Home is Ground Zero: Where Signs of Firefighters Struggling First Appear
It's important to unpack and assess the life experiences packed into our mental backpacks.
Read This Article
Family
People love a person in uniform and firefighters are at the top of that list. While most firefighters can start a new relationship with ease, some may lack the knowledge of how to turn it into a more meaningful partnership beyond the initial stage. We focus not only on dating and marriage but also on the relationships that firefighters have with other family members, friends and fellow firefighters.
Latest: Family
The Dichotomy of Family and Work: Where Priorities Lie
What is important to you? Is it your title, salary, or pension? This question is answered easily if you ask someone while they’re at work. Their mind is set on self-promotion and envisioning a solid retirement. But what if you asked this question to someone when they are off duty? Would their answer change? “Money,” “family,” “my kids' education?” I think the question is harder to answer for someone who just sat down after mowing their lawn. Why is this?
Read This Article
We Didn’t Start the Fire
In 1989, Billy Joel, a great American musician (for you young people), released “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The song covers nearly every major figure and event between 1949 (the year Joel was born) and 1989, in three minutes. The premise of the hit piece was to outline all the major events one may experience in their lifetime, emphasizing that no one is immune to hard times.
Read This Article
Relationship Out of Balance? What it Looks Like & What to Do
All relationships suffer from resentment at some point. What causes resentment in long-term relationships? Does it have to happen? Is it inevitable? The cause of resentment is often the perception of an unbalanced relationship. It’s not the ONLY cause, but it is a primary issue.
Read This Article
Firefighter Parents and Teenagers: Navigating Challenges and Strengthening Connections
The unwavering courage of firefighters is undeniable. But what about when they head home? Firefighters as parents face unique challenges when raising teenagers - ask anyone who survived those infamous years. Erratic schedules, the constant unpredictable nature, and the emotional toll of the job can create a gap in communication and understanding. However, with a little effort, firefighter parents and teenagers can build strong, supportive relationships. One that might even pass the firefighting bug onto the next generation.
Read This Article
Behind the Uniform: 8 Ways to Keep Love Alive in First Responder Relationships
The unwavering commitment of first responders comes with undeniable challenges to personal lives. Erratic schedules disrupt family routines, and the emotional weight of the job can create communication barriers with partners. While the camaraderie within our teams is strong, fostering healthy relationships at home requires open communication and mutual understanding.
Read This Article
Basic Boundaries in Healthy Relationships
What do we mean by boundaries? Boundaries can be described as where you end and I begin. Or more succinctly, your personal boundaries are your limits. This includes physical distance/affection, time, mental, emotional or financial investments. Not everyone has the same boundaries, some people don’t have any at all! These people are often exhausted, resentful, and/or frustrated. Sound familiar?
Read This Article
Married To A Firefighter… Plan on Not Planning
This week’s been a strange one. In our family, there’s a lot to juggle. I work full-time, my husband is on call to go fight wildfires as well as work his regular shifts, and we have two kids who are highly engaged in sports, friends, and activities.
Read This Article
Anchoring Into What Matters (From Behind the Line S1E4)
There was a time a couple of years ago when my kids got curious about our family traditions. They started out asking about Christmas traditions, and we talked about the various traditions our family has incorporated over the years, like filling and opening our homemade advent calendars, going out to cut down our own Christmas tree, the music we choose when we decorate the tree… Through these conversations, I realized how much we have built over the years, and how these highlight what we value about the season.
Read This Article
Finding Balance as a Caregiver and Firefighter
I changed instantly, in the moments of diagnosis, from not only a mother and firefighter but to my own family's caregiver. Routines, work, sleep, and even relationships were disrupted. It was hard to know where to turn for help.
Read This Article
