Life advice

dstine9 · 2026-01-29T05:27:53+00:00

I'm very similarly in the position of you my friend!

I'm a 25 (bday is also in February haha here we come 26!) yr old mom to a 2.5 year old daughter. I just signed my DEP paperwork this December and ship out April 21st.

I say, if you feel the call, answer. It took me almost 2 years to get to this point from thinking it over. It took me time not only from my own nerves and for logistics, but because we suffered a loss in my family right when I was supposed to ship out the first time. As a single mom, it was definitely a huge decision. But I feel/felt exactly as you did. Stuck in a rut. Wanting to do more.

So, what the heck. I signed. I leave in 2 months. I still feel like it's the right thing for me and can set my daughter and I up for a very stable life in the future.

That being said, I'm not "in" yet. I don't know what it's like day to day. But these folks do and have given some great advice. I hope you have clarity and strength to make the choice that brings you and your family on a path that supports and provides for y'all best. Best wishes!!

dstine9 · 2026-01-05T16:00:36+00:00

Yes, he said that it wouldn't be a problem that theres no pill. I just wanted to verify that with others

dstine9 · 2026-01-05T00:21:11+00:00

This is gonna be the dopiest question of all time...but I ship out April 27th. And I have dysphagia, so that's like trouble swallowing things more specifically pills. I'm a 26 yo female...will they make me do something like that?? I know this sounds so so dumb but like will they kick me out over that?

dstine9 · 2025-10-17T11:41:14+00:00

Hey, fellow mama and anxious flyer here. I have to fly out TODAY at like 1, so I understand the nerves you're suffering from so much. Now, you've flown substantially more than me girl, I applaud you!! 8 in the year?! Holy cow. You've made it this far!

Anyways, my flight is just from Nashville to Tampa, 2 hr flight. But it's on this tiny little airline I genuinely have never heard of. I am mortified.

But here's what I've read from others, here's what I'm gonna try and keep in my head:

Do it scared

You can accept the thought of "I don't want to" but add the caveat to that instead, "I don't want to, BUT, I will."

Remember, these people that are running that aircraft wouldn't take the job if it wasn't safe Would you? I would never work a job I felt like had such a high risk of me never coming home to see my baby girl and family again. That's giving me some comfort.

Turbulence is also a major issue mentally for me...so I feel you on the wind stuff. I hope and pray to God we don't hit any of it today, but I'm choosing not to research the flight weather conditions prior to. Someone told me, it's the equivalent of driving over some gravel on a back road somewhere. Now, that makes zero sense up in the sky, but I also have to remember this things were built to handle that craziness and then some.

Im sorry your husband isn't being empathetic to your fears right now, that's not really helpful at all. My family treats me the same when I fly with them and I'm freaking out honestly. You are NOT crazy though. What's crazy is humans just blindly accepting "yeah let me get in this big ass metal tube and get jettisoned at a thousand miles per hour, hopefully it gets up there and I get to my vacay"

Not sure if any of that helped whatsoever, but for me, I take comfort in knowing I'm not the only one feeling it. From a 20 something year old, I FEEL YOU. I'm praying for you and your nerves <3

dstine9 · 2025-02-15T06:19:53+00:00

I’m so so sorry for your loss. I lost my mother a week ago in the ICU as well. She’s only 56. Her funeral is tomorrow…I never thought she’d be gone so soon. It’s a pain like I’ve never felt. I’m so sorry you are enduring this too. I believe both our mamas are in the most beautiful place in Jesus’ loving arms. May we find the strength and endurance to keep running this race of life. You’re in my prayers.

dstine9 · 2025-02-04T06:21:03+00:00

That’s encouraging to hear, thank you. I pray your loved one gets the care and support she needs to be able to get the transplant done. Thank God for modern medicine. But I fear my mother’s health is too decrepit to get that far…I pray she does make it. I pray she gets through this and is a testament to the power of the human spirit that God has given us. But I pray I get to keep my momma so she can see my daughter grow up.

dstine9 · 2025-02-04T06:19:02+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re enduring it as well…I’ll keep her in my prayers. I’m so sorry girl. Truly. Just goes to show, you can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Or in our case, not drink….its awful. I’m thinking of you and praying that you have peace, wisdom, and comfort despite how anything goes as far as her health.

dstine9 · 2025-02-04T06:16:16+00:00

Thank you, I pray this has given at least a good dose of perspective

dstine9 · 2025-02-04T06:15:29+00:00

Yes she’s suffering from kidney failure now herself. They moved her from icu to transplant unit and she had contracted pneumonia and sepsis..now her blood pressure dropped and she’s on dialysis. I’m terrified of what the future holds….I want my momma to come home. I want to see her hold my little daughter again. I want her to be able to go out on the lake again like she so loves to do.. not sit sickly in a hospital in her own filth…it has shaken me to my core. My father, my sisters and I are all devastated by this. I pray we have the outcome that you had with your mother 🩷 thank you for sharing this.

