New oilfield mommy

Lori - posted on 11/14/2008

I totally understand. We moved over several states & far away from family so my husband could work in the oilfield. He is gone 21 days & then home 21 days. Just remember that the holidays are not about the calendar date that they fall on but that they are about the time & memories you make when you are together. This year we are celebrating Xmas on Jan 9th. & we can't wait. Heck, who wouldn't wanna shop after the holiday for kids gifts. I am excited about all the sales. hang in there!

Keely - posted on 11/14/2008

I totally understand! my husband works on call for a casing company and out of teh 5 years we have been together, we have had 2 thankgivings together and one christmas. the rest he has been working! He has no schedule so i only make plans for me and even then they often go out the window!

Shantal - posted on 11/10/2008

My Husband has worked in the oil feild for 2 years now, we have one son right now and it has been hard with him gone. I am the first out of all my firends to have a child and it is really hard because sometimes the just don't understand! Where we live now I don't know anyone so it can be lonley at times! My family live close so that is nice. My husband usually works in Alberta (we live in Alberta) but now he is working in Mexico and it is really hard because I can't even talk to him. I am having a hard time adjusting to that. We have been together for 4 years and this is the first time I have not been able to talk to him. I am used to being alone alot, but not being able to talk to him really makes it hard! I am a stay at home mom and I am very happy that I have that have that time with my son, I was going to go back to work but I had a very demanding job and I thought that one of us should be around on a regular basis. Holidays are hard we were lucky that he was home for the birth of our son, came home 2 days before I had him. The only holiday that he has been around for in 2 years is his son's first birthday and that was great!!

Michelle - posted on 11/01/2008

We have been in the oil field for 6 years. We also live away from family. It is hard because we have not made alot of friends. I stay home and we have 4 kids, I also homeschool. I have learned to be flexible and take advantage of the times when he is off. The hardest is when he is working nights. I cannot sleep when he is gone! We try to plan ahead for birthday's or holidays and celebrate them when he is off. Sometimes it takes being REALLY spontanious for this, but we make it work. I get frusterated because the town we live in is expensive and it seems like for all the work they do they should be making more money.

Daylene - posted on 10/31/2008

I agree with what you are saying as my husband used to work a job like that. He would work two hours from home and would drive everyday. I would get to see him for an hour each night and then he had to go to bed. He worked pipelines and when you start a job there are no days off until the job is finished, which could take up to five or six months. If he took a day of he lost his position as, the job must go one. He now works a ten and four schedule. He is gone from home and home for four. He has recently been doing 17 and 18 days on and 4 off. It gets terribly lonely. I do have my children though but the adult conversation really lacks, along with a little sanity. We just moved into a new town as well and don't know many people. Anyway, just wanted to let you know your not alone!

Chelsea - posted on 10/29/2008

My husband and I moved from NS to Alberta in April 2005, so he could work as a Tester in the oilfield. That November I found out I was pregnant. We were 5000+ miles away from family and friends and my husband was gone away for months at a time. My pregnancy was difficult b/c he was gone so much, and then after the baby was born it was very lonely as well. Luckily I made some wonderful friends through my "stroller-cise" class and other mommy groups, and made friends with other oilfield wifes/moms. When our husbands were gone away we would get together, have coffee, let the kids play and vent to each other about the diffculties of being an oilfield wife. If it wasn't for that, I'm pretty sure I would have gone crazy. Holidays we would do much the same thing as well, and the kids birthdays. I agree with recreating the holiday if need be......and the kids love having more than one birthdays party! lol

We have since moved back to NS. My husband is still working in the same industry and works away, but not near as much. We travel to Alberta frequently to visit with the friends we made there. I appreciate the time I had without my husband around as much, becuase it definately made me a sronger person and more independent.

Jami - posted on 10/24/2008

That's a good idea!! I'm trying to get used to doing things without him, but it's hard. I guess I'm just gonna have to "mommy up" and get it taken care of!

Kimberly - posted on 10/23/2008

I totally understand. I can never make plans because I never know if he's going to be home or not. It is hard. I make plans for holidays and I stick to them with or without my husband. If he misses the holiday we try to have a smaller version of it at our house when he gets home. For example, we had TG in December last year and it was kind of fun.