Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

I was out somewhere amongst a bunch of the “sports” mom and dads last week and I overheard a conversation between two parents that made me literally roll my eyes and want to walk up to them and go “Are you kidding me?”

As a mom of two teenage boys who are very active in sports and school activities, I find myself missing my husband being here to share in the triumphs and defeats of their lives. From the first college acceptance letter this year to a fairly bad football injury, making the call has been the hardest thing. I can always tell in his tone of voice that he wishes he could be here, but I also know that he wants to take care of his family so there are sacrifices to be made. I feel lucky that I am able to write for the site, take care of the paperwork for our truck, and attend graduate school while other moms (and dads) are missing out on the “stay-at-home” experience.

You may wonder what bothered me the most about the overheard conversation. Simple, someone’s spouse (or significant other) had been out of town for a day and was to return two days later, being gone from their family for three days. Yes, I understand that you can miss a lot in three days, but give me a break. The whining and they “Oh I just can’t get used to it, handling everything all on my own!” made me mad.

My husband made it home for Thanksgiving, I never have been happier to have him home. He was on the road for 39 days straight. This was a first for us as he used to drive regionally but has since decided to do more OTR (over the road) driving because of the great money involved in it. It was pretty tough. I traveled to Wisconsin with the boys for a college visit, we made a decision to buy a new truck in December, I dealt with my dad’s health problems, and more in those 39 days. But yet one person couldn’t deal with attending a sporting event without their spouse/significant other? All I can say is, I feel sorry for them.

Why? Because they have no realization as to how the world works. We have drivers on the road for us day and night missing family “things” that are very important. We have troops protecting us 24 hours a day that are gone from home a year or more at a time. And people are worried about a family member missing a sporting event. How sad.

As a truck driver’s wife, I wish that was all I had to worry about. Just once I wish other people could take some sort of active role as the part of trucker’s family to see what really happens. Maybe then they would appreciate the food on their tables, the clothes on their backs, and the sacrifices that are made.

But I really, really doubt it.

Thanks drivers for being responsible and taking care of your families. And thanks for listening to those of us at home freak out about things, whine about things, and for hearing the love/sadness/anger in our voices when you haven’t been there for a while.