For the Firefighters
What makes the fire life the fire life? The firefighters! While the fire wives hold down the fort at home, the firefighters are out fighting fires, going on medical calls, sleeping sporadically, and missing their families back home. No one quite understands a firefighter’s life like another firefighter.
It doesn’t end at work.
Just because you leave the station, it doesn’t mean your work is done. Supporting your wife and family on little to no sleep takes a lot of strength. You may have to be a functional loving husband, dad, repairman, boss, employee at a second job, house cleaner, or any other position you take on away from the station. You are not only heroes at work, but heroes at home with your family as well.
What to Say to Your Firefighter When He’s Had a Bad Call
You can feel the air turn tense before a word is even said. You know it was a bad shift. Something must have happened to make such a drastic change in your firefighter. Maybe he is angry, or silent, or sad....you just know something isn't right. Do you ask about it?...
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When a Firefighter is Irritable, Grumpy, and Disengaged When He’s Home
This article is so important because we’ve all been there yet so few admit it and talk about it. There is no shame in relating to this or even sharing this post. You never know who is suffering and needs these words. Let’s just start with these words straight from the...
read more
Is Alcohol Tearing Your Firefighting Family Apart?
Most of us keep a pretty regular schedule. We go to sleep and wake up at pretty much the same time every day. We have our weekday routine and our weekend routine. Our bodies are keeping track of our routines as well—physically and mentally. So many of our bodily...
read more
21 Days on the Path to a Sober Firefighter – Finale
If you have been following the journey of this firefighter committing to his marriage, career, and family by getting sober, you know how powerful his story is. If you need to catch up on the previous posts, read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. DAY 14 I think I know why...
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21 Days on the Path to a Sober Firefighter – Part 2
If you have not read Part 1 of this powerful story, click here to catch up. Below is a story of one firefighter who took sobriety into his own hands for 21 days and documented his journey to a healthier firefighter, father, and husband. DAY 6 Duty Day. Normally this...
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21 Days on the Path to a Sober Firefighter – Part 1
We are all familiar with the stress of not just the fire life as far as scheduling, long shifts, and difficult communication go. The firefighters are the ones facing the difficult calls and trying to figure out how to deal with them emotionally. There has to be a...
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Avoid Putting Callouses in the Hearts of Your Loved Ones
"One more minute Daddy" We have a ritual with our oldest child, Ayla, who is three years old. We finish each nightly bedtime routine by starting with three, and counting down the minutes until it’s time to go to sleep. She decided on her own one night, that after one...
read more
Firefighters: You Aren’t Bigger Than Anything the Fire Service Can Throw At You
Be Honest. Be Real. It's the false bravado "I'm a bigger bad ass than anything this job can throw at me" mentality that's causing dudes to irresponsibly drink, leave their wives and kids or worse yet, eat a bullet. Talking about how you really feel doesn't make you...
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March #servefirst Do the WOD for Firefighter Fitness
Please welcome our guest writer and #servefirst partner for March, Larry Manasco of 555Fitness.com. #servefirst is our first of the month reminder to be givers first and contribute to a good cause. This month the cause is the fitness of our firefighters. If you...
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What to Say to Your Firefighter When He’s Had a Bad Call
You can feel the air turn tense before a word is even said. You know it was a bad shift. Something must have happened to make such a drastic change in your firefighter. Maybe he is angry, or silent, or sad....you just know something isn't right. Do you ask about it?...
When a Firefighter is Irritable, Grumpy, and Disengaged When He’s Home
This article is so important because we’ve all been there yet so few admit it and talk about it. There is no shame in relating to this or even sharing this post. You never know who is suffering and needs these words. Let’s just start with these words straight from the...
Is Alcohol Tearing Your Firefighting Family Apart?
Most of us keep a pretty regular schedule. We go to sleep and wake up at pretty much the same time every day. We have our weekday routine and our weekend routine. Our bodies are keeping track of our routines as well—physically and mentally. So many of our bodily...
Avoid Putting Callouses in the Hearts of Your Loved Ones
"One more minute Daddy" We have a ritual with our oldest child, Ayla, who is three years old. We finish each nightly bedtime routine by starting with three, and counting down the minutes until it’s time to go to sleep. She decided on her own one night, that after one...
read more
Father’s Day Advice from Hallmark
All credit for the Father's Day holiday this year goes to Hallmark. Who can say it better? I'm that girl who gets choked up reading the cards in the aisle at the grocery store. And the one who bawled her eyes out at all those Hallmark commercials (well, they were...
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Top 5 Signs Your Husband Needs to “Know His Numbers”
You know what makes relationships so difficult? There can be a million and one reasons why one of you is "off" and two million and one chances for the partner to not notice. Was it something I said? Boy, that topic always sets us off! He sure is extra grumpy today....
read more
When a Firefighter is Irritable, Grumpy, and Disengaged When He’s Home
This article is so important because we’ve all been there yet so few admit it and talk about it. There is no shame in relating to this or even sharing this post. You never know who is suffering and needs these words. Let’s just start with these words straight from the...
read more