A Monthly Column written by Kelly Livingstone, founder of atruckerswife.com, and
published in Truck News Magazine. Do NOT copy without permission.
December 2004
Dear Kelly,
My husband just got a notice from his work that he may be required to work over
the Christmas holidays. I know that he is new to the company and I kind of
expected this, but seeing it in writing, made it real I suppose. My question is,
what can I do over the holidays to make this easier? I can’t imagine having to
spend Christmas without him. Celebrating Alone
Dear Celebrating Alone,
This is all too common in the industry and I know that the big holidays can be a
lot harder to get through! Here are a few suggestions to keep yourself busy,
feel good about yourself and ways to make it a memorable time even with your
partner so far away.
-Donate blood. Every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. Visit
the Blood Services website, http://www.bloodservices.ca/, for more information
or call them at 1-888-2-DONATE.
-Get involved in your community charities over the holidays. Volunteer at a soup
kitchen, hospital or a food bank. Deliver food hampers if you have a vehicle.
Take a few spare dollars if you have and go out to buy a toy for a local
children’s collection. Perhaps your hospital or a radio station runs a program
where you can donate toys for children.
-Rummage through the clothes that you don’t need anymore. If you have some warm
sweaters, jackets, boots, hats, mitts, scarves, etc., take them to the Salvation
Army, http://www.nro.salvationarmy.ca/, or a local clothes recycling depot.
There is always a need for things like this for families in need over the
winter.
-If you feel you can, host dinner for your family. Recruit a couple family
members to help out and split up the duties for dinner. If someone else hosts
the dinner, get involved by offering to help out.
-Do you have a friend or two who may be free for some time around the holiday?
Take some time for yourselves and go see a movie or go out for an afternoon and
just visit.
-If you don’t have a cell phone, let your partner know where you will be over
the holidays and phone numbers where he can reach you if you can. It’ll be a
hard time for him as well, so if he just needs to hear your voice, it’ll be nice
if he can reach you.
-Send one gift with him when he leaves and have him set out a gift for you. Get
in touch on the phone sometime on the holiday and open the gift while you are on
the phone with each other.
-When your partner comes home, make a nice holiday dinner and celebrate!
Exchange gifts, play holiday music, decorate and have fun!
-If you have children, be sure to remain upbeat and reassure them that just
because their daddy isn’t home for the holidays, that he isn’t missing them too.
The holidays are what we make of them and who we are thinking of. Spend as much
time as possible sharing with those you love and those in need. You may find
that the holidays can be even more meaningful than before.
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
I wanted to get my husband something personal and special that he can use in the
truck for a Christmas gift. What would you suggest? Gift hunter
Dear Gift hunter,
How about a couple sets of sheets for the bunk? A cordless razor, a shaving kit
bag, a watch with an alarm on it, a take out mug and a thermos, some tapes or
CD’s or a nice overnight bag could be something he would use and love.
If you are looking for something a little more personalized, magnetic photo
frames or a good clipboard with a photo of your family taped to the front(when
he flips up his sheets, he’ll see you). Personalized t-shirts are quite
reasonable now. You can get them made at most photo shops, or if you have a
computer and a printer, you can purchase iron-on transfer paper at office supply
stores and make your own t-shirts. A keychain that holds a photo is another idea
for a stocking stuffer.
Just about anything that he uses all the time would be a good idea. Ask him what
he needs and try to give it a personal twist. When he uses it, he’ll think of
you.
Kelly
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