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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Getting to Know My Readers!

Okay, I know I don't have a huge following here at this little blog, and many of you I know in real life and some of you I've met through bloggy world.  That's usually how it goes, I assume.  But I'd like to start getting to know you a little better, so I hope you answer!  Today I'd like to hear what your hubby does for a living?  And what kind of work schedule does that entail??  I'll go first...  My man works as a nuclear power plant operator.  Everyone needs power round the clock and even on holidays, so he works a rotating shift.  It's a 5-week rotation of something like 4 days on, 3 days off, 3 nights on, 4 days off, 4 days on, 1 day off, 4-day training week, 2 days off, 3 nights on, 6 days off.  That's not the exact rotation, but you get the idea.  He works 12-hr shifts, 6am-6pm or 6pm-6am + 1 hr travel time, (it's only 25 minute drive but he picks someone up along the way and allows extra time so he isn't ever late), so that's why he gets longer sets of days off, which is pretty nice.  Those days off are only sometimes over the actual weekend, and thus they're sometimes during the week too.  There's pro's and con's about that, as there is with any job.  The good--he's home sometimes to take/pick up Eli from school or watch kids if I have an appointment or errands or we have someone coming to the house for some house-related problem/project.  The bad--his days are long so he's quite tired by the end of the day and we really just see him on his days off, he misses church a LOT so the kids and I are quite used to {though don't enjoy it} going to church by ourselves, he's not always home in the evenings and is {sometimes} unable to watch kids when I have ladies church events/Bible studies, he lives on energy drinks, and weekend and holidays don't mean anything for his schedule.  It just depends on the rotation if he'll have the day off or not.  But another good bonus of his job is that he's able to pick up overtime hours, so there are opportunities to earn extra mulah.  And in the end that's really the only thing it's about.  Kevin's great at his job, but he doesn't love it.  It's just the most relevant thing to what he did in the Navy before this, so it makes sense for him to continue in this field now in order to support our family.  We are very proud of him and all he does, and every day we thank God for his job and that he works so hard!  Okay, so wow, that was a more lengthy explanation of his job and work schedule than I expected, but so it is.  So now it's your turn... what does your man do for a living and what's the schedule like for him and your family??

23 comments:

Kathy said...

My hubby is a Valet Doorman at a large casino. His hours vary from day to day but are always the same each week and he always has the same days off each week. In fact he only works about 30 hours per week which we LOVE b/c that means more time together as a family. He helps so much around the house and yard during the extra hours when he's home.

He used to work all evenings/nights when our kids were little which was SO hard. So many years of fighting with cranky kids through dinner time and bath time and bed time made for a very weary Mama. But now he's mostly on days and home for dinner many nights plus home by the girls bedtime every night.

In Light of the Truth... said...

Ooo, very cool, Kathy! I never knew that! Thanks for answering!

The Tylers said...

My hubby is a math teacher! He usually leaves the house no later than 8 and is home by 5 on most days. He sometimes has to do some work or planning at home but not too much. He is working on his masters though, so during the school year, that takes up a LOT of his time at home. In the summer he always does summer school. This year summer school was mostly online, so he only had to be at the school 1 to 2 days a week, so we had him at home a lot. Being married to a teacher is a pretty good deal! :)

Laura L. said...

Hey! Well, I think you know, but just in case...Matt is a cop and works overnights. 11-7:30. He leaves about 10:30 and gets home at 8:00. He works 6 nights on, 3 off. So, his days off are different each week. Some days he'll stay up until noon or so, and then sleep until he goes to work. Other days he'll go to bed when he gets home and get up for supper and evening with me and the boys. It works pretty well right now for our family, but can be very frustrating as he needs to take a nap on his first day off from being awake all night, and needs to take a nap on his first night back on to prepare for pulling an all-nighter. And, then there's the OT....
That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :)

In Light of the Truth... said...

Oh yes, Laura, we can relate very well on our hubby's schedule. Kevin stays up all night in prep for going on nights then sleeps all day. Then when he's coming off of nights, he sleeps just a half-sleep. From 7am-12pm instead of 2 or 3pm. Has Matt been in dangerous cop situations?? What do the boys think of having an officer for their dad? Do they think it's pretty cool? =)

In Light of the Truth... said...

Tara - how wonderful it must be to have Anthony home during the summer!!

Mindy said...

My hubby has his degree in music education, but due to cuts in arts, he hasn't been able to get a job in his field. Right now he works in a large photo-processing lab that does all the photos and photo gifts from Walmart, Shutterfly, etc. He works 4-10hr. shifts, now Tuesday-Friday, from 1pm-11pm. When I worked, we didn't see much of each other on those days, but made sure the days we did have together were doing something fun. It really is a great schedule, we feel blessed.

~Amanda said...

