A trucker’s wife: Home alone: Keeping intruders at bay

by Kelly Livingstone

Dear Kelly,

My husband just started out on the road. I am busy during the day and okay with him gone, but at night, I am startled by every little noise!

I don’t want to freak my husband out by telling him this, but I am over paranoid about being in this house alone at night. Any ideas?

Chicken Wife

Dear Chicken Wife,

I don’t like the nights either, so this one hits home for me.

Here are some suggestions that may help you.

The next time your husband is home, tell him about it and discuss a few things with him that you can do to ease your mind when he is away.

Consider putting an alarm system in the house if you own it, and if you are renting, perhaps just some motion sensors or break-away alarms on the doors or windows that may concern you.

Motion sensor lights in the yard are a good deterrent for scaring prowlers off.

A dog, no matter the size, will make someone think twice. I find that my dog is the best ‘notifier’ that I could have. If he hears anyone on the deck, he will bark.

Play a radio at night, even softly, it will help with those little house sounds you hear. The radio will also give your mind something else to think about.

Keep a phone next to your bed at night and have the local police department and a couple friends or family members on speed dial.

If you ever think that someone is in your house, dial 911 if it’s available in your area. A cordless phone is a good idea since you can move about with it.

I do rounds as soon as it starts to get dark out.

I check all the windows and doors to be sure that they are locked up tight.

I do this once again before I go to bed, just to be sure. It gives me peace of mind that the house is locked up tight.

Here are some safety ideas. Be sure you don’t leave ladders or things that can be used to climb up to windows outside lying around.

Never tell anyone you don’t know that your husband is on the road.

Check your door before you answer it through a window. If you don’t know who it is, don’t answer it.

Keep your door locked all the time. If you go out in the front yard, be sure the back door is locked.

I find that by doing what I can to keep my home secure, I feel much better about it.

Here’s to a good night’s sleep. Rest well.

Kelly

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Dear Kelly,

I am finally in a position to go out with my husband in the truck.

The children are old enough to walk to and from school on their own, and my mother has agreed to come and stay with them in our home for the week that I will be gone.

At first I was so excited I could hardly contain myself, I’ve been waiting for this day for over eight years!

Now, I find myself wondering if I should go.

I am not sure why, but I think I will miss the children so much.

I have always been a stay at home mom and thought of being maybe thousands of miles away for so long has my tummy in knots.

Please have some suggestions for me, I really want to see how my husband spends his days and to be a part of this side of his life, if only for a week!

Wanna ride

Dear Wanna Ride,

Phone calls and Lots of them! Keep in touch with your children. Ask them about their day and what they are doing.

Ask them questions about their homework and if you can help them with anything over the phone.

Tell them about your trip; where you are, what you see, who you meet and all about your day.

Take a bunch of stamps with you and mail them a postcard every day.

They won’t get them all before you get home, but it will sure be a really neat thing for them to have. Do you have an atlas or map at home? Have them track your trip with Grandma and they will be able to see where you are when you call.

Leave things for them to do with Grandma for them.

Craft supplies, board games and things they will like to do with her.

Keep in mind that this is a fun adventure for them as well!

Relax and have fun with your husband. Take lots of pictures of your trip together!

Kelly

(Editor’s note: Trucker parents leery about leaving their kids behind should also check out www.mytommysworld.com for ways your child can learn about trucking and keep track of where you are).

Note: Last month I mentioned the girl guides/boy scouts and only gave the Web site link to the girl guides. The Scouts Canada Web site is www.scouts.ca. Thanks to Barbara M. for pointing that out to me.

I welcome your questions and comments. I will try to answer as many questions as I can here. Feel free to send me an email at column@atruckerswife.com or snail mail at: Dear Kelly, PO Box 183 Stn. F, Winnipeg, MB, R2L 1M0.


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