Truckers wives, regardless of whether they on the road wives or off the road wives, have to spend long amounts of time away from their husband or partner. This could be something permanent or merely just to take care of some paperwork or some business in their personal lives. It is something that happens to all of us and it is never easy.
I often have these questions put to me: -
"How does this time apart affect your son?"
The truth is that I think that it affects him less than it does me. I cry a little and sulk for the first couple of days and my little guy who is so strong and brave looks at me as if to say, "Come on Mum, pull yourself together. Lets go to the park." He really does not know any different than having his father gone most of the time.
"How is the relationship between your son and his father?"
They have a great relationship. He is so excited whenever my husband comes home and they have so much fun running around together, doing some outside housework with tools and wrestling in the lounge. Things that Mummy isn't so good at.
I also do my best to encourage their relationship while my husband is away.
Here are a list of things I do to help him:
"How are the family roles working out?"
I won't lie, this has been a bit of a challenge. We are a traditional family and that means when my husband comes home he is in charge. The consequences of this have been that when my husband leaves my little guy will for a couple of days, test his boundaries to see how much his Mum will give in.
"Won't it mess up your kids in the long run?"
It's hard to say for sure, but when I have my doubts I always think back on history. Within the entire human races history all the way back to our beginnings, many of the men have had to leave out to fulfill their rolls as men and provide for their family. This included hunting, going to war, being a merchant or going to the next town on business, men would leave their wives and children behind for extended periods of time and most of their children grew up just fine.
"As a truckers wife how do you handle it?"
It has been difficult being away from my husband, but I try to be as accepting as possible and just keep moving forward. I keep as busy as I can while my husband is gone. I work, hang out with friends, write, go to the gym, go to the park, go to the library and go to church. When I get tired or worn out I find a babysitter and have a break. As a parent, I don't want my son to ever feel like there is something wrong when his father is gone for long periods of time and I do my best make this so.
I often have these questions put to me: -
"How does this time apart affect your son?"
The truth is that I think that it affects him less than it does me. I cry a little and sulk for the first couple of days and my little guy who is so strong and brave looks at me as if to say, "Come on Mum, pull yourself together. Lets go to the park." He really does not know any different than having his father gone most of the time.
"How is the relationship between your son and his father?"
They have a great relationship. He is so excited whenever my husband comes home and they have so much fun running around together, doing some outside housework with tools and wrestling in the lounge. Things that Mummy isn't so good at.
I also do my best to encourage their relationship while my husband is away.
Here are a list of things I do to help him:
- Skype calls with the webcam (this is also how he has contact with my parents, so it becomes the norm for him);
- Having my husband on speaker phone in the evening;
- Looking through photographs of us together as a family makes him excited;
- Sending Daddy Letters (pictures) to his work mailbox up north;
- A teddy bear with a picture of Daddy on the front that he can hug whenever he wants to;
"How are the family roles working out?"
I won't lie, this has been a bit of a challenge. We are a traditional family and that means when my husband comes home he is in charge. The consequences of this have been that when my husband leaves my little guy will for a couple of days, test his boundaries to see how much his Mum will give in.
"Won't it mess up your kids in the long run?"
It's hard to say for sure, but when I have my doubts I always think back on history. Within the entire human races history all the way back to our beginnings, many of the men have had to leave out to fulfill their rolls as men and provide for their family. This included hunting, going to war, being a merchant or going to the next town on business, men would leave their wives and children behind for extended periods of time and most of their children grew up just fine.
"As a truckers wife how do you handle it?"
It has been difficult being away from my husband, but I try to be as accepting as possible and just keep moving forward. I keep as busy as I can while my husband is gone. I work, hang out with friends, write, go to the gym, go to the park, go to the library and go to church. When I get tired or worn out I find a babysitter and have a break. As a parent, I don't want my son to ever feel like there is something wrong when his father is gone for long periods of time and I do my best make this so.