When Life Takes Over
Have you ever considered taking a break from the Volunteer Fire Service because of a lack of time? We all get to that point in our lives when we have finished college, gotten married and settled down with a good career, new home and maybe children. Free time just seems to go away, putting the Fire Department lower on the priority list. This can become discouraging, so what can we do to balance life and the Fire Department?
Over the past couple of years my life has become so busy, I sometimes feel like I’m being pulled in 8 different directions, but I wouldn’t change this life for anything. I have everything I have ever wanted, except for one thing…more time. As members in the Volunteer Fire Service we are expected to put in a certain amount of time to maintain our training, experience and fulfill our duties. If we are Company Officers or Chiefs, multiply that responsibility times two. It is easy to feel like you are not pulling your weight or feel as though you are out of the loop with what is going on at the firehouse. I know for me, this makes me frustrated and sometimes irritable. I want to go to calls and hang out at the firehouse, not miss fires and skip out on details and trainings. I’m sure you all, like me, need your firehouse time!
How can we balance all of our personal obligations and responsibilities with our duties and passions at the firehouse? It’s a question that I don’t even have the answer to. It’s a constant struggle. The sting of missing a fire because I’m at work takes a long time to go away. I have found that keeping constant contact with my pears tends to help, especially the ones who are in the same boat as me. Missing trainings and fires is a common occurrence among us all. Sharing frustrations helps numb the pain a bit.
I make it a point to make an appearance at the firehouse at least once a week. If I miss a few calls, I touch base with some of the others to find out what happened and how things went. I chat with the Chief from time to time to remind him I havent gone anywhere. I’ll work on some of my duties and small projects while at home or at work in my down time. I do the best I can to make it work, even if I can’t make it to the firehouse.
It is important to remember that not everyone is going to make it to every fire or every training. The days of being young and with no responsibilities are behind us. Let the younger, newer guys enjoy being at the firehouse every day like you once did. Family and work come first, but turning in your gear and pager should be an absolute last resort. I am hoping with this article, I can have some help with managing this challenge many of us face.
