CODE 3 FAMILIES

It's true that when you're living in the first responder life it becomes your "normal," but it's important to take a step back sometimes to recognize a lot of what we adjust to is NOT normal or a part of the average experience. In this episode, Dr. Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Dr. Alma (Police Wife) discuss some of the real challenges they adjust to as a first responder spouse and that they watch their children adjust to that can too easily be seen as normal. 

As a first responder spouse we are often left to plan for everything and everyone else, but setting goals and being intentional about what you need and want is so important. This can be especially true when it comes to preparing for the challenges that come along with Fire Season. Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Alma (Police Wife) share personal stories around their own successes and challenges with meeting fitness goals. They also discuss how you can be intentional and plan for success with the upcoming fire season. 

As a First Responder spouse you have so many other people and needs to take care of ALL THE TIME. In this episode, Dr. Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Dr. Alma (Police Wife) discuss some of their own experiences taking care of ALL the THINGS... and how they are able to just that without feeling resentful. SPOILER: It includes taking care of YOU too! 

Tensions and judgements about policing continue to increase. People are posting about their opinions on the matter all around us... but where does that leave our proud police families? In this Episode, Dr. Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Dr. Alma (Police Wife) discuss the challenges that police families are facing navigating this all and how hard it can actually be to avoid taking the comments personally.

First Responders are called to show up on people's worst day. They see the many daily tragedies and nightmares people experience and it's hard not to want to protect their own family from those. In this episode Dr. Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Dr. Alma (Police Wife) talk about how they naturally start to take on the fears that their husbands bring home from the job and just how easily that can happen for a spouse and family member. 

This week we want to share Rachelle's interview with Rodger Ruge, retired law enforcement officer. This was originally featured on his podcast "HeroTalk" which is a podcast aimed at building resilience in first responders.  We recommend you check out the episode and share with your first responder spouse. We also recommend you go check out HeroTalk for some more information on first responder resilience and PTSD. 

Parenting a teen is a challenge! In this episode Dr. Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Dr. Alma (Police Wife) discuss the challenges in parenting teens that are growing up in first responder households and give you some ideas on how to best connect with them. 

The career is often more like a calling than a job to them which is why a first responder’s identity can be all wrapped up in the work they do. This can make it especially hard for them when things don’t go their way... a failed academy, passed up for promotion, a failed test, a mistake on the job. In this episode, Dr. Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Dr. Alma (Police Wife) discuss the challenges that come in devastating moments like these and how the spouse can offer support during these times. 

As a first responder spouse you can feel alone... often. Not just physically due to the shift, but things can feel emotionally lonely as well. In this episode Rachelle (Fire Wife) and Alma (Police Wife) discuss the many ways spouses experience loneliness and what you can do with that. 

First Responders spouses wear so many hats! They very often have to be the protecter, disciplinarian, the nurturer, the schedule manager, the flexible spouse, and the foundation that the rest of the family relies upon... all at once and without a handbook.  When all of that is overlooked because it's what everyday looks like that can start to wear on motivation to do it all. In this episode, Dr. Rachelle (Fire Spouse) and Dr. Alma (Police Spouse) discuss the experience of a first responder spouse and how some dynamics might lead to stressors on our marriages and spouses feeling under appreciated.