FireLife is dedicated to all things “off-duty” that are of interest to firefighters while they are not working/training. Some of the regular columns we will feature in the family section include:
|
A Firefighter and a FatherWhat does it take to be a good father? Words elude me on this topic, for I am not a father but a mother. I will, instead, quote my son, for who better to define a good father than the child of one? |
The Firefighter's SanctuaryFirefighters need a place to recover after the emotional and physical duress of a tough shift. Life is best, families are happiest, and marriages are strongest when that place of rejuvenation, that sanctuary in the midst of the storm, is home sweet home. |
Semper FiBroken faithfulness shatters marriages. This is something to think on before you even entertain the notion of having an affair. |
A Fireman's WifeA fireman's wife must be many things if she is going to survive the world of firefighting. In this column, Anne Gagliano talks about what some of those things are. |
Make It a DateMake any night a special date night with these tried and true tips. |
3 Blessings to Always Remember About FirefightingBeing a firefighter and being married to a firefighter truly is a blessing, and here are three reasons why: |
Firefighters Make Terrible PatientsInjuries are an inevitable cause of the firefighting profession. This will eventually lead all firefighter wives to occassionally take on the task of becoming her husband's nursemaid. Anne Gagliano conveys her own experiences handling this role in hopes of preparing her fellow firefighter wives for when its their turn. |
How to Fight FairAll couples fight. Fighting is simply part of the human condition, for we are, unfortunately, selfish creatures at heart. We deeply want to have things our own way, so when we decide to live with someone else who is, in fact, just as selfish as we are, conflicts can and do result. |
Keep It All in Perspective, Part 3Anne Gagliano concludes the saga of the Mary Pang Warehouse fire with many of the changes it brought to their lives and to the Seattle Fire Department as a whole. |
Keep It All in Perspective, Part 2Anne Gagliano writes how the Mary Pang warehouse fire changed her young family's belief that firefighting was simply all "cool" stuff. |
Keep It All in Perspective, Part 1Anne Gagliano gives a firsthand account of how the night of her son's seventh birthday party intertwined with the Mary Pang Warehouse Fire which impacted her family for life. |
ResilienceResilience is the ability to not only survive adversity but to actually grow from it. Firefighters have resilience in spades. Occasionally, however, some firefighters do fall victim to PTSD. In this column, Anne Gagliano examines why most firefighters avoid stress disorders and why some don't. |
"Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!"In Seattle we get a lot of rain--which we handle beautifully. But turn the thermometer down a few degrees and watch what happens! |
A Happy Marriage Really Is a ChoiceIn this column, Anne Gagliano writes that the key to a happy marriage lies within the power of your mind. How you choose to think about your spouse will affect how you feel about them. |
10 Parenting Tips for the Firefighter Family, Part 4In this column, Anne Gagliano writes: Tip #10 is foundational to good parenting; if you're failing in this, you're failing as a parent. |