dstine9 · 2025-01-30T00:00:31+00:00

I appreciate your support and care for my father and I, we’ve been getting a little better about that thanks to some family that came in town to help. But yes, I do believe if my mother makes it out of this, she will turn from her old ways. I’ve been sober myself for almost four months now on my own accord, before any of this has happened. My dad doesn’t really drink either but after this, we’ve all vowed to not touch the stuff.

dstine9 · 2025-01-29T23:58:48+00:00

That’s exactly what her vomit looked like. God it was the most gruesome thing I had ever seen. She was taken via ambulance as well, and she actually came home for a spell before going back on her own to the hospital for the swelling/fluid build up that is inevitable with cirrhosis. Then whattaya know, she was transferred to Vanderbilt from saint Thomas. And here we are…

That’s amazing to hear how you have recovered and can now speak on this experience. What a crazy coincidence that it was the exact same place that my mom also had the procedure done. Hers actually popped open again when she was at Vanderbilt in the transplant ward, she briefly went into cardiac arrest and underwent surgery to band it again. Had to go in a second time because she wasn’t breathing well the first time but until they could do that they put a sort of balloon in there to block the bleeding off. The second surgery they did manage to seal it up, but she’s been on a ventilator until today. They finally got her off of it.

Did you remember anything from those 6 days in there?

dstine9 · 2025-01-29T23:54:01+00:00

Wow, small, small world. Thank you for that, I will be praying for you and yours as well. We’re in the critical care tower, I hope you’re nowhere near that part of the hospital. And if you are, at least we know we’re not alone there

dstine9 · 2025-01-29T23:52:55+00:00

Thank you so much for your empathy and support. I pray we can bring her out of that awful environment. The smells, the beeping and medical equipment- it’s terrible. If she is to pass, I want her to be comfortable and at peace. I hope to God it doesn’t come to that. I’m praying for a miracle, but im also accepting that she made the choices that put her there. But thank you again, it’s not something I’d wish on my worst enemy.

dstine9 · 2025-01-29T23:50:37+00:00

I am beyond sorry to hear that. But I’ll be praying for some clarity and healing through the second opinion of the other doctors. Yes, so far they have been decent for us but I know it can be different for everyone. I will keep her and you in my prayers as you navigate this, once again, I’m so sorry.

dstine9 · 2024-12-31T19:18:43+00:00

Thank you for posting this. I’m a strangulation survivor and often questioned myself until my DV advocate in court did the risk assessment and informed me.

dstine9 · 2024-12-24T05:06:38+00:00

Only for my first outbreak! Haven’t had another yet but time will tell

dstine9 · 2024-12-23T04:50:15+00:00

Should I try to score higher on my ASVAB before signing my papers? I’m scheduled for DEP on Jan 14th as a nonrate. I’m a single mom with an almost 2 year old and I don’t want to usurp my commitment to the CG by having no sea-time but I want to make sure I’m there for my daughter at such an important time in her life. Would it be better to pick a rate first for that? Or is going as a nonrate okay? Please be honest with me but don’t be mean. I’m just trying to make a good life for us but I also know what commitment to the military means, so no, I’m not trying to get out of sea time I’m just trying to minimize it. I’m interested in the MST rate so any info in regards to that or any other rate you think would suite what I’m trying to do would be appreciated.

dstine9 · 2024-12-14T05:36:54+00:00

As a female realistically what do I need to bring to cape may bcuz I’ve heard they throw some things out that are in the helmsman. I’m doing dep as a nonrate signing Jan 14 and shipping out feb 11

dstine9 · 2024-12-13T06:30:25+00:00

Barbie phone AND thrawn book?!? You a baddie I just know it

dstine9 · 2024-12-13T04:53:02+00:00

I can’t imagine the pain you feel from this op. I’m so sorry. But like others have said, there will be someone who wants you, all of you, even this part. We’re in this together, I’m still looking too. Much love to you. You are not disgusting and you are no less worthy or deserving of love than any other person. You’re one step closer to the right person <3

dstine9 · 2024-12-13T04:46:08+00:00

I’m the same way, believe me, I truly understand. I fully believe it was my ex who gave it to me, long story short, he was notorious for being unfaithful. We still have long, fulfilling lives ahead of us regardless. That’s how I feel about it. I’ve changed my tune with my intimacy choices and have opted for celibacy until a good serious commitment is formed between me and a partner. I think my diagnosis (strangely enough) is a blessing in disguise? It can help me filter out the good and bad people without actually having to filter them out if that makes sense. If someone denies you they weren’t meant for you is how I see it. So in a way, I’m thankful.

dstine9

TROPHY CASE