I went from working 70 hrs a week to 8-16 hrs a week for a few months down to last month not working at all. My guess is the 1st I will be returning to work and honestly the first few months out I was bored because I was so used to working so much, now I'm kinda not wanting to go back. I've been able to spend so much more time in the last 6 months with my daughter that I haven't been able to in the past. Honestly the first month out of work I probably spent more time with her then than I had her whole life. Anyone here go through periods of down time and then go back? How do ou make the transition easy? Not only that but I was used to lack of sleep now I love sleep!

 

It's about time you did something...

Glad to hear you made good use of the down time though!

 

My back to work date is the 1st but I doubt that will happen. I still have problems standing up from being on the floor and hills give me problems but you never know my surgeon is weird!

 

I was unemployed for 15 months, when I went back to work it was pretty hard to get back into it. I went right into a job working 60-84 hrs a week. I was dead tired all the time until it slowed down after about a year. The hard part was not seeing my son as much also. We had a lot of quality time together. I don't think there is an easy way to get back into it. If your daughter is young let her know she still is #1 and work is a necessity. My son was disappointed at first , I had to explain I needed to work to pay bills and take good care of him.

 

Fortunately, I think my boys all understood that part through the multiple deployments. My biggest fear as a father is one day, after they've moved out, one of them looks at me and says, "You were never there for us anyway."

 

I think after a few shifts back you will be right back in the swing of things. I go off my schedule for a few weeks (on vacation) and it took a couple of shifts back to get my body and mind back into the routine. The suck part is that while I was on vacation by body kept trying to be on my work schedule. it made actually having a relaxing time a bit difficult. Things are much better now

that is assuming that you are good to go, physically. if your body is still screwed up, all bets are off

 

I have a Dr. appt. tomorrow morning. I will find out if I go back the 1st or next month. Thanks for the replies I hope it doesn't suck to much. I just need to get one good job and knock this 70hr a week bs.

 

Your FEAR is THIS! The same fear EVERY Father has had since time immemorial...


Just trust that, even if your fears are realized, one day they will understand. even if it forever goes unsaid.

 

My dad probably worked 60hr weeks most of my childhood, so he was still around fairly often, but I'm the oldest of 5, and you can only pay attention to so many kids at a time. Being the oldest, I was left to my own devices often.

Only grief I ever had from that was the lack of support when I told my parents I wanted to race motocross. The ONLY thing I really ever NEEDED help with as a kid, and it never happened, but I got over it.

Only problem now is that dad wants me to call home every couple weeks and give them updates, like, whether Im still alive or not. I grew accustomed to my space, and rather enjoy it now.


So, I think kids can get over their parents having busy schedules, just buy them lots of crap to make up for it. And to that I say: MURICA. **** YEAH.




(and sorry for the hijack)

 

Yeah, sorry we got a little off topic with this, Don...