The Academy

I have a crazy life.  Crazier now that my husband is a cop.

I work full time, run a household, and do my best to raise our son.  Up till recently, I was half of a team that did all of those things.  But now that my officer is off to the academy...things have changed dramatically.  Let me give you a bit of a run down...

We are a pretty Ozzie and Harriet family...right down to the dogs and cats and two-car garage.  For the sake of anonymity, I'll just say that I have a pretty traditional career that brings me home at a regular time each day and affords me weekends off.  It can be a stressful job that includes some at-home work.

I hate cooking, so "the man" usually takes care of that.  Now that he's gone during the week, there are a lot more chicken nuggets, one-pot meals, pizza orders, and left-overs.

I run - though I hate it.  I do yoga - which I love.  I write.  I read.  And I spend way too much time on the internet (we don't have cable...so I guess it fills in for that).

We live in a small-ish town in an area that has been hit rather hard by the economic downturn.  So, waiting for a patrol position to open up really was an act of faith (or futility, some might have said).  And in our state, you can't just head on off to the academy on your own dime to beef up your resume and make you more marketable.  Nope.  You gotta wait until someone sees your value and determines it's worth it to send you under their sponsorship.  With upwards of 50 or more applicants for one opening, it was nothing short of a miracle that "the man" got on with a department in a nearby town, allowing me to keep my job.  It'll mean a bit of a commute, but given the circumstances, it seems acceptable.

When I got the call that he was being invited back for a 2nd interview, I was ecstatic.  It's been such a long journey for him, and I was thoroughly elated.  Of course, it didn't mean he'd get it.

The initial interview was in January.  The second was in June.  He left for the academy a few months later.

The first week was hard.  I don't consider myself to be an overly needy spouse, but I've been pretty used to his company on a regular basis.  Suddenly, I found myself on my own Monday-Friday...seeing him only Friday night and Saturday...saying good-bye again on Sunday.  The first 4 weeks, there were tears, and our son acted out at home and at school every Monday and Thursday (like clockwork).  I guess in distress over his leaving and in excitement over his return.

Now, months later, we've fallen into a do-able routine.  It doesn't mean it's easy.  But, it's not as stressful or as lonely.

It has definitely taken some adjustment.  And of course, we're on our way toward a life of continual adaption.  But, I feel pretty blessed that "the man" gets to do what "the man" wants to do.