Any Drilling/Mining Families out there?

Crystal - posted on 08/08/2010

My husband and I moved to Lima Peru so he could work for his Fathers minning corp. He drills ventalation shafts for solid minning corportations. My husband leaves every 6 weeks to travel to Brazil for a month at a time. In the past I have spent three months away from him numerous times.I spent a year away from him while he worked in Africa. We have an 8month old son who is my life. Its hard on both of us. In my sons 8months of being alive he has missed 4 of those months. I too understand being a stay home mom. I live in a country where I dont speak the language, no friends or family. I do have my husband, he loves me very much, and I have my friends and family through Skype, if you dont have it get it, your life will change. I have my son, my self. Being proud of my husband I found is very important I dont hurt as much because I believe in him. The most important thing is I have God. Its hard, I have been doing this for 10 years now and I still love my husband more than anything. It is nice to know that I am not alone, I have you girls. Thank You!

Stephanie - posted on 08/07/2010

You should check out the group "Mommies whose husbands work in the oil fields" It is for people like us. I am an oilfield wife and I love it! I understand the communication needs as when my hubby first started, he did not get to call or video chat or anything. Now, Skype is a wonderful thing and, if not, no news is good news. I'm a very independent person and him traveling is great with me. I spoil him rotten when he is home and I get to run the home and the kids, for the most part, as I see fit. Don't get me wrong . . . we are partners in this endeavor, it just makes it easier for him because I love him and want him home, but I don't NEED him. So, he can rest assured that life will continue on and he doesn't have to worry. It doesn't work for everyone, but it works well for us. He has been in traveling jobs pretty much the last 14 years of our marriage. Life is good.

JESSIE - posted on 07/26/2010

my husband works in the diamond driller section of mining, we have just started this life, its his first time home, and he goes again in 2 days time. we have a 6 month old baby boy and im 4 months pregnant again with another, so yes, i understand how u feel.

Alicia - posted on 06/25/2010

I totally know how you feel. My husband works up on the North Slope in Alaska & has been on a 2 week on 2 week off schedule for 17 years. We've been together for 4 years and it was hard but manageable before Wesley. Now, as Wesley gets older, it's getting a lot harder on me & by the time he gets home, I'm ready to scream (which I did last time).
I work full time which makes it even harder - most of my mom friends are stay-at-home moms & none of my work friends have kids so I'm stuck in a weird no-woman's-land 60% of the time.
To help keep me sane & to give him some time to bond with the baby, we decided that every 6 weeks, I get to take a weekend trip away. Every week that he's back, we have at least 1 date night where we get a babysitter and go out to a nice dinner.
Meanwhile, Dean speaks to Wes on speakerphone every night & is looking into getting a Skype account. It' hard, but we're figuring out how to make it work. It's nice to know there are other families out there making it work too! Thanks for asking the question.

Michelle - posted on 06/23/2010

my husband work week on week off. True we've only been together for three years but I still miss him when he's away, I can feel the changes in my emotions. My husband is in the coal mines in central queensland austalia. I'm a stay at home mum too. I suppose the only thing that I can see that happens alot is because hubby isn't home very often then I tend to sweep the bad stuff under the carpet but that's not fair on him if he annoys me he wants me to let him know so we can sort them out before they become too big a problem.

Rachel - posted on 06/04/2010

BTW, my husband is currently working in Red Lake.

Rachel - posted on 06/04/2010

I'm a diamond driller's wife ... and know what you mean. We don't live near family and I only know a couple of people from church a little. My husband works 4-6 weeks and home for 2. We get to talk every day pretty much. I stay home with the kids also. We have 3 - 3 yrs 4 mo, 2 yrs 1 mo and a 4 month old. It's not easy. I'd love to correspond with you and be an encouragement!

Amy - posted on 05/25/2010

my husband works on the oil rigs as well. He is a serviceman which means that he is on call all the time and goes when required, it also means that we dont know when he will be home once he leaves! But its not usually an excessively long time but its hard not to be able to look forward to a day that I know he will be home. We get to talk on the phone for 10-20mins depending on the rig and sometimes are able to talk over the internet.

Im pregnant with baby #1 after trying for 3 years. He has missed a few scans but we have been lucky to have him home for the major things like our anomaly scan.

Its a hard way to live but I remember everyday that hes doing this for our family. Your certainly not alone, and there are some days i just dont cope well with it all, and im very nervous about having a baby on my own when hes away!

Nicole - posted on 05/25/2010

My husband works in ALaska on an oil rig out on the North slope and we live in California. Luckily his rig is 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. That is hard enough for me!! When he works over its 6 weeks before he gets back home. I totally know how hard it is. I am a stay at home mom also. I have met a few moms lately at church and now we are having play dates with the kids and chatting it has helped pass the time. Someone just started a circle of moms group for our city and i a m meeting other moms in my city that way. You should see if they have one where you are and if not start one that way you can make some mommy friends. Best of luck!! You are not alone!!

Nichole - posted on 05/17/2010

My husband works on an oil rig so I am competely understanding! Some times he is so far in the middle of nowhere and barely gets a cell signal so there is no internet! It is a horrible feeling!

Tisha - posted on 05/14/2010

OMG our stories are identical my husband works as a natural gas driller out of province as well and is away from home 3 weeks out of the month and It does get very lonely We have 2 kids a 3.5 year old and a 6 months old our 3 year old ask me everyday where her daddy is and it's not easy to deal with he misses out on alot I too am a stay at home mom originally from Ontario and don't know alot of people were I live we too communicate by the internet for only 30mins a night since he works 12hr shifts and needs to sleep . I never thought I would find some one else in the same situation your not alone hum