makes it lol

Benefit Your Life is okay, but no Mama C's to me.

Kooky Cookies has been good every time I've tried, but Turkey Creek and downtown markets are not my fave places to travel so I don't go often.

I've only been to Southern Grace (I think is the name?) in
Maryville once and it was good, but I don't remember them having a huge selection.

I have no idea what PCS actually stands for, but my husband should know where he is going to bolc soon. We are planning to go with him as long as it's feasible which at this point he's been gone for 6 months already so we're going to do everything we can to be with him as being apart from his dad is starting to greatly affect our oldest who is autistic. I don't really know where to start as far as what I need to plan for, what I should leave behind with family, what all I need for kids and pets. As far as we know it's looking like it will be a long training (over 20 wks- idk if I'm even using the right lingo) so we should be able to come with, but I know nothing is guaranteed. Do I go ahead and start packing my things once there's a for sure date? We have 2 personal dogs and 1 that I am fostering, but I know most places only allow 2 so I'm guessing he won't be able to come with us though we are hoping to find a loophole especially with me already having ESA paperwork from my psychiatrist for our senior dog. We moved to be just a few minutes from family while he was away and took pretty minimal things and have quite a bit in our storage unit already. What would you say (if we're not living in a hotel) that is not worth moving with us? Should I risk our very heavy and veryyyy old family heirloom furniture or leave it in storage and find some suitable goodwill pieces I won't worry about getting beat up?

Hi, took in an urgent foster from the rescue I've been working with who's a corgi mix. Probably around 12 or so weeks old. I do not typically take in smaller dogs, but I was asked to take him specifically because "his siblings were picking on him" and I have another puppy from the rescue currently that we are planning to adopt that's around the same age. Working breeds are my favorite, but think more Aussie/ Collie type. The issue I'm having with this little dude is the barking. It's more like screaming and it's frequent. He's only been here a week so I know it will take time, but he's settling in really well and has become part of the family already. I'm hoping time will help this what feels like non stop barking, but what can I do in the meantime to help him? He was rescued a few weeks ago from a hoarding case so I know we have a lot to work through, but part of fostering is getting them ready for their forever home so I want to set him up for success! Despite the constant barking he is a very good boy. I'm a stay at home mom so I'm only away from him a few hours at a time a few days a week and can usually take him with me when needed. He definitely has separation anxiety. Ignoring it is hard because I live in a townhouse so I can't disturb the neighbors all day with the barking (thin walls) and in the off chance he isn't adopted and moves with us we will be renting then as well since we are a military family. So far he's had a lock mat and snuffle mat he likes! Doesn't help the barking though lol

So I have an associates degree as a RMA, but I've been out of the field for almost 10 years and have worked in vet med off and on since 2018. Mostly reception, but I have experience working both sides as I currently have to be front (reception) and back (assistant) on weekends. I only left to raise my kids. Now that two are old enough to start school I'm considering going back to be a LVT. I only need a 2 year degree, but of course this is something that has to be hands on for certain aspects. Is it a bad idea? I know I can go online through Pennfoster or whatever that is, but I haven't heard great things about that program. I'm also bad at science so it scares me. Idk if any of my old college credits would even transfer since I've been out for almost 10 years. Idk maybe I should just stay home, but I love my field. It's hard, but so rewarding. I also work in rescue so if I don't go back to school I will most likely just volunteer with shelters and rescues which I think would be equally rewarding. I'm someone who needs to keep busy to keep my mind from wandering so either of these would be good for my mental health. I love my kids, but now that I'm back to work at my old clinic and fostering again I'm finally started to feel more "me" and less just mom. I've also read that they have scholarships for military spouses.

So I have an associates degree as a RMA, but I've been out of the field for almost 10 years and have worked in vet med off and on since 2018. Mostly reception, but I have experience working both sides as I currently have to be front (reception) and back (assistant) on weekends. I only left to raise my kids. Now that two are old enough to start school I'm considering going back to be a LVT. I only need a 2 year degree, but of course this is something that has to be hands on for certain aspects. Is it a bad idea? I know I can go online through Pennfoster or whatever that is, but I haven't heard great things about that program. I'm also bad at science so it scares me. Idk if any of my old college credits would even transfer since I've been out for almost 10 years. Idk maybe I should just stay home, but I love my field. It's hard, but so rewarding. I also work in rescue so if I don't go back to school I will most likely just volunteer with shelters and rescues which I think would be equally rewarding. I'm someone who needs to keep busy to keep my mind from wandering so either of these would be good for my mental health. I love my kids, but now that I'm back to work at my old clinic and fostering again I'm finally started to feel more "me" and less just mom.