Thank you to Thin Blue Line USA for sponsoring this post. All opinions and work are my own. Showing appreciation toward law enforcement is needed now more than ever. And taking the time to thank a police officer doesn't have to be big or grand, a simple thank you goes a long way. Obviously, I show a ton of love and admiration to my husband in law enforcement all of the time, but there are certain times of the year that I want to extend my gratitude for other officer's, as well. Our officer's need constant, daily reminders that we support them. We need to flood them with praise, Click for more
3 Things a Police Officer Needs from His/Her Spouse
When my husband went into law enforcement a number of years ago I was honestly a bit naive as to what the job would be like for him and for our relationship. There is no blueprint on how to navigate being married to a police officer or what a police officer needs. It took a lot of time, conversation and understanding on both of our parts to navigate this lifestyle a bit easier. It has been shown that relational wellness is one of the greatest sources of resiliency for first responders. When first responder couples have effective communication and empathy, it can positively impact the Click for more
Resiliency in Law Enforcement
Today’s interview is brought to you by Officer Privacy. Officer Privacy is the most trusted, law enforcement owned privacy protection company. They remove your personal information from the top 70 people search sites.If you want to take your privacy back and have your identity as a law enforcement officer concealed, reach out to Officer Privacy. Police officers are exposed to trauma on the job regularly. But some officers bring past trauma with them to the job. How do people and police officers find the right tools to become resilient to this trauma? This is a topic that needs to be Click for more
Blue Family Businesses & Why We Support Them
Today’s episode is brought to you by Blue Monarch Co. A female, first responder owned company that offers beautiful, unique jewelry for men and women. You can look at their expansive collection and shop at bluemonarchco.com. My husband and I have always been passionate about supporting first responder owned businesses, especially ones that support police. Not only are they usually small, family owned businesses, but many of them give back to first responder charities. To us, it is also meaningful supporting a company that truly supports what our loved ones do in our communities. They Click for more
Father’s Day Gift Guide for Police Officers + Tactical Guys
This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you. I am part of the Amazon associates program where I earn commission if you make a purchase after clicking my links. Do you get stumped every Father's Day wondering what to give as a gift? This gift guide for police officers and tactical type of guys is full of options that you have probably never heard of. This is a list of items we own and actually have used with the exception of the grilling cutting board. Plus, items are within a variety of budgets. Father's Day Gift Guide for Police Officers + Tactical Click for more
The Benefits of Banking with National Police Credit Union for Police and their Families
This blog post is brought to you by 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/ If you are reading this then you are more than likely a police spouse, family member or maybe even an officer yourself. And I think we can agree that law enforcement officers and their families make huge sacrifices daily. Not only that, but police officers take great responsibility to help and Click for more
Life After a Critical Incident and Making Sure Policing Is NOT Your Identity
When you or your loved one experiences a critical incident on the job, it can create more than just physical pain. It can be a time of mental anguish, stress, high emotions, financial burdens and more. Today's episode features former police officer, Kelsey Wilson, who experienced two injuries one year apart. The second injury, sadly, ended her career abruptly with lasting damage to her hand and trigger finger. Kelsey recounts her critical incident, her injuries and what she still endures to this day. She also opens up and shares her struggles mentally with having to leave a Click for more
The Best Real Estate Program that Gives Back to First Responders and Military
This is a sponsored blog post on behalf of Honor the Brave. All opinions are honest and my own. If you are planning on buying or selling your home anytime in the foreseeable future, keep reading! Picture this: you are a first responder or military family, you are buying and/or selling your home, and get money back at the end of your transaction just for your service! That's exactly what co-owner of Honor the Brave, Zanna Wolfgang, shared with us on Episode 41 of podcast. Zanna and her husband Jeff Wolfgang, former police officer, started Honor the Brave several years ago as a way Click for more
Ways to Fuel Your Body for Shift Work & How This Helps Shift Work Families
Can shift workers like cops eat healthy? And what about shift work families who may be on a different schedule than their loved one? Of course they can and today we are talking about ways to fuel your body despite shift work. I can't tell you how many people just think cops eat donuts and drink energy drinks all day. The amount of comments and messages I get from people about this is kinda insane actually. And today on the podcast I talked with Raina, who is a shift work dietitian and she said while it is a stereotype, often in the middle of the night, the only places open for night 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
Celebrate National Telecommunicator’s Week
