Keeping the fire burning...

Ginger - posted on 02/11/2010

My husband works 5/24 then a 6 day. We have 4 kids and I just went back to work. I work on my hubby's days off so the kids always have one of us home with them. It's tough, esp. now with me working. We maybe get one date a month. We connect on Facebook a lot. We try to write eachother at least once a shift plus we text like crazy. As much as I hate not talking face to face, we have to stay connected in some way. It works for us.

Angie - posted on 02/10/2010

I know this isn't "date" material but my husband & I have a journal that we pass back and forth. I keep it for a day & write - what the kids did, or how I am feeling, or something I want to talk to him about or just whatever & then give it to him. He keeps it a day or so & then writes back. This really helps us to feel connected to each other even though we barely see each other. (We have 4 kids, ages 7 and under. He does 24/48 but works a 2nd job)

We put our kids to bed at 8pm & are VERY strict about that since on the nights that he is home that is our time. If the kids do get out of bed we tell them, "This is Mommy & Daddy's time together. You need to go back to bed."

When we only had 2 kids my in-laws would keep them for 1 weekend every month - this was FABULOUS! Also, if you can find another family with kids similar ages to yours you may be able to arrange a babysitting swap. If you can find another FF family you can do dates during the day.

Rebecca - posted on 01/15/2010

Hi Marie, I have two kids and my husband and I own our own side business so even when he's off shift, he's working! I feel your pain. The thing we found worked for us was finding someone who can watch the kids for a couple hours so we could go to lunch or dinner. We also started doing movie night after the kids go to bed. We stay down stairs and snuggle together on the couch to watch a movie.

We also make time during the day to stay in touch, we text message and call, even if it's only for a few minutes.

Talk to other 'firewives', try to arrange a play date for you and your kids! Kids go to a friends and Mom and Dad get some alone time.

Marisol - posted on 01/07/2010

My husband works 24hours/3days and on his time off he holds a part-time job (that you could say is another full time job). I have a 6yr and a 3yr and when they were little it was hard. We would spend family day together. Then put the kids to sleep by 7:30 or 8 and that would be our time together. We would sometimes ask for one of our parents to babysit (and since they were asleep it would be easy on them) so we might go out or just stay in to watch a movie. This alone time give us the chance to bond, talk and catch up on each lives. Hope this helps!

Stephanie - posted on 08/11/2009

hi!!! my husband also works 24/48 but then again the over time kicks in and really doesn't have those days off. so what we do is have a main calendar in the kitchen with pretty much everything on there including his crazy schedule. We then literally write "date" night on at least two days on the calendar just for us! Even if it's something little, money is tight these days and our families aren't getting any smaller! :0) Another HUGE thing that is always good get out with some of the wives in the dept. we have three munchkins, 8,5,almost 2 and us ladies need a break even if it's while our men are working! While all of these are good things for alone time don't 4get family time! We usually do a saturday night mass or sunday morming mass!!! Well i hope some of the things we use can help you ladies as well! God bless you're firefighter and your families!!!

Alicia - posted on 07/05/2009

Hello ladies, my husband works 24/48, then sometimes an odd job here or there on his days off. I dispatch also. One thing I have learned to do is have some imagination. It is very difficult to do but the end result is a blast. For example after the kids went to bed (mine are 8&9 old enough for me to tell them its date night) then we will do a puzzle together, play cards, or games. Our best date night...we had a spa night. There are all kinds of things online for home spa treatments. It was so much fun and we ended up laughing and falling asleep. Like I said the hardest thing is using your imagination and putting the kids to bed!! LOL Good luck

Karen - posted on 07/04/2009

It's not easy but it takes work. My husband is on 24/48 schedule and I am a stay at home mom as well. We have a 4 1/2 yr old & a 7 month old. I am hoping once the 7 mth old is a little older we will be able to get more time alone (she's breastfeeding) but just enjoying the time we do have together. We are fortunate to have my in-laws only 5 mins away and always willing to watch the kids so we can do stuff together.



I would suggest trying to find another family on the fd in the same situation. When the kids are old enough you can trade sitting duties.



We try to do stuff during the day together away from home with the kids just so we don't get stuck in a rut of housework & yardwork when he's off. Trips to the zoo, museums, park, bike rides & walks. Little stuff but at least we are not home the whole day.