Have you ever wondered what it is like to grow up as the child of a firefighter?  As two fire wives raising kids in the fire service, Amber and I often wondered what the impact might be. Especially around the holiday season.Do kids remember holidays changed or those celebrated at the station? Is the time dad is away felt as deeply as it is for us as the mother doing it alone for many days at a time. Or is their childhood no different.We interviewed Cara, a fire daughter, to get a first hand account. She shares her experience growing up as a child in the fire service-detailing all that she remembers. While offering some very good perspective for those of us raising kids now.

What would you do if your husband (or wife’s) career was threatened. If your beliefs were challenged and you had to make a choice?What if the career they worked hard for-the one they gave so much of themselves too- the one they loved so much came to a screeching halt in a matter of 30 days. What would you do?We sit down with Fire wife Brittany Sattley to discuss how she and her husband - 11yr firefighter Josh Sattley are navigating this difficult time.

In this episode were here to talk about living through COVID in year 2. I don’t think we could of anticipated this is where we would be. There has been so much shifting—we wonder what will the fire community look like after this?We are seeing lay offs, divided opinions…mandates. Last year we missed holidays at the station, less time with each other, less community. Our fireman have been overworked and many are burnt out…will that be the new norm?Covid is mentally and emotionally draining hitting us on all fronts. Our personal choices, workspaces, every capacity has been affected.So will we be so vastly different since Covid that the fire life we knew before is just a memory?Join us as we talk through it all.

In this welcome back episode we talk about the postpartum period-That sensitive time that isn’t talked about much but affects us all in our motherhood journey. Then we dig deep and Britt shares her recent experiences with postpartum depression/anxiety and navigating that with the fire life schedule.This episode is real-RAW-and us coming back to this space with you ladies ready to dig in...we can’t wait to hear what you think or how you can relate!Resources:Postpartum support international-www.postpartum.netPostpartum Stress Center-www.postpartumstress.comPostpartum Progress/online supportwww.postpartumprogress.comPsychology today (to find a therapist)www.psychology today.com/usPSI: Postpartum Support International Free Weekly Online Support GroupsHttp://www.postpartum.net/psi-online-support-meetings/

Since we started this podcast our goal has always been to relate to you as fire-wives. What we realized is tons of you wear many hats...and LOTS of you are business owners.Being a business owner/entrepreneur is quite challenging. But just like being a fire wife is unique, business ownership as a fire wife is it’s own special challenge.It is juggling + working in the nooks and crannies. It’s being able to work  + be home with your kids. It’shaving a plan & a back up plan to your plan. But above all...it’s having a belief in yourself & your product.We sat down with our fire wife friend and successful owner of Compassion Rocks Jewelry, Carey Rocha, to talk about what it’s like. Her beautiful stone business came out of a personal attack that is now serving to give back to victims of crime. Her stunning creations have become a staple in our community and her business is thriving!!If you are a business owner, thinking of starting a business, or just want to hear a beautiful story...this episode is for you!——————————————————The first 1/2hour we hear all about Carey and her business. The second 1/2hour we talk about the nitty gritty of business ownership.#podcast #firewife #firelife #standingbesideourheroes #firefamily #firecommunity #firespouse #bossbabe #joinus #smallbusiness #community #jewleryhttps://www.facebook.com/standingbesideourheroes/http://instagram.com/standing.beside.heroes.podcast

Giveaway Items:

Hydration beauty glow IV bag from @hmahydrationsuite, botox, and dermaplaning with a jelly mask from @jamienursepractitioner of hospitality medical aesthetics salon. ($650 value)Beautiful fire wife bracelet set from @compassionrocksjewelry ($71 value)A customized wooden fire wife sign for your home by @athomewithcarissawhitten ($50 value) 2 scrunchies and 2 matching bows + A macramé headband & matching clip by @indygirlandco ($60 value)Signed Copy of Fully Involved by Mynda Ohs @fullyinvolvedlife ($20 value)A bottle of Redlands Honey Orange Elderberry syrup by @thewellberry ($25 value) A vegan beauty basket with one 12oz Soy Candle + Mango Tango Shea & Mango Butter Soap + Organic Coffee Bean Sugar Scrub + Vegan Solid Perfume and Vegan Lip Balm by @laminincreations ($60 value)Bright & Airy Lightroom presets by @amandarileyphoto($ value)Starbucks Gift-card to treat yourself to coffee from @standing.beside.heroes.podcast ($20 value)

As a fire family things can often get busy. The last few months for us have been just that. Brittany welcomed her 2nd daughter, renovated her home and worked while balancing home life. Amber is growing a booming business, house hunting and running her household like a champ! Which meant we stepped away a bit...but we’re BACK! 