Telecommunicators or dispatchers are truly the unsung heroes of our nation. Telecommunicators may be behind the scenes but they are the calm to the crazy of our world. They are one of the first to talk to victims or those injured, they keep first responders like police or fire informed, all while handling multiple calls at one time with calm in their voice. Honestly, I could not do it! I applaud all of the 9-1-1 dispatchers for their amazing work because they are the GLUE that holds emergencies together. You can applaud them, too! April 9-15th, 2023 is National Public Safety Click for more
Here’s What We Did “Sign Up For” as a Law Enforcement Family
As a law enforcement family, I'm sure you've heard those words: "you signed up for this" in regards to the job. Those words are hurtful, untrue in MANY aspects, lack empathy, and truly show just how misunderstood this job {and the impact it has on officers and families} is. Let me start off by saying this: this "job" is so much more than a job. It is a lifestyle that impacts an officer's life mentally, emotionally and physically and their families lives. The job does not end when an officer clocks off shift. Everything they see and experience stays with them for hours, days, weeks after Click for more
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Law Enforcement Couples
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Arrest My Vest. All opinions are honest and my own. For law enforcement couples, we may not be able to celebrate Valentine's Day on the actual day. Maybe it is the day before or day after and it may be in a non-conventional way, and that's okay! Celebrating on a different day can be rather nice. You don't have to deal with crazy dinner reservations or wait hours for take out. It's just another day celebrating your love. This is a quick Valentine's Day Gift Guide created with law enforcement couples in mind, from law enforcement related gift ideas Click for more
Real Solutions for Managing Health and Fitness for Law Enforcement
Police officers today face enormous pressure, stress and job related trauma. While they may not be able to control those aspects of the job, what they can control is their health and fitness. Sadly, police officers face alarming health related issues because of this stress. So it is imperative that they take proactive measures to be healthy and fit early on in their career or as soon as they can. Constant drive-thrus, bang energy drinks and binge eating after shift all contribute to future health related issues. In today's episode, former police officer, author, fitness expert, and Click for more
4 Ways to Prepare for Emergencies as a Law Enforcement Family
Today's episode and blog post are brought to you by Pictures on Gold. Pictures on Gold offers high quality jewelry including a police and firefighter collection with badge necklaces, earrings and more. Use code PROUDPOLICEWIFE for $10 off and shop here. We know all too well the dangers that exist in life in general, but those dangers also exist with careers in law enforcement. And I know it can be depressing to think of those dangers. For some you, you may just brush them off and ignore them. I get it. But in reality, it's important to be prepared for any emergencies that can happen Click for more
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day- Ways to Show Appreciation and Celebrate
This post is based on a partnership with Oriental Trading. All opinions are honest and my own. National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is celebrated every year on January 9th in the United States. It is a day for citizens to come together to show thanks, appreciation and support for our nations law enforcement. While you can (and should) show support to law enforcement all the time, it is nice having a dedicated day in which to do so. One of the most common questions I get asked is "how can I show support to law enforcement?" My answer is "it's not hard and doesn't need to be Click for more
Transitioning to Retirement for Law Enforcement with Jason Hoschouer
This 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. Whether your spouse is ready to retire or is questioning if it is time to leave law enforcement or not, it is important to know what the transition can look like and how to prepare. So in this episode we are talking about tips for transitioning to retirement for law enforcement officers and their families. Joining us in today's podcast Click for more
How to Support Law Enforcement Families After a Critical Incident
Any critical incident in the law enforcement community, seems to hit close to home. Even if we don't know those immediately impacted, we feel a connection, in some way, to those hurting. And when someone in the law enforcement community is hurting we want to offer support and help in some way. If you do know those hurting, it can be a normal tendency to want to "fix" things or reach out right away to offer support. And while support is needed, there are some do's and don't's in regards to WHEN to give support. Joining us on today's episode is Rachael Flick. Rachael is the host of The Click for more
The Huge Holiday Gift Guide for Law Enforcement Families
This blog post contains some sponsored or affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. Products listed are all ones we use, trust or recommend. If you have a law enforcement officer in your family or any hard-working, tactical-type person, then this holiday gift guide for law enforcement is your perfect place to get ideas from! My husband and I try to be pretty practical when it comes to gift giving, but some years I just get stumped. And I heard from many of you all LOUD and CLEAR- you get stumped, too. Click for more
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Law Enforcement
Some links in this blog post are sponsored or affiliate links where I may receive a small commission if you purchase items through my link at no extra charge to you. I'll be honest, finding gifts for my husband around the holidays is not the easiest thing to do. We usually stick to one gift for each of us plus stocking stuffers. Stocking stuffers can actually get pretty pricey and I don't like to fill it with junk that he won't use. So finding gift ideas that are practical, fairly inexpensive, and ones that he will use are what I am always looking for. Here are some of the most Click for more