Tony builds homes with his dad, and then plays in a couple of bands. His regular job's work schedule is very consistent - leaves at 7:30 am and home at 5:00 pm. I definitely love that part. His band gigs mean some weekends away. He teaches some guitar lessons from home. If he and I didn't work opposite schedules, his scheduled would rock! Since I try to work opposite of him, I don't get to be around to enjoy it very much, which is sad since we're fortunate that his schedule is so consistent and a good "family" schedule. When the kids are older and I start working more "normal" hours again, then hopefully it will mean more time as an entire family at home.

Stacey Kay said...

Brendon is a Real Estate agent and works in sales in a furniture store part-time. He's currently interviewing for a Landscaping position (he had a Landscaping business about ten years ago). I'm praying about the job as he truly doesn't like the furniture gig. But, we are also very thankful for the jobs he has. He works, literally, everyday. If it's not answering a phone call about a house or printing up paperwork for a seller ... well, he's at the store selling a bedroom set or something! He's a hard worker and I'm so proud to be his Mrs.

-Stacey

(This is a great way to get to know each other. Perhaps you could host another weekly meme? Hint! Hint! : )

Goat Gal said...

My husband is an electrician. There are seasons of busyness where he works 14 hour days 6 days a week and then there are quiet times, like right now where he only works 3 or 4 days a month. We are able to have such a schedule because we have quite a few rental properties so we can build up a no work fund.

Katy said...

My Kevin works in our family business. My dad owns a carpet cleaning & water damage/flood restoration business. Kevin is on call 24 hours a day in case someone house floods. They typically work at least 8-5 mon through fri and part of the day on weekends checking on wet homes. There are pros and cons to this job. Kevin receives a commission based on the company's quarterly production so when the business does well so do we and he can often has time during the day to run needed errands & such but there have also been many parties, get-togethers, holidays, weekends when he will get a call and have to leave for work. I grew up with my dad having the same schedule so I guess I'm used to it. Sometimes it can be a great blessing or a great hardship working with family. Life is about to change drastically with the baby coming so there is no telling how scheduling will be now after I go back to teaching.

Becky Goerend said...

Russ is a 6th grade la/reading teacher! =) He has basically the same hours I do but works closer to home, so he takes H to daycare and we switch off picking him up!

I love having our summers off together!

bp said...

My hubby is a loan specialist and works for the gov't. He works 8 hour days unless he decided to do a 9 hour day schedule and have one day off every other week.

It's interesting to read what your hubby does, I knew he had a rotating schedule from your posts. Glad he is able to work to provide for your family. I admire you as a wife because I know it must be difficult to have such changes all the time. My Dad worked a different shift each week for a while when I was a teen. There were pros/cons to each shift I think like you said.

Your pictures at the top of your blog are so cute and you have such a nice blog background!

S Club Mama said...

Well, in case you didn't know, Anthony did get an offer for a job! It's in Kansas at a conveyor company. I'm not really sure exactly what his title will be or what he'll be doing. Something about electrical something or another. But it sounds like the hours will be 7 or 8 until 5. So not bad, a little longer than we're used to but not terrible at all. :)

I love this idea of getting to know your readers! I may steal it :D

cryssi said...

Great way to get to know each other Sarah!

Paul is self employed. We have a business together manufacturing cattle working equipment. He does all of the errand running, phone calling, shop supervision, order delivering that there is to do...I do the paperwork (about 3 hrs a week). There are bonuses to being self employed....He can sometimes schedule order deliveries so that he can go on field trips with us, he can stay home to help when we are all sick, he is some of the time just right outside, we get to go on a lot of trips with him..we pack up the kids books and do schoolwork while we are on the road (homeschooling is a great bonus :) ) Cons (but really all just part of the job) He is never without his cell phone...He has to answer it if it rings...it might be an order and we cant pass them up...During the busy season (Fall, Winter, Spring) He can be gone overnight (which we try to go with him), he may leave at 6 in the morning and get home at 10 or later that night, this may happen for two or more nights in a row. He gets extremely tired. Its not uncommon to have to deliver an order on a Sat. But like I said, we try to go with him. He usually rotates the kids on trips...on trip he will take Kylie, the next Alaina, and the next Jason. They love going with Daddy and it gives them one on one time with him. And gives me time with the other two. Sounds like a crazy life, but since my dad did the same thing since I was 10..I am pretty used to it. I am blessed that Paul is able to work from home...and that he is able to do all that he does. I dont think I would know what to do if he was home at 5 or a certain time every night..without a phone call and a "honey I gotta go show so and so a pen now...can you keep supper warm?" lol. Just wouldnt be life. :)

Hope you have a blessed week!!!
Crystal

Simple Life said...

Jesse is a high school history teacher and football coach. During football season he leaves for work at 7:30am and get home about 7pm.. that is on days he doesn't have a game. But the rest of the school year he is home by 4pm and has all the holidays, spring break, and summers off.. which I love!

Rae Lynne said...

Justin initially worked at one of the banks in town but left to go back to school full-time. Then at the end of the year last year, he lost his financial aid (since it's his 2nd BA degree) and we can't afford to take out private loans so he couldn't go back for his 2nd year. Now he helps my step-dad at our family restaurant as an office manager, and currently in the kitchen as well. He goes in early to count drawers and works over the lunch hour in the kitchen (although soon it will just be the office stuff). What's nice is it allows him to watch Xander at the same time as working. I'd love to have the ability to do something like that, but having Justin be a stay-at-home-dad and work part-time is the next best thing. :)
~Rae Lynne

The Fischer Family said...

