There is nothing more difficult than planning for meals around the holidays when your officer is working. Are you supposed to make a meal and keep it warm? Do you pack meals for your officer to take? Do you wait to eat until after he is home? Or before? Cook just for you? Truly, the possibilities are endless (and sometimes exhausting). All of our specific situations are different. So I tried to find the best AND most simple recipes so we don't go insane while cooking during the holidays! These recipes double for both Thanksgiving and Christmas! Recipes/meals that will make holiday Click for more
Hold the Line: Support for Police Families
Today’s interview is brought to you by Shieldbox. Shieldbox is the #1 police subscription box designed for law enforcement. Each month Shieldbox curates a box full of duty gear and supplies that prepare you for the job. Check out their Standard or Pro boxes at www.theshieldbox.com. Have you ever said or been told "law enforcement is just a job"? Well, yes, it is a job, but it is a career choice that has great impact on the person serving in that career and often times, it impacts the family, as well. As family members, I think it is important to learn a little bit about Click for more
How to Embrace Every Shift as a Police Wife
Before we dive in, I want to remind you to if you liked today’s episode or past episodes, please be sure to leave a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also grab my newest book Proud Police Wife: 90 Devotions for women behind the badge anywhere books are sold for further faith based encouragement. After experiencing every shift possible over the last 17 years with my husband in law enforcement, I can confidently say there are truly pros and cons to each shift. There are so many pros and cons to every position he has had in his career, as well. There are Click for more
Stressors of Being a First Responder Spouse + Ways to Cope
Today’s episode is brought to you by The National Police Credit Union, a full service financial institution specializing in products and services for law enforcement and their families since 1938. You can learn more about becoming a member by going to their website at https://nationalpolicecu.com/ Being the spouse of a first responder brings unique challenges and we bring our own background and experience into relationships. So having resources that not only recognize these unique challenges but also offer support is incredibly valuable. Finding the right resources for you Click for more
TOP 10 WAYS TO KNOW SHE’S A POLICE WIFE
As a police wife, we don't have a badge. We don't make arrests and drive a cop car. But we are an integral part of the police life. We hold things together when our spouse is too tired. We are the glue behind the lights and sirens at home. We are one of the only constants in this fast pace, overwhelming career. We are friends, wives, counselors, mothers, and so much more. Here are some common things you may be able to relate to as a police wife. Here are the top 10 ways to know she is a police wife: 1. She isn't afraid to spend nights alone. Let's face it, it is going to Click for more
49 Things No One Ever Tells You About Being Married to a Police Officer
I was super naive when my husband went into law enforcement and I truly did not know what to expect. I wish I had that one friend that could pull me aside and let me know the ups and downs. Maybe it would have saved us some fights, maybe I would have been less surprised or confused some days, and maybe it could have helped prepare me a bit more. But one thing I have learned is that this lifestyle is full of MANY positives and not all negatives despite what you may hear. Wouldn't it have been nice to know that? So I polled my amazingly wonderful Instagram audience who also happen to be Click for more
The Best Way to Get FREE Resources for Police Spouses and Significant Others
Looking for free resources for police spouses? I've got you covered. For years, myself and fellow police spouses looked for resources to help navigate this lifestyle. And while I did create my blog, Proud Police Wife, as one of those resources nearly 7 years ago, I wanted to bring this community more. I wanted one, easy to access, jam-packed resource FULL of experts for law enforcement families. Here were the other caveats. It needed to be online, easily accessible around your work and life, and not cost you loads of money. That's when the Annual Police Wife Conference was Click for more
DEAR POLICE WIFE,
DEAR FELLOW POLICE WIFE, I want you to know, I see you. I know you are tired. You miss your support system; your husband. Your officer has been working 'round the clock. You see him in passing, a quick “Love you and be safe.” You leave him a quick note in his lunch box each day just so he knows how much you care. But not seeing him is catching up with you. I know you are lonely. You have something really important to talk about but it will be days, DAYS, before you will get a chance to sit down and have a conversation. You are dying for adult conversation because talking to kids all day Click for more
