military Archives - Jo, My Gosh!, LLC

June 1

How to Grow Your Military Family’s Capacity for Empathy

by Meg FlanaganBefore March, so many of us were rushing around, blinders on, just trying to do all the things all day long. Then the whole world hit pause, hunkering down during the pandemic. Suddenly, we’re all moving forward in slow motion. Right now is the perfect time to build empathy skills! As we cautiously reopen America, take the time to help your military family see the needs of others.The breakdown in our society has helped to shine a light on previously hidden groups of people. We’ve suddenly realized just how vital delivery people and grocery store workers are to daily Keep Reading...

May 29

How Can I Safely Send Food in the Mail?

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Is there anything more lovely than eating food that has been made by someone who loves you, for you? And food can transport us to different times in our lives, with people we love and care about; it can remind us of stories and fond memories; it can make us feel like we're home, even when we're not.I'm often asked by Jo, My Gosh! readers about how to send food in care packages. If you've never done it, it can be a little intimidating. After all, food, improperly handled, can make someone sick. And it can have financial implications too-- you don't want to spend a ton of money on a care Keep Reading...

May 19

Run these 3 Free Military 5Ks This Summer

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Secret: I've always wanted to be a runner. But honestly, I've never really figured out what worked for me.I've walked 5 half-marathons and a bunch of 5Ks, and I love the camaraderie of doing something with other people, having a goal, and checking it off the list. But I've never actually run a race.Until the pandemic.I've started training using the Peloton app, and I've gotta say, I'm actually getting the hang of it and I'm excited to actually run longer distances now. I don't know if I'll ever be a long-distance runner, but the fact that I am actually running and liking it has me Keep Reading...

May 18

5 Ways Anyone Can Celebrate Military Appreciation Month

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union. All opinions are 100% mine.I'll be honest: before I married into the military, I had no idea what Military Appreciation Month was. I didn't even know there was a Military Appreciation Month. I'd never heard of Military Spouse Appreciation Day. I'd vaguely heard of Armed Forces Day. But had you asked me what military observances were in May, I would have only said Memorial Day. The truth is, May is jam-packed with observances: Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Children of Fallen Patriots Day, Armed Forces Keep Reading...

May 15

Can You Send Hand Sanitizer in a Care Package?

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I don't think I've thought about hand sanitizer ever in my life as much as I have in the last two months. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizer is all that's on everyone's minds. (Okay, okay. People are also thinking about paper towels and toilet paper.)For military families with deployed loved ones, another wrinkle to the pandemic chaos is an unsettling worry. Do their deployed loved ones have the supplies they need to stay safe?While I wish I could answer that question, I can't. What individual deployed groups have and don't have is subject to constant change, making it Keep Reading...

May 14

11 Tips to Handle Surprise Deployment Extensions Like a Pro

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by Meg FlanaganOh, man! That countdown was getting so, so, so close to zero. And then you're hit with an unexpected deployment extension.Like you weren’t just barely hanging on to your sanity already. No, you’re getting the military spouse gauntlet: surviving an extra undetermined amount of time before homecoming is even tentatively scheduled.Cool. Everything’s fine. Except we all know it’s NOT fine. Not even a little bit or at all. This sucks, plain and simple.But there really isn’t a way around or over this. You can only go through it. Buckle up for a wild ride, one which Keep Reading...

May 12

How to Make Video Chats (Actually!) Fun

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This is an unsponsored guest post.Hi, my name is Alex and I am one of the founders of pop.in.What is pop.in, you may ask? Pop.in is an app that brings friends, family, and loved ones together, from as near as down the street or as far away as around the globe, to play "game night" style games (more on that below) while on group video. When we built pop.in, our goal was to create a community that allows people who are separated by time and distance, like those in the military and their loved ones, to connect in unique and engaging ways.The need for connection has become even more Keep Reading...