Steven works for Fidelity Investments in 401K. He works an 8:30 to 5 pm shift and occasionally has to work mandatory overtime (especially during tax season so January to April can be very trying around here!) but for the most part it's pretty consistent (and the OT is nice so I don't complain too much!) Then he has a second job at the church as the coordinator of the religious education program. He only works about 20 hours a month for that job but it brings in some extra money and he LOVES doing it!

Kelli said...

Well I thought it would be fun to anwser you on my blog! Didn't want to write a book in your comments lol... http://javamama.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/what-does-your-husband-do/

JOYfully in Him,
Kelli

Bethany said...

We own a landscaping business that is growing rapidly! Like someone else said there are pros and cons to being self-employed! During the winter he is home quite a bit - other than being gone for LONG hours every time it snows. Then comes spring and he works 6 long days a week plus paperwork/scheduling on his day off. This year summer has been as busy as spring was instead of slowing down like normal. Our busiest season is fall with shorter days and more work (working in the dark some evenings!) - something I really dread! One thing that is difficult with seasonal work is that 12 months of income is earned in 9 months. We have to save and save and try to budget what we are going to need. The Lord is always faithful though!

Be Strong in the Lord said...

My husband is currently officially unemployed. He was a porter for a local car dealership for the last five years, but as they encountered more expenses from insurance, they let him go.

He is great with computers, and he can fix almost anything. I watch him do it, and I am constantly amazed. For a couple of years now he has had a side business of fixing computers... just whatever he can get through word of mouth advertising. It is a feast or famine business. But, he really loves doing it.

Right now our schedule rotates around my schedule of work. I work 8:00 am - 5:20 pm. I leave at 7:30 am and get home around 5:50 pm. I work Monday - Thursday and rotate every other Friday/Saturday. When I work Friday, I don't work Saturday and vise verse.

He gets up with me in the morning. Then he does some job searching. If he has a computer to work on, he works on it. He is cutting the grass for our neighbors, and that is pretty good money, but it is about to come to an end with fall on the horizon. He also searches for other side jobs and odds and ends to bring in money. I am very proud of how he has been trying to help me with the bills and all the house work even though he has not had a formal job.

We are praying that he gets a good, steady job soon. We are praying that he gets one with good benefits and enough money to support a family. I would love to have a baby and stay home, but with him out of steady work right now, we are putting that on hold.

My job is pretty strained right now. I've been doing the job of two people for two years now (literally covering two positions due to a hiring freeze). My bosses were happy with me until recently. Now, I can't do anything right.

My husband is very supportive. He desperately wants to get a job that will provide for us so that I can quit. We are praying daily.

Anyway, that is where we stand as of right now. We hope it changes soon.

Chris said...

Brian is a software engineer. Leaves at 7:00 AM with Anna to take her to daycare. I pick her up at 3:45 and then we go home, start on supper and he calls, usually around 5:15 to say he's on his way, which means another 30 minutes and he'll be home. There are times he doesn't call until 6:00 or 6:30 to say he's on his way and only once did he call and say he's on his way at 11:00 PM. Yeah, that was a long night. But he works M-F, just like me now that I'm back to school. Not much vacation time, so we have to use that sparingly and he's salaried, so no overtime hours on those Looooong days. All in all, though, we are very thankful for a job as he got laid off when I was 6 months pregnant with Anna and it took another 3 months to find a new job, so we're pretty thankful for what he has...especially since I"m a teacher so we really depend on his income.

The Cutes and Scoots Show said...

Got quite a wide variety of people and professions here.

My hubby, Scott, is the VP of Sales of a chemical coatings company specializing in Yachts. His territory covers Northeast Canada through North Carolina. He has a sales force that he oversees and manages, they live scattered amongst that area and thus because he is the big wig he has to travel with each of them throughout the year at various times. Yes, he does work from home which is a huge plus and sets his own schedule and hours because he's in sales. This means we can go to the beach on a Tuesday morning when the average Joe is at work, and we can travel to spontaneous places because as long as he has a phone and computer he can be "working". But the flexibility also comes with some downfalls too. Because he's always "working" it means he's never really away or "off" and taking the phone away or dedicating time for true vacation is a little tougher because we do so much love the opportunity to do things throughout the week together. This also means that he travels quite often (like 100+ days a year overnight away from home. Works out to be on average 2-3 days a week) leaving me home to care for our 2 young boys while I work from home myself. So we run a pretty busy life and schedule, our boys are thriving on the routine and yet have become quite avid travelers because of our lifestyle. The dog thrown in the mix makes for some pretty crazy adventures. He loves his job, we love the flexibility and opportunity his schedule presents and being able to work from home myself yet have the boys with me offers some financial perks allowing us to do the fun family things we love to do together.