Hi. I'm Jennifer Woosley Saylor. I'm a licensed professional clinical counselor and the kid of a cop. And this is the podcast when the call hits home. Hey, everyone. It's Ashlee Gethner.

I'm a licensed clinical social worker, and I'm also a child of a police officer.

Welcome back to the podcast. This is Jennifer Woosley, licensed professional clinical counselor.

And I'm Ashlee Gethner, a licensed clinical social worker. I mean, today, we have a really special episode because we have Britney Collins on. And one of the coolest things about this, and I'm so excited, is that she listens to us. So she is a part of the When the Call Hits Home family. And that's how we got connected, and I think that's super amazing because we were able to message each other. And she's like, I relate with you guys so much. And I think that was so heartwarming because this is exactly why we're doing this. So it's an honor to have her as a guest today, and we're gonna hand it over to you, Britney, to introduce yourself.

Good morning, everyone. My name is Britney Collins. I started listening to when the call hits home from a friend posting it on Facebook, and it really hit home because it was about her dad being a first responder. And my father is a first responder, was a first responder, a firefighter. And so that's how I got hooked. But, also, I have 3 uncles that are firefighters, and my husband's a firefighter. And I have been on and off a 911 dispatcher for the last 11 years as well. So I live out in the country with my 5 kids, my amazing husband.

We have goats, chickens, barn cats, and a dog. I chose this year to be a stay at home mom again, with my littlest one, and that's kinda where I'm at now.

Okay. So we're all

going to your house. Yeah. Thank you so much, Britney, for sharing that. And especially sharing, you know, when the call gets home, how it hit home a little bit in terms of that experience. That is wild. I don't know what it's like to have first responder uncles. So tell me a little bit about growing up in such a first responder, like family extended family. Like, this is just what grown ups do, I assume, is what you're thinking when you're a kid.

Right. I mean, it was crazy because my dad didn't grow up wanting to be a firefighter. He grew up wanting to be a teacher like his dad. And he kind of they actually his 1st year teaching, they let him go. And he had just gotten married with my mom, and so my dad's like, oh, cool. I just got married and now I don't have a job. So my mom's uncle at my mom's brother at the time, I was a Chicago fireman, and he's like, just take the test. Like, there you have tests all the time.

I'm not sure if it's the same like it was back in the day it is now, but it's normally like a physical, written, a lot of different tests interviewing. But he was telling they play softball together in the city in Chicago. And so where I feel like all all dads or all grown men like to hang out and play softball, live their high school days again. But,

I got a dad just like right. Yeah.

So he mentioned that dad took the test. He got another teaching job, and then it kinda came up again. And he was kinda like, why not? The big thing was, like, job security. That was huge, obviously, since he just had gotten laid off as a teacher, but also kind of the flexibility with the schedule so he could still be a sub. Coaching was huge for him. His actual his nickname at the firehouse is coachee or the barn boss. So he coached I mean, wrestling, football, baseball. He stuck with baseball the most.

Yeah. So that was how my dad got into it from my mom's brothers. And then 2 of her brothers, one with Chicago, one Schaumburg, and then her brother-in-law is Elk Grove Village. So I feel like the holidays were kind of funny. It was always like, okay. They're all on different shifts. Who's not gonna be at one holiday? Which you guys talk about as well that, you know, there's just some days that they can't make it. So it's it fluctuates.

There's a I don't think there was ever a time where they were all on the same shift, but I think there's a few where, like, a majority were. So that was nice that there was kind of an open date that everyone could try to be there.

And I have to say, it's so interesting. It's such a small world because Schaumburg out grove, that's right next to where my dad was a police officer. So we connected on that because I was like, oh my gosh. It would be wild if our family has crossed paths before and we didn't even we didn't even recognize that. So my dad was Hoffman Estates and so it's super close to each other.

Right. And then I when I my first dispatching job was at Northwest Central, which is in Arlington Heights, and we did Hoffman Estates. And there there's, I think, 11 surrounding towns at the time. So it was yes. Definitely a connection.

It's a small world that we live in. So how did your parents' job influence your childhood and kind of your perspective on life?

Yeah. It's, you know, the pluses and minuses of everything. I guess one of I wouldn't say it's a negative, but I'm kind of, like, think worst case scenario all the time. You know, just yeah. Making sure that you're making the right choices or making sure that everything is going right, but just also knowing, like, the risks that everything entails and make sure, like, is it worth it? And my dad was, like, very big. Like, we joke with him all the time. He was, like, safety police. Like, he's, like, don't do that.

Like, don't do that. Like, make sure you're doing this. Like, just all the time because he just wanted to keep us safe. Because, obviously, he's seen the other side of it and never wants us to be a part of that side. Also, like, family first. Like, that was huge for him. Growing up, he was an only child, and so that was kind of hard on him. He wished he had siblings so much.

Then when he got on the fire service, you, like, immediately in inherit brothers. So I think that was amazing for my dad to have. And he, I would say, is a little uptight. And so a lot of the guys gave him it was just such a playful kind of environment that it was amazing for him. So he always told us because I'm one of 3. I'm the oldest, and then I have a brother and a sister. And he would just harp on us a lot. They're your family.