WHY GOD MADE STRONG WOMEN POLICE WIVES
Gosh, this couldn't be more true. Police Wives are seriously, without a doubt, some of the strongest women I have ever met. WHY? God just knew. He knew when he created you. He knew just by looking at YOU, that YOU could handle this life. He knew you were strong, inside and out. You were made for this. He knew that you were resilient. He knew you were a fighter. He knew you were unselfish. He knew you were brave. God made you strong so you could handle all the curve-balls associated with this life. You are strong because you constantly fight back tears even when you are in Click for more
3 Ways to Cultivate Prayer Habits for Police Wives
This is a guest post by author and fellow police wife, JJ Gutierrez. The police wife’s life is a lot like a roller coaster ride filled with ups and downs. Some days life is good. Your LEO is home on time all week, his re-entry from his shift to home life is smooth and your relationship is experiencing closeness and connection. Then, there are other days, when life is hard and challenging. Unexpected over-time, the pressure of raising kids and making family decisions alone and dealing with his “less than pleasant” attitude can leave you feeling frustrated and resentful. How can wives manage Click for more
7 Tips for Overcoming Police Wife Struggles
This is a sponsored guest post by Sunshyne Gray, a fellow police wife and licensed counselor and life coach. Being a law-enforcement wife for 23 years has undoubtedly presented challenges that I had no idea would exist in marriage. My friends didn’t seem to understand or experience some of the hard places I was finding in my police marriage. But police wife struggles are real and they are hard. I wish someone would have pulled me aside and explained why a police marriage endures challenges that non-police marriages don’t encounter. Understanding my husband‘s experience would’ve helped me be Click for more
How to conquer the loneliness of police wife life
After my husband graduated the academy, I stared at him as he pressed his uniform before he began his first shift on the road. He looked so handsome and so excited to finally start his career in law enforcement. I was excited for him and could not have been more proud. After a few weeks though, the excitement settled and loneliness set in. I quickly realized that police wife life would leave me with a lot of time on my hands. We worked opposite schedules, you see. I worked as a teacher and was home around 5 p.m. My officer worked night shift and left for shift around 3 p.m. This meant that Click for more
The Police Spouse’s Emotional Guide for Navigating Christmas
In the 15 years that I have been a police spouse, my husband and I have had our fair share of holidays apart. Some years I adapted more easily than others. My first few years, when we were newly married, were some of the hardest. After that, once we had babies, was another hard season of navigating the holidays. It wasn't just the fact that he was working and I was home that made it hard. I was mentally tired of explaining to friends and family what our holiday plans were. I was tired of hearing the jokes "are you even married?" I longed to make our own traditions as a newly married couple Click for more
Ways to Gain Support with Others as a Police Spouse or Significant Other
This is a very popular question I get asked a lot: "How do I meet other police wives or girlfriends or gain support from others who get it?" It is important to be able to connect with those who also need support or friendship as a police spouse or significant other. And we all know that no one quite understands this lifestyle unless they walk in our shoes. I remember when my husband first got into law enforcement over 16 years ago. I truly wanted friendship with other police spouses but it didn't feel that easy. I didn't know how to meet others in an authentic way and many of those I met Click for more
Ways to Keep the Connection Going with your Spouse when they Work Shift Work
Today's episode is brought to you by Pictures on Gold. Pictures on Gold offers personalized police and firefighter jewelry like badge necklaces, earrings and more. Use this link to shop and use code PROUDPOLICEWIFE for $10 off. I think we can all agree that it takes WORK, actual work, to keep the connection going in our marriages especially around shift work. What was once super easy when you first dating, maybe isn’t always the same anymore because well life happens. You get immersed in your jobs, have kids, more household duties, you grow older and get used to the Click for more
Why Rest and Relaxation is Important for Police Wives
