Balancing work and family

[doglover]

Hello there, I am new to this board but there seems to be a lot of great information here.

I have been thinking about becoming a police officer for a while now. The thing I am struggling with is how to balance the job with my relationship.

I feel like I would really enjoy a job in law enforcement, and personally wouldn't mind the shift work so much. The problem is how do you still get to have fun and enjoy time with a spouse who works a typical 9-5 job?

Right now we both work 9-5 and we always do stuff together on the weekends. I really cherish that. It seems so hard to give that up, even if I would really love the job. Plus, by making that choice I am essentially making the choice for her too. She would have to spend weekends by herself (well, I suppose she could spend time with other people, but she wouldn't do all the travelling and fun stuff we do now.) Plus we would both always be sleeping alone, yuck.

Anyway, I would just like to hear how other people have adjusted to the change. Has anyone here had relationships that failed due to the lack of time spent together? Those whose relationships have survived, what have you done to make it work?

Thanks all!

[Blonde Heat]

Try this one. I work days, my husband works nights and we both work weekends. We never have the same days off. We can never plan vacations to far in advance and i start the academy in early august. Which means the few times a week i do get to see him are going to be never for the next 10 months. I think we have been together for 16 years. :D I wish you luck in your decision. But talk it over with her first to gain an idea of how she might feel with you doing the LE line of work. My husband hated it and still does. :(

[klar]

It does not matter what shift you work or what shift she works. IF the two of you enjoy each others company you will find many nice and creative ways to do things together in your off time. I work a midnight shift and my wife works a day shift. We get our evenings together and our weekends together. so we live for those times. SO far it has worked out perfectly. We enjoy our time together and we have some time apart to be able to do our own things. I am sure that if you persue a carreer in law enforcement that you and your wife/gf will find plenty of time to be together and have a wonderful time.

Klar

[sandie]

Balancing work and relationships isnt always easy, but, it makes the time you spend together more precious. Good Luck!

[marco]

You can do what me and my fiance plan to do when i become a police officer. She is only going to work part time...like that there are more chances we can be together throughout the day. Whats really going to help is that where she is going to work...she will have the choice of working either during the mornings...8-12 or in the afternoon 1-5. Or even at that anywhere in-between. So if if my current shift would be in the mornings..she will work in the mornings so we can be together in the afternoons and evenings. If I am scheduled for nights..well she can work later and we can spend the mornings amd part of the afternoons. You get the point. But I dont know how your economic status works with you. Good luck though.

[Joseph]

One of the important things does she support you in becoming a LEO and living this kind of life. If she does it will work with a lot of creative thinking and love. I wish you the best and you make the right decision. ;)