Like, they're always gonna be there for you And, just always keep in touch no matter what happens. Like, you guys can get through it. Also, like, rules are in place for a reason. You're the big follower. Like, just the silliest thing. I mean, I guess, like, wearing a life jacket, like, at all times. Like, even when you're like, okay, dad. It's 3 feet of water.

We'll be fine. He's like, no. If you get if you're on the water, you gotta wear a life jacket. And just the stuff like that or, you know, try to bending the rules a little bit, like senior skip day in high school. He was like, absolutely not. Why would you do something like that? Like, you need to be in school. And then you're being a representation of our family. So, like, you're a direct reflection of your mom and dad.

And just like your name is a big thing, and that's kinda, I feel like, in the fire service as well that your name holds a lot of clout, how you are, what type of person you are, and just holding yourself to a high standard that other people can respect you and trust you like that. And always just helping someone in need no matter what. Like, that was huge. And I feel like that every day, putting people ahead of myself. Being a stay at home mom, that happens a lot, with having 5 kids. Just kind of anything, I mean. And also, God played a big part in our lives too that always pray and it'll happen. And God's there for us and he has a plan for us.

So that's kind of all the perspectives from my my dad.

Those are beautiful, beautiful. And I appreciate you sharing each one of those and your faith, obviously. That's a beautiful thing. Taking from that and those experiences with your dad, what kind of stands this is a 2 part question. What kind of stands as, like, the most as an adult, man? I'm really grateful for that aspect and and how first responding, how firefighting kinda played into that. And then I have a follow-up question after that.

Sure. I guess, like, hard work, like, that is a big thing that I kind of really, like, hit homes with me about. I mean, working out is kind of a big thing in sports, like we talked about before and that you guys have mentioned as well. My dad made a coach, my brother playing baseball with him all the way through high school and into college. My sister and I played volleyball all the way through high school and into college. And just the hard work. Like, you're not gonna be the best, but you can practice and get better every day. And feel like the fire service too.

I mean, just learning every aspect of your truck, learning every aspect of a certain call that you're gonna go on. My dad is kind of an anomaly where he ended up staying and choosing to stay in the ambulance for all the 32 years of his service, which normally when you hit, like, 15 or 20, you start looking to test to wear a white shirt, you know, or get to headquarters or something like that. And my dad very much enjoyed just being with the guys and being at the station with them and being at the same level with them. And so and also, I guess, being a good influence with that. You know, like, younger guys coming in, you they don't know what to expect. And depending on what house you're in or what kind of history that your department has depends on how everyone gets treated. And so, you know, being a father figure, being a good example is something that he you know, all the guys looked up to him and it showed too with he recently passed away, in November. And so when that happened, like, just people came out of the woodwork for him.

And, like, that was everything that they said about him was that he is just an amazing person. They looked up to him. Like, their lives are different because of him being in it. Right. And so that, I guess, is you know, him making them better is just amazing.

Yeah. Well, I think that's so beautiful to hear how he was honored by his brothers and that you heard that as his daughter as well. You know, those kind words. And, you know, we can kinda look up to our parents as heroes, but to recognize the people standing next to him saw him as that as well. Like, that says so much about him, Britney. Thank you for sharing that. Well, thanks. I did wanna follow-up in terms of I do think that's again, hard work is awesome and what a great gift to kinda pass down to your kid.

But was there any aspect of those things that you kinda shared in those experiences and, you know, kinda always being prepared, following the rules? Anything that felt a little like, oh, yeah. This is heavy or this is a lot.

Yeah. I mean, especially, like I said, when he would tell us, like, you're an exact representation of your mother mother and father. So, like, how you act out in public, how you act in school, any of that and, you know, like, kinda carrying on the name. And so that was extremely heavy. I mean, you didn't wanna mess up. I mean, his you know, don't disappoint me in a sense. Like, that That word.

That's what got me every time when I was growing up.

Yep. Like, anytime I'd leave, he'd be like, make sure you're making the right choices and being a good girl. I'm like, okay. Well, now, like, I can't even, like, lie about taking a piece of candy or something, you know. Like, something that's so significant in a sense, but it was just like that angel, you know, sitting on your shoulder that I mean, it's good, but, yes, it weighs because I guess along the lines of that is I felt like I never learned how to fail the right way.

Mhmm.

Because love my father to pieces. Amazing. And but, like, he would always he would want he'd give us, like, an option, but it wasn't really an option. It was kind of a push to this is what you should do. And so it took a lot after leaving college and meeting my husband to learn, like, to make my own decisions in a sense, which seems crazy at, like, 22 years old.

I literally cannot relate more to this right now. I'm not I wish everyone could see my head movements because this is so true. And and and, actually, right, like, you're unique and that your husband is also a firefighter, but mine isn't in the first responding world at all. And so for him, it took him a while to understand, like, where I was coming from with things, or or I would still feel like I have to justify it to my dad.

Yeah. Oh, app.

And he would be like yeah. He'd be like, Ashlee, you're you're old now. What are you doing? And I'm like,

I

don't know. This is hard for me.

Oh, that makes me feel better. I well, I know.

And I

no. I was just gonna say, I mean, then the hardest thing was if I chose to go against what he sugge