May 11

Here’s How to Give Your MilKids Closure This School Year

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by Meg FlanaganWhen I walked out of my school on March 12, I had zero inklings that it would be my last day teaching for the school year. My teaching table is still covered with lessons for the week on March 16. Everything is neatly organized by group and topic, collated and stapled. Ready to go.And that’s where they’ll be when I walk back into my classroom, whenever that might be.I’m feeling at loose ends with how this school year “ended.” And if I’m feeling this way as a grown-up, I can imagine that the kids are feeling just as weird right now.Nothing will be the “same” as Keep Reading...

May 6

6 On-Point Gifts for Military Spouses

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This post is sponsored by Nakturnal. All opinions and work are my own.There's something wonderful about surprising a friend with a gift. Whether it's for Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Mother's Day, or "just because," a little happy mail lets someone know you're thinking of them and brightens their day. (And you all know how I feel about the power of the mail!)I've collected a few of my favorite gift ideas for military spouses. They're all owned by women (yay!) and most are military spouse or veteran-owned. (Double yay!)Take a look and let me know in the comments-- What Keep Reading...

May 4

Here’s How to Deal with Long or Extended Deployments

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by Meg FlanaganI’ve been around the military since way back 2008, right when the big Afghanistan troop surge was getting ready to kick off. Right when a lot of units and individual troops were staring down 9-16 month deployments on a regular basis. Long deployments suck. Really and truly they are awful.But you can deal with long deployments by doing a few crucial things in your prep and execution.Whether you were expecting this one to be longer than normal or it was a “fun surprise” that was just recently announced, it’s time to get into survival mode. Once you’ve got these key Keep Reading...

April 24

22 Easy Ways to Keep Military Kids Occupied During Lockdown

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by Meg FlanaganIt’s been 84 years since we first entered self-isolation. Or at least that’s how it feels.Already, my kids have burned through all the things I panic-purchased just prior this whole isolation thing kicked off. In my naivete, I thought that, surely, to young kids can’t possibly finish through 17 workbooks, several dozen crafts, and all the coloring pages that Michaels had to offer.How wrong I was.Which brings us to here, today, when I’m attempting to keep my own sanity while successfully keeping my children entertained. Oh, and also working while homeschooling. Keep Reading...

April 24

Here’s How to Snag $650 in Goodies for Your Military Child

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This post is sponsored by Blue Star Families. All opinions and work are my own.Deployment wrecks sleep habits.For anyone who has experienced the deployment of a loved one, you know this is true.Maybe you miss sleeping alongside your person.Maybe you're up all night with worries and a racing mind.Maybe it's the nightmares.Maybe you're trying to stay awake later--or wake up earlier-- to get a chance to speak with your loved one.Or maybe it's something else.When John was deployed, my sleep was a mess. And I'm normally a champion deep sleeper. I struggled, y'all. Keep Reading...

April 10

Do I Really Need to Teach My Military Child During the School Shut Down?

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by Meg FlanaganKids are loving this super-extended break from “traditional” school. No alarms or homework? Yes, please!Parents? Not so much.We still have our jobs to do, albeit remotely, while also having children home 24/7. Right now, you’re probably missing the battles over homework just as much as I am. Ah... the good old days: when kids left to go to a separate school building while we also went to a work building, meeting back at home for sports practice carpool and a quick bite before music lessons.Unfortunately, it seems that we are going to be stuck in this moment of Keep Reading...

April 6

11 Emails to Send During the Pandemic Shutdown

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by Meg FlanaganYou’re stuck at home and this pandemic stuff is getting really real. Social isolation is, well, isolating and lonely.Wouldn’t it be nice to have something pleasant and kind pop into your inbox every so often?We thought so, too!Snail mail seems kind of icky right now, what with all the licking of envelopes and the many, many hands that touch it on the journey from here to there. Email is fast, free, and equally rewarding. After all, you’ve got nothing to do but check your inbox every 15 minutes, hoping that something, anything of interest will arrive.When Keep Reading...

March 25

When Military Life Breaks Your Heart

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by Meg FlanaganIf there is one thing that’s certain about military life, it’s that, at some point, your heart is going to be broken. And not just once. Military life just keeps on breaking your heart, over and over again.I still vividly remember my first military heartbreak: My then-boyfriend had finally earned one weekend of leave during OCS. I had traveled down from New England via train because I needed to get grad school work done, to see him for less than 36 hours.Keep in mind: I was not raised in a military-connected family. I had lived in the same small town since 1986. I Keep Reading...

