My DH is seriously looking into this as his current job is looking very dodgy at the moment and has done for a while now. He is in the steel industry and its way cheaper to import it (damn US dollar) so all overtime has been gone for a few months now, all casual employers have been laid off and the current talks are pretty glum.
However I have concerns, he is looking at 2 weeks out 1 in and I am worried about how it is going to affect our family, relationship etc.
I know I can look after the kids on my own but I also know that I will be thinking "Tag your it" when he gets back. However he will be thinking "buggar off I have just worked 14 days I need a break" Could be cause for a bit of friction
What other little things are there that you "ladies in the know" know that I need to think about?? Hidden costs, relationship issues, etc
My hubby works in the spare room, so about as far removed from FIFO as you can get, but quite a few friends have FIFO DHs.
One of their biggest complaints is the number of family/friend functions that are missed as a family. Also now that their kids are getting a bit older dad misses out on school stuff, dance recitals etc. Its also a harder balancing act when one child is sick, mum is sick etc.
On the plus side there are a few of them that while they miss their husbands, they enjoy the time apart and say it keeps their relationships fresh ITMS. The money that most of them seem to get is obviously a pretty big plus too, and some of them view this as a fairly short term thing to get a bit of money behind them.
The Aus $ strength is a bummer for so many people - my DH is paid in US$ so we're seriously feeling the pinch too.
We thought about it around 12 months ago. There are lots of FIFO jobs in dh's field so we got plenty of feedback from others who have done it. The main feedback was that the men felt like they weren't needed at home anymore. The wife has to learn how to do everything on her own with the kids and just running the house full stop. Even if something needs fixing and it can't wait until the man is home then woman ends up organising that sort of thing too. Paying the bills etc etc really doing everything. The feedback we got was that the men didn't like not being 'needed' at home iykwim. But there's plenty of men who would love that to bits! For us dh currently spends 6 days at home out of 8 so he's really on a winner as it is and at this point spending time with ds is way more important to us than the extra money of the FIFO job. We might look into it again in the future? I think it does come dowon to having that extra moeny and the quality time you get to spend with eachother when he's home. Plus if you have more money to do things that you wouldn't have got to do otherwise then that can be great too.
Yes DH is a very hands on Dad and our babies absolutely love him to bits. He currently works shift and because there is no overtime, he is only doing 3 12 hr days a week. This means he is here quite a bit and they are stuck to him pretty much sun up to sun down somedays
I can see the time apart as been a good thing as too be honest he does get on my tits sometimes(whose doesnt?) but then again me having to do EVERYTHING would be very hard and draining too. I cant see it as been a long term thing but the money certainly is very appealing.
I am pretty self reliant anyway as my DH is the king of "gonna" It use to drive me insane but I soon learnt the best way to get him to do was to threaten to get someone in (preferably young hot and gorgeous ) or attempt to do it myself which frustrates the snot out of him so he does it, when I want not when he gets round to it
I wouldn't do it, but that's me and that's our relationship and home life. Like I said, we're struggling with money given the exchange rate of US to Aus $ and we have talked at times about DH getting a different job, but we all love the fact that he is home all the time with a very flexible work schedule so is really involved with the girls - eg today he came with the girls to their swimming lessons, had lunch with us, took them for a swim in our pool and after a "longer than normal work day" will be back "home" by 5pm or so. He has literally been there when they have learned to walk, talk and do everything for the first time so that's pretty special. Like you said, it drives me nuts sometimes that he is constantly around - seriously no need for a "how was your day dear?" conversation but that's a small price to pay.
Having said that, if things were really tough and got desperate then sure, I'd be packing his bags and waving him goodbye at the airport but that would be a serious last resort option for our family.
Everyone is different though and really, my view or anyone else's is pretty irrelevant. Some families love FIFO and wouldn't have it any other way. Some hate it and can't wait to finish doing it. Its what you think will benefit your family the most that counts.
Lots of people do it. Some I know think it's good, some not. My general impression is that it makes raising a family and keeping a relationship together harder.
I would hate for DH to be away so much and to miss so much. I don't want to make do and get on on my own, you know? I want a partner who's here when I need him.
FIFO, is the money worth it?
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