First responder spouses are some of the most strong and independent people I know. But sometimes what that means is we take on more than we can chew. And yes, I am speaking from experience. We all have those tired days or weeks so here is a reminder on why rest and relaxation for you and police wives is important. Tips to Insure Rest and Relaxation for Police Wives Be okay with pumping the breaks a bit. I am completely guilty of taking on more than I should. We have to be okay with slowing down our schedules or else nothing will change. You have the control to do that. Be Click for more
Support for First Responders and Military Families with Taya Kyle
First responder and military couples often have bigger asks of them compared to civilian couples. These careers ask more out of couples and families. But sadly, it can be hard to find support and resources for the tens of thousands of service families that need them. In today's episode I am joined by Taya Kyle. Taya Kyle is the widow of Chris Kyle-American Sniper, Executive Director of The Taya and Chris Kyle Foundation | Service Family Strong, New York Times Best Selling Author of American Wife, and a huge advocate for first responder and military families. Our community was so blessed to Click for more
3 Ways to Help Your Police Spouse When He/She Comes Off Shift
Today's episode is brought to you by Pictures on Gold. Pictures on Gold offers personalized police and firefighter jewelry like badge necklaces, earrings and more. Use this link to shop and use code PROUDPOLICEWIFE for $10 off. When your spouse works a dangerous job mixed with shift work, it is NORMAL to feel happy, excited, emotional or relieved when he/she comes home safely after shift. I remember many nights where our baby cried all night and I longed for the moment until my husband walked through that door so I could hand him the baby so I could get some sleep. Or the time I Click for more
The BEST books for police wives, police officers & their families
Isn't there something great about having a book in your hands? Don't get me wrong, I love reading and learning from information on the web (obviously, because I have a blog), but I also love snuggling up with a good book or reading one to my kids. Even better, I love reading books that help me grow and encourage my police wife life. And from time to time, my officer will recommend a few good books, too. And if he recommends them, you know they are good! But let's not forget books for your little ones. Nothing could be better than seeing my kids' smiling faces while I read a book about Click for more
What to Remember When You Feel Lonely as a Police Spouse
Years ago, I did not know that the loneliness I was experiencing was very normal. In fact, most police spouses experience loneliness, on some level, at some point. If you are finding yourself lonely and missing your spouse, then I want you to know, you are not alone. I am not so physically lonely now because I have little ones & lots of animals to occupy my time and company. However, I am now in the stage of my life where I can feel emotionally lonely if I do not allow myself to be intentional and make time for my husband and I to be together. Keeping your time protected, as a Click for more
How to Live a Purposeful Life Even During Hard Times with Zanna Wolfgang
If you are a police family member and ready to find encouragement for living your best life, then this is the episode for you. Joining me on the podcast today is Zanna Wolfgang. Zanna is a former police wife, founder of Honor the Brave and she has some new ventures that we are talking about today which share her passion for helping women live their lives purposefully even during hard times. It’s no secret that the past few years have obviously been hard for so many of us but in today’s episode we want to encourage people to not stay in that hard season of life. We want to use Click for more
The Best Resources and Support for Police Spouses All in One Place
If you haven't heard, The Police Wife Conference is coming back for it's 4th year! This is a virtual event that is happening April 25th-29th, 2022! If you are Looking for Resources and Support for Police Spouses, this is for you! 5 days, 10 expert speakers, talking about 10 different topics for law enforcement families. In a nutshell, the best resources and support for police spouses all packed in to one powerful week. Here are the details: The Fourth Annual Police Wife Conference is a week long, virtual event where you will have access to 10 experts speakers from Click for more
When You Feel Just Plain Tired as a Law Enforcement Spouse
