- Wives of Backing the Blue Line
You Might Be a Police Wife If....
Thank you to the dozens of Minnesota police wives who contributed to this post through a discussion on the private Facebook page of Backing the Blue Line. Their hope was to serve up a little slice of their lives with a dash of reality and topped with a sprinkling of humor. We received so many great answers that this will be a multipart series. Look for the next one in December! If you are a MN police wife/significant other, we invite you to join us over there. Please note that it is a closed/private group due to safety and security concerns. As such, all Facebook private group members must be approved. Visit Backing the Blue Line on Facebook for information on joining. Police wife or not, we would love for you to get cozy, grab your coffee and try to block Jeff Foxworthy's voice from your head for the next few minutes as you read a handful of real perspectives. YOU MIGHT BE A POLICE WIFE IF...
...you know certain 10 codes because your husband uses them to communicate with you quietly in a public situation.
...while driving your personal vehicle he attempts to flip on the speed radar switch, then calmly admits it while retracting his hand. “That’s right, we don’t have one of those in this car.”
...pretty much every picture of you is in blue or police swag.
...you've had to get blood out of a uniform more than once. (Helpful hint: hydrogen peroxide works wonders.)
...you get a call from him: "hey, I can't talk long. I'm about to break up a protest/go to shots fired/do a search warrant for guns and I just wanted to say I love you" and you don't start breathing again until you hear from him when he's safe. ....you find yourself explaining to the kids that Santa Claus knows daddy’s schedule and delivers gifts when he knows daddy will be home...even if it’s not on Christmas Day.
...every time you watch some sort of cop show he yells one of the following at the TV:
"That's not how it's done!"
"It NEVER happens that way!"
"What kind of alien technology is that? It really doesn't exist!"
"NO ONE drives a Hummer to a crime scene!"
OR
... you have to stop watching Law and Order in her presence because she just can’t handle the inaccuracy of it all.
...your dog sleeps next to you more than your domestic mate.
...he takes his seatbelt off a good five to ten seconds before you even park, and has to fling it hard so it clears the gear he’s not wearing.
...your kitchen table can be mistaken for a shoe shine stand.
...your dinner table conversation with your kids isn't about how their day was, but more like a debriefing on what to do if there's an active shooter at the school or going over safety checkpoints in the neighborhood and restating NEVER accept a ride from anyone except those on the approved list.
...when someone complains about not being able to sleep with their spouse for a weekend, your first thought is "Gee..sounds rough." Sigh.
...you move into your new house and have 3 squad cars parked in the driveway within hours of purchase and your new neighbors are skeptical of you for awhile.
...you find a drug testing kit in the dryer.
...you automatically sit with your back facing the door at any public place. And not just because staring at the wall and his handsome face is fun.
...your internet browser homepage defaults to www.BackingtheBlueLine.org.
...you get random messages from people you haven't talked to in months wanting to know if your police officer knows what is happening on street xyz.
... your 2-year-old daughter’s favorite show is Cops. And she dances when she hears the theme song and changes the words to, “Whatcha gonna do when Daddy comes for you?”
...you are out on a stroll and you encounter a dog your daughter wants to go pet, but hubby hangs back because he knows the dog's human “professionally."
About the writers: Thank you to the strong, brave and funny women of the private Facebook page for Backing the Blue Line who contributed their photos and answers and gave permission to share them here. They represent all corners of our great state and come from a variety of backgrounds. However, they have a lot in common: they love a police officer, they are smart, they are brave, they are strong, they are independent and they want to make a positive difference in the community. The purpose of the private Facebook page is to unite a community of police wives and significant others to provide a community of support through friendships, networking, and discussion. It is also for raising awareness of the need to support our unique lives and share the bond that comes with being a law enforcement family.
We also invite MN police wives/significant others to become full members of Backing the Blue Line to take advantage of all membership benefits and have additional opportunities to give and receive support.
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