I grew up in a fire family. My dad, for the longest time, was a captain in our city's fire department and recently was promoted to be the battalion chief. He has worked in our city's fire department since I was born, so having a parent in the fire department is all I really know.
Not many people know what it's like to be in a fire family. They think it's just getting to ride in the fire engine and getting a bunch of those plastic fire hats, when really there's so much more to it.
1. You never celebrate holidays on the actual day.
Nine times out of 10, my dad is working on holidays, and to add on top of that, my uncle is a 911 dispatcher, so my family usually celebrates Christmas about a week early because that's the only day they both have off.
2. You've gone to many Christmas parties at the fire station with the other fire families.
I always looked forward to those Christmas parties, getting to babysit all of the little kids when I was only 12 myself, taking pictures with Santa and Rudolph, and of course having Santa hand-deliver my presents himself.
3. You never know when your parent is working or home.
Our day usually starts off with someone asking "Is Dad working today?" And the answer is almost always no one knows. After almost 19 years of being a fireman's daughter, I still can't figure out that shift schedule.
4. And when they are home for a longer period of time, you go a little crazy.
When they're home for longer than maybe four days, things get a little crazy because you're so used to them being home for only a few days at a time. A few years ago, my dad had surgery on his shoulder so he was home for three straight months. It was absolutely crazy because he's a very busy body and since he couldn't move, he had us doing all of the chores that he normally would have done. The house had never been cleaner.
5. You have a different routine from when your parent is home versus when your parent is working.
My mom had pointed this out when my dad was home for a longer period of time. The routine changes when my dad is home and when he isn't. Usually when my dad is home, we actually cook dinner, clean the house and work on the yard, but when he isn't, we either relax in preparation for him being home or we clean the house like crazy so we don't have to when he's home.
6. If you're looking to go the medical route, there are a bunch of cool dummies laying around the fire station just waiting to be practiced on.
My dad taught me how to intubate on a dummy with fake lungs and how to start an IV on a dummy baby's leg. It was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever learned and it really pushed me to go the medical route. Obviously, I'm not going around intubating people, but it's still good to know how to.
7. You've never known what it's like to have both parents home every single night like the other non-fire families.
I love my dad, don't get me wrong, but having him home every single night like all the other families? No, thank you. Sure, maybe I would be thinking differently if I didn't know any better, like if he was a contractor like he originally intended to be and he would be home like the other families, but all I've ever known is having him home a few nights out of the week and I wouldn't have it any other way. I feel that it made me more independent and mature.
8. You have a whole other family that consists of about 50 very protective guys.
Practically every guy in the department has known me since I was born and I have babysat a majority of their own kids. To me, they're family. Not too long ago, I ran into them at a grocery store and one of them said that they'd better be invited to my future wedding -- that's going to be one big wedding.
9. Whenever a fire engine drives by in your town, you always look to see who is on duty that day.
I always feel so cool when the engine drives by and the guys wave at me. It makes me feel all high and mighty compared to the other drivers around me.
10. When your fire department came to your elementary school and let the kids use the hose.
That was the best day ever! I felt so cool having my dad show my friends what he does, and of course, I got to be the first one to use the hose.
