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Returning home is sometimes shell-shock, especially when someone has been living in solidarity for days at a time and is now returning home to a large, loud, active brood!  Truckers who find themselves away from home only 1 or 2 consecutive nights at a time handle the transition much better than an over-the-roader who spends a hefty portion of his time away from home.  Those over-the-roaders require some special consideration, and they typically have some special wives, too! 

As a trucker's wife, you have to understand that your husband will need time to unwind and get steady on his ‘land feet;' however, it is not all unwind time!  There is a family to tend to and children that are craving Dad's attention; in fact, you are likely craving a little attention, too!  So it is OK to put your foot down and encourage a little quality time.

As a trucker's wife, I often find myself playing the role of ‘Activity Director.'   I keep a checklist of the things that are going on in the kids' lives and suggest to my husband that he choose an activity from the list to either discuss with or engage in with the kids. This shows his interest in what they are doing, and the kids are just tickled by it!  They will often show-off and go to great lengths to impress him, and this always provides for at least one memorable ‘incident' that we can laugh about later on...

As an Activity Director, I also plan ‘mandatory fun.'  This can include anything from a football game in the yard, to a trip to the local McDonalds Fun Place, to ‘Movie Night.'  ‘Mandatory fun covers a broad spectrum of family activities, so do a little research to find what suits your family.

Your husband may only have a short time home with you before he hits the road again, so make your time spent with him valuable.  Like me, you probably do a great job of keeping him involved in your children's lives, but don't forget that you miss the big fella, too!  While the importance of a day of family fun cannot be stressed enough, it is also necessary to squeeze in as much private time as possible - while we are encouraging family time, there is a point at which the kiddos must be off to bed!  What you do after bedtime is entirely up to you and your hubby - but DO make it special.

As a trucker's wife, you find that time is always limited...but the special moments you share never have to be...

A Trucker's Wife is a column that is written by a different guest writer each month. If you would like to share your thoughts and feelings with other homefront spouses email us at imatruckerswife@layover.com .