Unsupportive Family Vent Thread

[mmillner81]

This is for all the FF/Medics who need to vent about unsupportive family members.
I'll start first. I've found a career which I know is right for me. It's taken years to build and rebuild a path to get there. I'm in medic school doing 24/48 shifts with a local FD. It's amazing. I wish my family could understand why I want to do it. Here's some of the supportive comments I've heard
"You don't need to do all this ride time."
"You can always run and help them but never us"
"You're to stupid to be a medic and a firefighter."
"You'll never make it as a firefighter/medic with your diabetes"
"You think your job is so impressive but you need to realize you make ****ty pay and your job isn't that important."
"How can you be tired ? You slept most of the night at the firehouse."
At first I took it to heart, and spent 6 years avoiding chasing my dream. Finally I realized to follow my own dream. Still, it really sucks hearing this on a daily basis.

[Bones42]

You can choose a career, you can't choose your family.

[BoxAlarm187]

Wow, quite a family you have. My family is extremely supportive of me & my chosen career field. My uncle doesn't disrespect me at all, although he is vocal that the fire service is (in his opinion) a massive waste of the taxpayers money.

Have you tried to explain things to them?

[CaptOldTimer]

If this is what brings in the money for the family then stay with it.

Try to explain to them the WHY's if you haven't already done so.

A lot of people have the mindset of firemen being lazy and sitting around play cards or checkers all day.

You need to educate them that this isn't the truth as it was 50 to a 100 years ago.

[ChiefKN]

Take them to Maury.

He'll straighten them out.

[doughesson]

Take them to Maury.

He'll straighten them out.

Only if you need a DNA test to prove that you're related to people who don't understand why you joined the fire service.
I've only watched a few episodes,has he gotten onto a different topic yet,proving who is and isn't the baby daddy?

[doughesson]

If anyone in ANY field works hard enough at their job that their family life suffers,it's a sign of something.Maybe how the people who are chosen to be in that person's life aren't very supportive to begin with.Either that or they are spending way too much time at the "office".
I and some of the guys on my volunteer department each went through a few girlfriend because we'd spend time at the station to reduce response time or just keeping the place up since the stations weren't manned 24/7.
You just have to let family come first and if they think you are too stupid,show them wrong.
It could be worse.When I was injured OTJ(non fire service),my sister who is my "person to contact in case of emergency" decided while I was in the recovery room coming out of the anesthesia that she should handle my affairs and was arranging for stuff that was already being cared for without my permission.I had to threaten a nurse with a HIPPA suit if she acted on my sister's desires.
Just flow with it and explain youself should they ask you as an adult.

This is for all the FF/Medics who need to vent about unsupportive family members.
I'll start first. I've found a career which I know is right for me. It's taken years to build and rebuild a path to get there. I'm in medic school doing 24/48 shifts with a local FD. It's amazing. I wish my family could understand why I want to do it. Here's some of the supportive comments I've heard
"You don't need to do all this ride time."
"You can always run and help them but never us"
"You're to stupid to be a medic and a firefighter."
"You'll never make it as a firefighter/medic with your diabetes"
"You think your job is so impressive but you need to realize you make ****ty pay and your job isn't that important."
"How can you be tired ? You slept most of the night at the firehouse."
At first I took it to heart, and spent 6 years avoiding chasing my dream. Finally I realized to follow my own dream. Still, it really sucks hearing this on a daily basis.

[hwoods]

Well...............

I know this is easier to say than do, but just tune them out. It sounds like a bunch of people who all want to micro manage other people's lives...... You are, as best I can determine, an Adult. Make your own Choices and stick to your Guns. I only remember (Long Time Ago) ever having one family member who wasn't supportive of those of us who were "Head over Heels" into the Fire Service. He died, and sadly, several of us were almost late for his Funeral due to a Working Fire........ Oh Well......

[pegasus8891]

If this is what brings in the money for the family then stay with it.

Try to explain to them the WHY's if you haven't already done so.

A lot of people have the mindset of firemen being lazy and sitting around play cards or checkers all day.

You need to educate them that this isn't the truth as it was 50 to a 100 years ago.

for real thats what the x-box is for JK

[CaptOldTimer]

for real thats what the x-box is for JK

x-box, what is that?

[ChiefKN]

x-box, what is that?

It's like a xxx box, but cleaner.

[JHR1985]

while they are sleeping take a chainsaw to them


they wont complain no more

[BSFD9302]

"You'll never make it as a firefighter/medic with your diabetes"

ALl of the other crap they ar syaing to you is just that "CRAP". They sound like a bunch of narcissistic, selfish, behind wipes. But this statement I quoted gets me and ticks me off.

Yes I am diabetic, yes I have an insulin pump, yes this means even if I wanted to I could not be a career firefighter anymore (but of course I am probably too old now).

When I was younger I didn't take care of myself. I had the invincible attitude so my diabetes got the best of me. The important thing you need to do is take care of yourself. You should know your limits as I know mine. My position on the FD does not allow me to do interior anymore but long ago I did. There were those times when I told my IC before getting on the engine that I just couldn't do it at that moment. I did not want to risk myself but more especially I did not want to risk my brothers.

I guess the only thing I can say is step back, take a good look at your situation and listen to yourself. If you are a "brittle" diabetic (you should know what this means) maybe the firefighting side is not where you should be going but the medic side is easily obtainable.

[pegasus8891]

dad gave me S about joining he said that all I was just going to be was the guy standing on the side of the road with a shovel and a bucket picking up the little bits and pices of Ahole kids that drive to fast

[Leeland]

At first my wife wasn't supportive, but since she joined as an administrative person I think she now understands why I became a volunteer.

My dad and my sister, very supportive. Both have seen me do things that they could only dream about.

My mom is not supportive. Her comments and none of which I will repeat here since this thread would quickly deteriorate into a volunteer versus career issue. I don't know exactly what her issue is and trying to get her to talk about it ends up in a round about arguement.

My only suggestion is to talk to your family and tell them that if they can not or will not be supportive, then to keep their negative comments to themselves.