How do you guys make it work.otr and family

A strong support network on the homefront. My ex and I got a divorce because we had changed to much, I had gotten TO independant for him ( we were both in the Navy). Beleive it or not I was part of his "new" wifes suport network, she was/is almost my exact opposite. He would go out to sea and I would get calls from Stefenie asking how "to do" what ever or just because she was lonely ( they were in Hi, I was in Fl) some of those calls were killer on my sleep. She really didn't have a good suport network and I'm sure my ex loved the calls I made to to ship, I chewed him up one side and down the other about leaveing HER with no clue how to plung a toliet or check the oil in there car. ( I know someone was listening in, they musta been laughing their butt off).

Those are small things that turn into big problems if you don't know and don't have someone to ask.

Make sure the spouse has a good suport network.

For the kids, if they are old enough, start a map, used colored pins. Each trip, one color were you are going, a different color for where you have been and a special pin for where you are "tonight". Maybe. Get a magnetic board and buy a state for each one you go through, have the kids put them where they belong,relitively, on the board. Instead of buying silly trinkets for presents, get postcards, something that is indicative of that state. Say palm trees or an aligator for Florida or long horn cattle for Texas. A nice senic picture of a catus for Az.

Depending on age you might get the kids interested in the history or geography of an area you know you are going to go through, that way they have something to tell you besides " yeah school was ok". This would really work well with long haul.

You are going to miss the exact days of some things, like birthdays or an important game, can't be helped. If possible this is were video would come in handy, you may or may not be able to watch a live stream, but if you could see a short video of that "grandslam", hard catch or one song from a recital and be able to talk about that, it will go along way. To be able to say " the way you ran backwards to catch that ball." not the same as being their, but it shows you cared.

Keep up to date on everyones interests, includeing the spouse. Have the kids send out audio letters with you, if they can talk they can babble at you,

 

Well,everyone says this fits me Perfect Dear...enjoy.

 

ummm...ANY chance they say " #### boy you look JUST like Tim McGraw" hmmmm?
Ok,we'll I thought I'd give it a shot....LMAO... happy 4th of July folks,got to go to work now

 

Me too.Been off relaxing for a while here at the castle.I think it is time to go do a turn and make some money...Happy 4th..

 

Me too,so hard to leave a nice clean house and rush off to the "rat race,isn't it? Ugh Im dragging my arse!

 

Aireal, no such thing as a too independent "Navy" wife or other wife for that matter, IMHO! Sometimes the adjustments of when the other half is back can be a little dicey,but the one at home has to do what they have to do. I have been blessed with a wife that rolls with the punches and sometimes got me in "trouble" when she was treating the newer wives like adults and explaining "life" in the Navy to them while the Skipper's wife was irritated because the "fashion show" was being disrupted by real world events. Kids are all grown up now so she suffers through my next phase of life as an OTR trucker.

Takes a special individual to stay back and carry on while their significant other is out working/earning a living. Great points in how to stay connected. For the younger kids, reading them a bed time story will stick with them; mine still remember the stories I recorded. Mine were on cassettes (shows my age), but with todays technology, it isn't that hard to due in near real time. While it may not be easy, you can still stay connected with the family back home.

For the guys that get off on having the little woman back home relying on you to take care of everything, the will be come more independent to survive. If you can't/won't adapt to her not being relient on you, then kiss the relationship good bye.

Happy 4th of July!

 

*Triletter. Their were reasons. I didn't "consult" him enough being one of them. You've probably heard them all.

Another little thing, know everyones schedule. Ex; little Sally's history teacher likes to give tests on thursday, not friday. Wed night " you study for your history test?" Friday night "how did you do". I would probably try and know what era the tests were about. English you could even quiz on spelling tests.

 

Yes Yes Yes...Gets tougher and tougher everytime to leave my sanctuary and the Harley...I cleaned the whole house and did all the gardning and now i have to do a 5 day turn to S.D. and back...The good part is i am O/O and take alot of time off...Thank God....

 

No kids and I bring my wife with me.

 

My man is out until dec 19 or more, he may not be here for baby's first Christmas n won't b here for thanksgiving. n has been gone only a week I miss him so much.we have 3 kids, I don't like it. I know it is necessary, I know he is working hard for our family to have a good life. I love and support him on anything he wants to do, I may not like it and I may miss him, I just have to stay strong and remember why he is gone. He was a fisher man before this and would be gone 4 months and be home a couple months, it's all the same. It's a hard world out there Nd I am thankful that he is working for the family. I know he doesn't like it either but he loves us. Like I tell the kids.. Daddy is gone because he loves us so much, not because he wants to be away. Let's just love and support our men out there!