Home and Away: how to make those transitions work

The FIFO life means there are many transitions between work and home for the worker and adjustments for a partner and family.

 

 

There is a very clear structure in the workplace, on site and in camp whereas on R & R and at home it’s more casual and flexible.

 

 

The different expectations partners have of each other and their roles can sometimes  lead to challenges.  The worker will likely return home following a roster of long days or nights. They travel sometimes very long distances arriving home often exhausted. Whilst the reunions can be exciting and long awaited, the clash in needs can cause arguments and resentment. The partner at home may also be very tired from long stretches of solo parenting, possibly a career of their own and managing life and its demands.

 

 

So if you are arriving home expecting great sex and a long lie in and if your partner is hoping you will take the kids to school and start fixing up the house and garden, you could be missing the mark by a mile!

 

Communicating what you would each like beforehand and working out how you can find a way to both get your needs met is vital.

 

Equally, in preparing to part again, it is common for some distancing and withdrawal to occur by one or both partners. Once you understand this you can make adjustments and not take it personally. The way you deal with parting can be different emotionally for each partner. Rather than talk about what is wrong, blame or criticise it is so much easier to hear what you need and what you would like … this builds closeness and intimacy too guys!

 

We would love to hear about some of the challenges of partings and homecomings and also the positive things about them. Let us know your thoughts on Facebook!