The Problem with Overtime for Law Enforcement Officers
This 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. One "perk" that many law enforcement families see to the job is getting overtime which equals more each month. We all know that law enforcement officers aren't paid their worth, so one way to offset that pay and bring in extra money each month is by working some overtime. Overtime for law enforcement is NOT always a bad thing but overtime can Click for more
Why Christmas Magic May Look Different for a First Responder Family
We always hear how magical the Christmas season is and how it is the most joyous time of the year. Many people may even take time off and enjoy extended blocks of time off with friends and family. So many look forward to opening presents on Christmas morning with all of their family present, attending numerous family gatherings during the month of December, going out of town to see family, and so much more. But things usually look a bit different for first responder families. The reality is for first responder families, we can't always do what so many other families do across the Click for more
The #1 Buying/Selling Home Program for First Responders
This is a sponsored blog post on behalf of Honor the Brave. All opinions are honest and my own. If you are buying or selling a home any time soon and you are a first responder (or your spouse is) then why not save some money while doing it? The best buying/selling home program for first responders is Honor the Brave. They are a first responder owned family company that has a mission to give back to their first responder clients when buying or selling a home. My husband and I have personally used Honor the Brave to sell a home and again to purchase a home. They were amazing to work Click for more
3 Ways to Support Your Spouse After a Critical Incident or Trauma from the Job
Just because our loved ones are in law enforcement does not mean they will experience a critical incident. But, yes, it is a possibility. And sometimes trauma occurs to the department as a whole, a community or co-worker and that experience still leaves us (or your loved one) with a wound. And whether a critical incident has occurred for you, your spouse or your family or you just want to be mentally prepared now knowing that this possibility could happen the best you can do is find tools to be resilient. Taking action now and meeting someone where they are at after a critical Click for more
5 Boundaries Every Law Enforcement Family Needs From the Job
Today's episode is brought to you Blue Monarch Co. Blue Monarch is a police owned jewelry company that offers pieces for both men and women, sterling silver and subtle thin blue line pieces. Use code PROUDPOLICEWIFE for 40% off. Work phones ringing off the hook, overtime, working later than expected, always talking about the job, having plans canceled too frequently- sound familiar? While some of these things do happen to most law enforcement families from time to time, they don't need to happen all the time. Instead, your family needs boundaries from the job. It is Click for more
Police Appreciation Dates You Need to Know for Throughout the Year
There are several police appreciation dates each year dedicated to giving support to law enforcement. But there are also dates dedicated to remembering and honoring those we have lost. It can be hard to remember when those dates are and what they mean. And if you're like me, you need time to plan police appreciation ideas in advance, not the day or week of when you see mention of it on social media. So this post is designed to help you write down those dates and plan in advance. As well as, differentiate between each of the police appreciation days and police week because they are Click for more
What Happens When Cops Don’t Talk
Law enforcement officers see more trauma than the average person. Over time, the trauma they see and experience builds or stacks on top of each other. It is vital that police officers find healthy ways to cope with the job and this includes talking about it. When cops don't talk, we can see a variety of symptoms regarding their physical and mental health. In today's episode I am joined by Susan Simons, President and Founder of Under the Shield, leading subject matter expert in First Responder Stress and Post Traumatic Stress Injury as well as a podcast host of Fight in Progress. Click for more
A First Responder and Military Friendly Resort with Discounts
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Hawks Cay Resort. All opinions are honest and my own. My husband and I recently had the opportunity to visit a first responder and military friendly resort, Hawks cay Resort, in Duck Key, Florida. Hawks Cay Resort is nestled in the Florida Keys surrounded by crystal clear waters, palm trees, and gorgeous views that go on for miles. We all know how much first responders and military members deserve to relax. So when traveling to Hawks Cay Resort we had plans for some serious R & R and the resort did not disappoint! For the first time in a 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
Building Resiliency in First Responders
First responders are just that- the ones that respond to danger, negativity and emergencies FIRST. They are the helpers in the world and constantly being exposed to heavy topics and experiences can take a toll. One way to combat the high exposure to negativity and emergencies is by building resiliency in first responders. This not only helps them process what they see on the job, but helps decrease burnout in first responders and spillover from the job. In today's podcast episode we brought on Kristen Jauregui as our guest. Kristen is a fellow police wife, dispatcher of 23 years, Click for more