Ten Things Your Friends and Family Will NEVER Fully Understand about being a Police Wife

Yes, I'm sure you've heard it before..."It can't be that hard, can it?"  Well let me tell you, our well-meaning friends and family have no earthly idea!

I decided to compile a list of ten things they will never fully understand about being a police wife.  Sorry if it's a bit sarcastic, but the hour is late and that's when my raw honesty appears at its best. :)

1.  Yes, your taxes do pay my husband's salary, but so do mine!  This one just gripes my goat.  If I had a dollar every time I've heard that comment, I'd be a rich woman.  And frankly, wouldn't need a tax increase!

2.  Strategic placement in restaurants is not as easy as it may seem.  For everyone else, seating is negotiable.  With a cop...back to the wall.  No ifs, ands, or buts.

3.  Having a target on your back 24/7 is not a form of recreation.  Yes, a cop is always a target.  Whether on duty or off, he is known, often sought after, and rarely welcomed.  Just gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn't it?

4.  Downtime?  What's that?  A police officer is never totally off duty.  Even if he's hunting wild boar in the jungles of the Yucatan, his sense of total mind and body relaxation is non-existent.  Once a cop, always a cop.

5.  Who needs Hollywood when you have new episodes of Nightmare on Elm Street pretty much every night?  Yep, those hellish scenes from your typical marathon bombings, school shootings, child abductions, drunk driving accidents, gang rapes, etc. leave deep and lasting scars on the minds of those who work them each and every day.  Even in their sleep, there's no rest for the weary.

6.  No, that pudge around the middle is not just from all the doughnuts.  Try sitting down to a nice meal only to get a call.  Five hours later, you realize you've not eaten.  Due to time restraints, you head to the nearest drive thru, inhale your food, then spend the next seven or so hours in your squad car or behind a desk doing paperwork.  By the time you drag yourself home, it's either too late to exercise or you are too mentally and physically exhausted to do it.  That will be one order of thunder thighs and a thick heart attack on a plate, please.

7.  Christmas with the kids is great, if you can do it at midnight the night before.  Balancing holiday time and work schedules is never easy.  Many o' law enforcement children have opened presents a day late, or one shift before.  Let that put the Merry in your Christmas.

8.   Cops are such bullies.  How can you stand it?  Well let me see...they've been spit on, physically assaulted, verbally belittled, shot at, run off the road, and emotionally drained for little pay and no respect.  No excuses, but that'd make me just a wee bit cranky myself.  Thoughts?

9.  They're gone an awful lot.  I wouldn't like that.  Well...I don't like it either, but it's part of the game.  Someone has to patrol the streets and keep a semblance of order in this crazy world we live in.

10.  Are those real bullets?!  Yes, Virginia, those are real bullets, in a real gun, that can take down real bad guys.  All in a days work, ma'am.  All in a days work.

Well...it may not be easy for outsiders to fully understand, but it's a great life, don't you think?!

Blessings,
Kristi

P.S.  Can you list other things I may not have covered?  Would love to hear your thoughts. :)

Comments

  1. My personally favorite "Do you worry about him?".

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  2. Haha! Yes...definitely a classic. :)

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  3. AMEN!!! Kristi - I nominated you for the Leibster award! Check it out here: http://myblessingsareborrowed.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-leib-what.html

    Happy Blogging! :)

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  4. Awesome!! Thanks for the nomination. ;) I'll have to give those questions some thought, but will try to post in the coming days. Love your blog, by the way.

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  5. Kristi,

    My brother and sister-in-law are both police officers (they met in police academy!) so I relate to so much of what you write here. Loved this post and so glad I found you on twitter!

    Melissa~

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  6. Melissa, I'm glad you found me too! :) Just trying to keep it real. Hugs.

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