I am a Basketcase

girl, i'm not in ur shoes, and i still always worry sick about my kids! it just shows u love ur kids and theres nothing wrong with that!

Yes, I would, but I would also think, they're going to be in these lines of work for 20 years, do I want to live like this for 20 years? Most fire fighters and ambulance drivers don't get hurt most of the time. When they do, you deal with it. I live in an area where most people are Correction Officers or work in Corrections as Teachers or in some profession there. We could get killed, taken hostage, etc. I used to work in Corrections and I decided that I could be scared all the time or not be scared unless something really happened. So I decided to stop worrying. In 13 years, nothing happened to me as a teacher. In 3 1/2 years as a CO, I got grabbed once and got away. So I could have worried for 16 1/2 years for nothing. Even if people had worried about me and something had happened, what good would worrying have done? I knew my Mom worried when she was alive, but I've outlived her and had fewer things happen to me at my job than outside of it. Actually, I was in more danger outside of it and I had no back up. So danger is relative anyway. Plus, I never wanted my Mom to worry. So worry a little, but don't worry yourself sick. I worry if my husband is out on bad roads and doesn't get home in time, but only a little. He's got a great 4-wheel drive truck and ice is about the only thing that puppy can't handle. If all else fails, I read something and wait for the phone to ring. He's still safer than when he was fighting during the Gulf War and he survived that. Take care and try not to worry too much. Most likely, they will be safe.

Ugh, I can kinda feel your pain... My best friend is a volunteer fire fighter and I worry about him. Granted, it's nothing like a mother/child worry, but I worry just the same. He's in another state from me...infact, he's on the opposite side of the country. We try to contact each other every day, but most nights he's too worn out (that and his job of laying bricks) that he can't stay up. Whenever I don't hear from him for more than several days, I go on the internet to read the latest news about accidents and fires. Things have gotten better because we can text message on our cell phones, but the delays are terrible. I know he's trained to help other people in need and he will risk his life for theirs...it's in his nature. Hurricane season is a few months away, and then I'll be looking up his home city every single day and worry when it does hit his area. As a mother and as someone who loves someone on the fire/rescue unit, I'd be worried sick if I was in your shoes. I hope they come home safely.

All I can say is I think you are a typical mother. Isn't that what we do is worry about out children no matter what their age is? :) I also would be worried sick, it is bad enough when they are at work but in the conditions they have to work in right now makes it worse. I would worry about you if you were not a basket case.