Disclaimer: I am not a counselor or doctor. Do not take my story, opinion or what is shared in this episode as medical or professional advice. Raise your hand if over the past two years you have felt just plain tired as a law enforcement spouse. For some of us, it ends there. We are just tired. Mentally and physically tired from the rhetoric, the hate that law enforcement receive and from the impact the job has on our lives. For others, that tiredness turns into exhaustion and burnout. You can take a break, go on vacation or do a social media fast for a bit and feel better. Click for more
How to Take Control of Your Fear as a Police Wife
Fear as a police wife- this is a huge topic I get asked about all the time. Spouses want to know are their fears normal? Do other spouses have fear, too? How do you manage the fear? First, fear is normal. But fear is an emotion that will control you if you let it. It can consume you and only bring negativity if you don't find ways to redirect those emotions. So there is a fine line between having normal amounts of fear as a police wife in your life and letting those fears be in the front of your mind every single day. Sadly, I don't think this topic is not discussed enough. We hear Click for more
How to Best Prepare for the Unexpected as a Law Enforcement Family
This episode is brought to you by Blue Monarch Co. Blue Monarch Co. is a retired police owned and operated jewelry company that offers inspirational and subtle thin blue line pieces. Check out Blue Monarch Co. and use code HEART40 for 40% off your order or code BOGOHEART for buy one, get one free for any products in the heart collection. While talking about the dangers of the job is not an ideal conversation and one that many law enforcement families put off, it truly is one of necessity. No one truly wants to talk about how to prepare for the unexpected. Believe me, Click for more
How to Make Mental Wellness a Priority for Law Enforcement Spouses
This episode is brought to you by Charliemadison Originals. Charliemadison Originals is a military spouse-owned and operated small business that supports all first responders. They create meaningful everyday jewelry that keeps you connected to your first-responder hero and reminds you of those you cherish most. This is a topic that is really real and raw for me. A lot of emphasis as spouses is put on mental health for the officer in our life (and understandbly so) but what we don't always recognize is that we need to check on ourselves as well. As Click for more
How to Survive and Thrive in a Law Enforcement Marriage with Lena Rosenbloom
This episode is brought to you by Blue Monarch Co. Blue Monarch Co. is a retired police owned and operated jewelry company that offers inspirational and subtle thin blue ling pieces. Check out Blue Monarch Co. and use code BLUE20 for 20% off your purchase. Today Lena Rosenbloom from Badge Wives is joining us to talk about how to not only survive in your law enforcement marriage but how to thrive. Lena is a fellow police wife of many years, is a mental health professional, and is the President of Badge Wives located in Florida. So many times old statistics about Click for more
The Best Devotional for Hope and Strength During the War on Cops
The past two years have been nothing short of difficult for law enforcement officers and their families. We've gone through and witnessed vile hatred towards cops, media spun lies, defunding of police and much more. But as families, it can be hard to sit back and watch this all happen. We already deal with loneliness from the job, single but married parenting, unsupportive friends and family, fear, just to name a few. If you are searching for hope and strength during the war on cops and the law enforcement lifestyle, then look no further. The Best Devotional for Hope and Click for more
Top Law Enforcement Lingo and Acronyms for Police Spouses and Families
Maybe your spouse just went through the police academy and now you are hearing acronyms and lingo you've never heard before. I get it- my head was spinning my husband's first year in the academy trying to grasp what he was saying. Or maybe you are a veteran spouse and your spouse is STILL saying them. Lol! I get that also! Either way, here are some top acronyms and lingo you may hear from your officer and what they mean! Top Law Enforcement Lingo and Acronyms FTO- Field Training Officer You will hear this one a lot, especially as your spouse leaves the academy. Your officer Click for more
What It’s Like When People Talk about Law Enforcement but They Say “I Don’t Mean Your Officer”
There is no question that law enforcement has been in the news and media increasingly more compared to past years. People have also become much more vocal about how they feel about law enforcement especially on social media. I think it is incredibly important for people to voice their opinion and to have discussions which can help further educate them on any topic. But just like various topics, there are a lot of generalizations being made about law enforcement that simply are not true. When People Say "I Don't Mean Your Officer" What many law enforcement officers and Click for more