How to Thrive when your Husband is in Police Academy
Congrats to you and your spouse as you begin your law enforcement family journey. While this is an exciting time, it can also be stressful.
I truly hope these tips help you thrive when you husband is in the policy academy. Check out my police wife course and heelsandholster: a police wife devotional book which will help you to develop skills in acceptance of police wife life, self-care, independence, and planning for you.
You’re going through the 2nd toughest time (according to my police husband) of your spouse’s career when your husband is in the police academy. The hardest time is probation according to my husband. These tips are designed to help you thrive (not just survive) and how to prepare for the police academy as a policy wife or girlfriend, as a couple, and family:
Time. Your spouse will need time not just when he’s in police academy training but also in off time to study and/or get in shape. My husband, Rick, realized he wasn’t in as good of shape as he thought he was when he started the academy. He worked out before and after academy training days. In order for him to be successful, I needed to sacrifice this time with him.
Cheer him on. Your husband may be humbled while in the academy either mentally or physically. Tell him how strong he is to you. Tell him how smart he is. Be his cheerleader.
Take care of all the things. The police academy training doesn’t last forever. During this time, it’s important that you take care of the household and/or children’s needs. For tips on how to get it all done, check out my productivity hacks for police wives.
Ask for help from others. While your husband is in the police academy, you will be taking on more responsibility at home. Remember that it’s okay to ask for help from friends, families or professionals.
Use humor. Your husband may be seeing a lot of naked men in the locker room. Joke about this and other things to let out that stress using laughter. You are his safe space to do so. Check out these funny police wife memes.
Enjoy time off together. If your husband is anything like mine, he may not want to talk about his day at the academy. He may want moments with you and his family to focus on other things. This down time and recharge him for the next police academy training day. I describe more about this in my open letter to police wives on how to he a supportive police wife to our police husbands.
Sweet notes. If you’re making your husband lunches, leave little love notes in there reminding him of how sexy, strong, smart, etc he is. Check out my meal planning guide for police wives here.
Gifts. Your husband is working hard for you and the whole family. Get him some swag to improve his “Officer coolness” as my husband calls it. Check out my gift guide for police officers. I also have one for police wives!
Treat yourself. Your life is changing as your husband becomes a police officer. You’re taking on more than usual. And, frankly, you will take on more household responsibilities and childcare responsibilities than the average wife. Treat yourself to little things such as Starbucks, a pedicure, brunch with friends etc. I made this video about daily self care habits I use to bring myself happiness that don’t cost much anything at all.
I truly hope these tips help you thrive when you husband is in the policy academy and help you on how to prepare for the police academy as a policy wife. I have a blog and video on what to expect as a new police wife. Check out my heelsandholster: a police wife devotional book on Audible, which will help you to develop skills in acceptance of police wife life, self-care, independence, and planning for you.
You find yourself frustrated with your officer's unpredictable hours, feeling like he's "married to the job," and juggling life and parenting alone. After Sustainable Police Wife, you will wake up each day looking forward to your day, even if your spouse isn’t home, working nights, and tons of overtime. The solo parenting days go by so fast, because you’re out having crazy, fun adventures with your children. You will feel supported by a tribe who "gets you" and connected to your officer.
