The Nest — #dad

Please note that this truth is written from a females perspective, but applies to both male and female Firefighter spouses/fiance's. By Kym Harper Styers Dear Future Fireman's Girlfriends and Wives, I am going to lay out some truth for you. It's harsh, but honest. I wish someone would have said this to me 18 years ago when I became one.  One misconception I had was the sexiness of the job. That turnout gear is something isn't it? Makes a girls heart melt. Nothing like seeing your man all decked out looking like he's about to pose as Mr. July in...

Nathan Reser a firefighter at Liberty Twp. VFD was dispatched out to Sunday's fire at Whitewater United Methodist Church while attending his daughter's birthday party. Nathan's wife Amy had recently purchased our new Firefighter Dad shirt for Nathan's fathers day present. Amy sent us this message regarding the quality of our shirt. "Hubby wore his shirt to our daughters third birthday party yesterday and was dispatched on a structure fire. He said it was the hottest fire of his life and the shirt held up pretty good this was in our local paper this morning" Thank you Amy and Nathan for sharing your...

Hey Mom!, he called from the attic door,What's these old heavy boots and helmet for? With a lump in her throat and a tear stained cheek,His mother swallowed and started to speak. Come here my son, his mother said,There's things to tell when I clear my head The past raced madly through her mind.She searched her heart for words to find. At last she signed and rubbed his hair.And the words that followed I like to share. Those boots and helmet, she said with pride,Were worn by a man with grit inside. He wore them to help people in need,Though...

  You're a firefighter and let's face it, you're a little different from the rest. As the years go by, and the experiences pile up, parts of “the job” begin to define who you are. It doesn’t happen all at once, and most of the time you can't even notice it. Your kids, not knowing the pre-firefighter you, simply accept you the way you are. Ask a kid how he knows his dad is a firefighter and these are some of the things you might hear: 1) He says weird things like “Stand by,” or “Roger that,” instead of “Wait...

by Anne Gagliano What 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? In our family, we have established a wonderful tradition with our sons: When we give each other a book (we are all avid readers), the giver must sign the book with a personal note.  This gesture turns an ordinary gift into a memorable keepsake.  On Father’s Day 2007, our son wrote these words in...