 

This episode we re-introduce ourselves to you by sharing our Top 5 favorite things. As well as some of our fave items that make life as a fire wife-mom-busy woman just a little bit easier. So tune in to get to know us a little more and maybe snag an idea for yourself...Mother’s Day is around the corner after all! 

 

Links below for the fun things we discussed today! 

 

Listening to an audiobook: Listen to Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd?asin=0593172272&source_code=ASSORAP0511160006

 

Or something slutty by J. Kenner https://www.audible.com/pd/Release-Me-The-Stark-Trilogy-Audiobook/B00ATDUWBK?qid=1618205121&sr=1-2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=A4GJDA6C06PP8YVM449E

 

Makeup: Bobby brown tinted moisturizer https://m.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/product/14017/40368/makeup/face/foundation/nude-finish-tinted-moisturizer-spf-15/ss16#/shade/Light_to_Medium_Tint

 

L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara, Black [305] 0.28 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BIZ0PM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_TQ2EBGFZW7ZVRG3N7W3H?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

Accessory: Classic earrings like these https://etsy.me/2E8rqj4

 

Baby items: a cute bow from https://etsy.me/2AaWN8d

Jammies with double zippers:  https://www.target.com/p/baby-girls-39-3pk-fruit-print-zip-up-sleep-n-39-play-cloud-island-8482-yellow-brown-white-0-3m/-/A-80954101

Diaper bags: https://fawndesign.com/collections/the-original-collection or  https://freshlypicked.com/collections/the-classic-diaper-bag

Baby blankets: https://littleunicorn.com/collections/lu-cotton-muslin-swaddles

https://www.adenandanais.com/swaddles

Just like the rest of our life, parenting looks different for a fire family then the regular 9-5 family. We are essentially single parents most of the time, while having the luxury of also being married. Single parenting while married has it own unique challenges. While we recognize that we are not single parents, it can feel that way a lot of the time due to our significant others career. In this episode we discuss how parenting in this lifestyle can feel overwhelming and challenging being the only parent doing 90% of the work. We talk about ways to combat the feeling of doing it all by yourself. As well as ways to include your significant other into your daily life so you can both be on the same parenting page. Tune in to hear all about how we are finding our stride in single parenting while married.

Feeling second to the job is something we can all relate to in this lifestyle. We know they love us and they have us first in their hearts, but the reality is we come second. The job is one we all make sacrifices for even as fire wives. It can be hard to feel like your important is always less important than your significant others. But when it comes down to it they are there to save lives for the greater good and we support them through it all. It's not easy feeling second to the job. In this episode we talk about how we have taken the backseat and ways we combat it in our own lives and the mentalities we take to help us find the good in coming in second.

Learning how to best communicate in a relationship where you don't get to see each other for days at a time is a skill we all strive to be better at. Knowing when to talk about the hard things or how to better to connect on a daily basis when conversations last 5 mins between calls, isn't a innate ability we possess. We sat with marriage and family counselor, Ashley Philips, to discuss the right time to have these important conversations. Ashley also talks to us about how to build connection even through the distance of fire family life. Ashley talks about the five love languages and how incorporating these into your relationship can help bridge the gap of feeling disconnected. We learned so many amazing ways to communicate and show our significate other we are thinking and caring for them. You will love this episode and have so many new tools for your tool bag to help build a stronger relationship!

While we all have a shared understanding of what the hardships are like in the fire life, we also know how amazing this career can be for our firefighters and our families. There are so many wonderful benefits to this lifestyle,. And we know it is easy to see the bad more then the good, but 2021 is a new year and we want to see the good. So tune in to hear about our favorite parts of this life! We love this life and wouldn't change it for the world!