Coping with Being a Lineman's Wife.
Weathering the Storm
I live on a small homestead and found that buying a generator helped me deal with the fact that my electricity might go out and my hubby might not be home. Always have candles, flashlights, water, food and blankets stored for such occasions. Want to know a secret? You're lineman will probably feel more secure about leaving you at such times if you are prepared.
Don't fight before he leaves.
Before I married my hubby, an old, sage lineman told me to remember one thing. Don't fight or argue before your man goes out on a call. I have remembered that all of these many years. I have never sent him out upset. The old guy said that the linemen should have their minds on their jobs and not on personal problems that are worrying them. It's all about safety and doing our parts as wives to ensure that our husbands do stay safe.
Food
I pack my husband's lunch everyday. If he goes out on a call, he still has to take coffee, water, and some kind of snacks. I don't want him running himself down, getting tired and sick because he doesn't eat right. Some of the "kids" give him a bad time about his lunches until they are on call with him and have missed a meal. Then they love the fact that he has food to share!
Canceling plans.
Be prepared to cancel your plans if he gets called out. I know my hubby feels terrible when we have planned something special only to get called out and have to leave. I don't add to it or make him feel worse.
Worry and fears
The hardest thing I had to get used to is worrying. I worried about him constantly and because he knows me so well, I knew he picked up on it. I changed, I know he has had the best training available. Power linemen have one of the most dangerous jobs and no one knows that better than the lineman himself. My husband is careful and doesn't cut corners. I know he is doing the best he can and he has 30+ years of experience doing it. I put him in God's hands, you will have to find what works best for you.
Wives of power linemen have a job to do. The above tips really helped me out. As I write this hubby is in sub zero weather on a call and it's pushing dark. He left with hot coffee, a smile on his face and all of my love.
Published by Sherry Tomfeld
Gardening and food preservation are her passion, she has been doing both for 30 years.Working thousands of head of hogs, raising cattle, goats and chickens to being lead cook in a 90 resident nursing home. S... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentMy fiance is currently in PA working. He and his crew left out Friday morning. I have cried on and off since then and haven't slept much. He's just had his job almost a month. I knew this would eventually happen, just not this soon. When I read the poem posted, I cried again. I hope it gets easier at it goes because I know this isn't the last storm he'll go on. His dad has been with KU for over 17 years so his entire family is used to it. Obviously this is also my first storm. I don't understand how they can be so calm. None of my friends truly get what I'm going through. One had a hubby deploy so she understands to a point. Right now, they have no idea how long they'll be there. This also couldn't have happened at a worse time. My grandmother, who is very dear to my heart, is 2,5 hours away in critical condition. So I need him more than ever now. I pray every night for all those sent to help with the outages. How do you all make it through? I'm seriously losing it!
It never gets easier having your hubby on the road. Its is so hard back at home because not one of your friends will truly understand what you are going through. I found these poems and sayings on the web as well as my site I am part of for powerline wives. They pretty much sum it all up.
I pray for him everyday especially when hes far away I pray for his crew that no one makes a mistake and cause mine to be the one god might take I do not know his crew but fell like I do I hear names but see no faces now they are family too they chase the storms and climb up high god keeps them close in his eye up before light and to bed after dark with so much left to endeavor you think of them hardly ever but without them you would see never hands of stone, hearts so tender family time they surrender you might ask who these men are? To us wives, their out shining star to everyone else they go unseen right out in the open a top those poles so strong and lean
In their eyes it never shows the dangers that they face their one concern is making us all safe bound by their profession brothers by fate now you ask why this I state? So you too will know that they are great. The next time your lights go out and befoe you begin to shout remember theres a lineman and his crew working so very hard to see you through
At night when you sleep, pray that these men god will keep and bring them home safe & sound for their hearts & souls are truly bound to their profession in which they found. An unspeakable love & devotion in which they would never show fear or emotion. Linemen is what they are and linemen they will stay god bring him home to me, everyday I pray.
The powerlineman and the powerlinewives who work as a family unit to ensure that the power stays on and that the next generation of little lineman are loved and nurtured while daddy works long hours, away from, storm work or out of state.
And, to the wives we run our homes, take care of the children, prepare for parties (and usually go alone), attend school functions by ourselves, carry in the firewood, pay the bills, take care of business, buy cars, move, and get it all done, mostly alone, with a smile and pride that I have never seen before.
Our husbands don’t carry a hose, a gun or a scapel, but youll never see anyone with a gun, a hose or a scalpel able to fill their shoes. They make sure we all have something that we cant live without. A bystander cant step in and do their jobs. It takes guts, skil and balls of steal. They are powerlineman, and they rock
May God be with your husband. Thank you for sharing this experience.
Very good! You sound very strong and reasonable :)
Sometimes these are thankless jobs until disaster strikes and then these guys are cheered as they are seen entering an area following a severe weather event like a hurricane. My thanks to your husband and all the others who risk their lives so that others can be comfortable.
It must be a very tough life, Sherry! I remember when we had the devastating ice storm here in Massachusetts a couple winters ago -- some of the guys working on the power lines in my area were from Georgia I believe. You must be a very strong lady! I enjoyed the read! :)
Wow, I'm not sure I could handle it.