March 18

How to Deal with Military Life Uncertainty During a Pandemic

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by Meg FlanaganMovers were scheduled. Homecoming photographers were booked. Spring break was totally on track.Until basically the whole world shut down and everything stopped.Right now, everything is really up in the air and no one quite seems what’s happening next. Sounds kind of like military life all the time, huh?But this time, it’s literally everyone, everywhere around the whole world. We’ve still got to keep on, keepin’ on with military life as we all collectively lose our sense of future planning.It’s a lot to cope with, even when you’re used to handling the Keep Reading...

March 16

10 Ways to Be Patriotic in the Time of COVID-19

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My friends, America needs you.America needs us.And Americans always answer the call of our country. Throughout history, Americans have responded when times have gotten tough. When they've been scary. When they've been uncertain. As a people, we've made sacrifices. We've banded together and fought injustices. We've innovated and created. We've used our ingenuity and our hard work. We've worked as a team and done amazing things.Think of all of the things Americans have produced and accomplished. The literature. The scientific feats. The music. The infrastructure. The architectural Keep Reading...

March 15

Beware of Coronavirus Info from Milspouse Groups: Use These Sources

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In a time of fear and uncertainty, you need to listen to the authorities, not to a meme that someone shared. Not to your best friend's mom who got an A in high school biology. And not to your military spouse Facebook groups.Yeah, I said it.Sure, there are some folks in those Facebook groups who are sharing real, solid information straight from authorities. But most of it is a cesspool, y'all. And it worries me that many people are sharing information that is actually disinformation. It might not be intentional. But it still can be damaging.But no, you shouldn't drink bleach. Not if Keep Reading...

March 12

9 Reasons Military Families Need a Buyer’s Agent During a PCS

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This post is sponsored by PCSCashback.com. All opinions and work are my own.It's hard to believe that John and I have been homeowners for nearly three years. Those three years have given us insight and perspective. How should we have done this? Or that? What seemed like a good idea then wasn't the best choice after all.You live and you learn.But there's one thing we've never questioned: having a buyer's agent. Even now, we find ourselves talking about how important it was for us to find a buyer's agent. And how lucky we were. Because we were first-time homebuyers, we kind of just Keep Reading...

March 9

23 Deployment Bucket List Goals for St. Patrick’s Day

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Chances are, you probably have at least a little bit of Irish heritage in your family tree. And even if you don't, you probably don't mind too much when St. Patrick's Day comes around. On March 17, it seems that everyone is Irish. If you live near a city, you'll probably have ample ways to celebrate. If you're in a more rural area or living on base, the options might not be so plentiful.But here's the great news-- you can make your own celebration with your deployment bucket list.If you read Jo, My Gosh! a lot, you probably know that I am a huge proponent of deployment bucket lists. Keep Reading...

How to Grow Your Military Family’s Capacity for Empathy

How Can I Safely Send Food in the Mail?

Run these 3 Free Military 5Ks This Summer

5 Ways Anyone Can Celebrate Military Appreciation Month

Can You Send Hand Sanitizer in a Care Package?

11 Tips to Handle Surprise Deployment Extensions Like a Pro

How to Make Video Chats (Actually!) Fun

Here’s How to Give Your MilKids Closure This School Year

6 On-Point Gifts for Military Spouses

Here’s How to Deal with Long or Extended Deployments

22 Easy Ways to Keep Military Kids Occupied During Lockdown

Here’s How to Snag $650 in Goodies for Your Military Child

Do I Really Need to Teach My Military Child During the School Shut Down?

11 Emails to Send During the Pandemic Shutdown

When Military Life Breaks Your Heart

How to Deal with Military Life Uncertainty During a Pandemic

10 Ways to Be Patriotic in the Time of COVID-19

Beware of Coronavirus Info from Milspouse Groups: Use These Sources

9 Reasons Military Families Need a Buyer’s Agent During a PCS

23 Deployment Bucket List Goals for St. Patrick’s Day

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