Any other truckers with young kids? How do you handle it?

Im typeless over this one. Home 2 days a month and they're not missing anything? I'd ask them. I realize people have to try and justify doing this to their kids but it doesn't really wash, but may help you sleep at night.

 

good post , wooly. its does the kids no good if there isn't money to survive and live a nice life. I have always wanted my kids to have better , so I sacrificed my self for them, their mom has done a good job, and they have a dad who will provide for them.

I think to use kids at home to justify why they want to be home all the time, it does kids no good for you to be home while their bellies swell up like Ethiopian children in the throes of malnutrition.

and in todays age of e-mail, Skype, instant messaging, unlimited phone service, texting its a piece of cake to stay in touch. back in the days of once a week collect phone calls, than it was tough. as wooly said, man up and provide.

 

and you use the exact opposite justification. mine are 34 to 17 , they all survived and thrived with me being on the road.

its all in the quality of time spent not the quantity.

 

please, I been at it 34 years. mine are 34 to 17 with 3 grandkids, they are just fine. you have no idea. lol, local or ltl. you guys are funny

 

Like I said, you need to justify it. All good, I understand while I could never have done that to mine. To much fun during those years!

 

My dad is retired military but when I was a kid he would be gone for months at a time and it was so exciting to see him when he came home. I think your kids can take you being gone for a few weeks. They may actually like you being gone so they can smoke ecigs and watch porn.

 

Your mileage will definitely vary, all kids aren't the same.

I've given a ride to another driver to get his truck and he had toddlers.
You could here the pain in his voice when he spoke with them and couldn't be home for a good 2-3 weeks.
Also, one would need a LOT of built up trust with their SO, seemed like a ticking time bomb for younger couples ( < 30)

For me, it wouldn't be worth it. Too much of a hassle, too much risk and hardly any money saved.

 

And even if you think the kids aren't missing out YOU are! You can't get back these years and memories.

 

If you live in a good area for local but cant get on from the start. put in 6 to 12 mo. then you can take your pick. If you have a clean license. That is what I did and my only son was 4 but by his 5th birthday I was off the road and home every day. Leaving was harder on my wife than it was my son. Just think back 6 mo it seems like yesterday. I would recommend driving otr first it will make the local work seem like a joke. There are guys where I work now with no otr experiance that call out after driving a 400 mile day. which only makes me look better. Good luck to you.