Husband May Be Taking a Job Working on a Supply Boat...........

Hello Kris,
My husband does not work on a supply boat but recently in the past year he started a new career in the truck driving buisness. He was away from home for 3 months before his first visit home. He drove for 10 hrs a day and slept most of the time. Outside of that he did puzzle books or talked to me and the kids on the phone, read his bible.
My husband is very family oriented and has always been involved in our childrens lives, helped around the house with house work. He loves being a father and a husband. It was very hard for him being away from home and the solitude for him was the worst.
For me it was very difficult. I had to be mother and father as well. Our 11 yr old son loves to fish and I had to make sure that he got to do that while his father was away. I had to assume all house hold responsibilities. My children helped but it was not the same.
Our finances changed as well. I had to make sure there was enough money in the budget for him to have cash on him for food weekly which is 3 meals a day. He usually ate with us before he left. He needed his own personal supplies and toiletries. We were spending more than we were bring in trying to do it all.
After being on the road for about 5 months my husband called yesterday and stated that he could not longer do the truck driving, it had goten to him and to me as well. It was not paying off. HE came home last night. Today he will be out looking for a job.
This was our experience. I pray yours goes well.

V. D.

Hi Kris

My husband doesnt work on a supply boat, but he does work offshore and his shift is 28/28. He has been doing it for 2yrs and the time home is great. I also have a cousin who works on a supply boat and he loves it. We have two children, 7yr old daughter and a son that will be 1 on Friday. When he started doing this kind of work it was 7/7 then he started working for a very large company and now works 28/28 and our daughter loves the 28/28. He use to be in the car business as a finance director and was never home, always working late hours and only off on Sunday so we really like what he does now, it gives him more time to do things with the kids and as a family. It does take some getting use to, but just keep telling yourself that at least when he comes home he will be home to spend time with yall. Do you know how long he will be gone/home? If you want to talk you can email me or if you have any other questions. Hope some of this helps and eases your mind a little.

Best Wishes,
M.
____@____.com

I do not know the details of working on a supply boat, but my ex was in the Navy. After the Navy he did contract work for a cable company. We went three years in a row wihout being able to be together for the holidays. It was hard on all of us. Since you are an at home Mom, the first thing I would try to do is find something outside the house that you enjoy doing. Try to find a family gym or something that you can join with your children. Set up a support group perhaps with other mothers whose husbands work on the boat. Schedule days where you get together and do things. Set up babysitting days where you trade off taking turns babysitting each others kids so you and another mom can go out for some special girl time. If you don't go to church find one you like that has a great youth program, this will give you a great support system and give you something to do as well. The busier you you stay, the faster it makes the time away go. If you don't have a support system of some sort, it makes it very hard to keep from getting depressed.

I'll echo the others in saying that I don't know anyone who works on a supply boat, but a very good friend's hubby works on an offshore oil rig. He does 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. It has been difficult at times for her since she is the "single parent" when he is gone, but he has done this ever since their oldest was a couple of years old (she is now 10-11). It still gets stressful for her at times because both of their girls are very involved in things, but it has really become a routine for them now.