Family

I had talked with Central today and have everything lined out for a start date of April 8th, I told my daughter and she feel apart on me because I will be missing my grandson's third birthday. I am so upset now, I guess in all the planning and excitement I let that slip my mind. I feel so bad, but I need to start making money. What to do? She was cool with everything until this, we have always been a close family. I raised her alone,(of course she had my mom and sister helping too) but since she was 5 it was just me and her. She is married now, and when she gets a grip she will be ok. Is it normal feeling scared to death and have cold feet?

And does your daughter SERIOUSLY believe that your 3 yr old grandchild will KNOW that your not there ??? You tell that girl to pull up her big girl panties and learn to deal, cuz that birthday is just the first of many you will miss. And you will make up for them when you DO get home. Thats Life, plain and simple. You will see alot of different ways that your family will try to derail your plans, because they don't want you to leave. If you want that dream bad enough, you will not let them trick you. I hate to lay it out like this, but thats just me, and I don't sugar coat anything for anyone over the age of 5....I'm sure we are past that stage...lol.

I had talked with Central today and have everything lined out for a start date of April 8th, I told my daughter and she feel apart on me because I will be missing my grandson's third birthday. I am so upset now, I guess in all the planning and excitement I let that slip my mind. I feel so bad, but I need to start making money. What to do? She was cool with everything until this, we have always been a close family. I raised her alone,(of course she had my mom and sister helping too) but since she was 5 it was just me and her. She is married now, and when she gets a grip she will be ok. Is it normal feeling scared to death and have cold feet?

Sorry to read you'll be missing your grandsons birthday. I don't have any but if I did I think I would have a little "special party" for him before you leave. Kids are so easy to please when they're that young and a cupcake or small cake would make him happy.

As far as being scared to death - more than I care to say. I will tell you that once you are in school and realize you are going to get a job the pressure eases a little. And, like today when I got my start date the pressure eased even more.

One thing I'd do different is getting prehire letters from companies BEFORE I started school because once you start you're so focused on the curriculum there isn't time for much else. Seriously. I don't know if all states require the same type of training but in Illinois it was more extensive then I realized regarding the mechanics of the tractor/trailer.

If you get prehire letters and choose a company before graduation then maybe you can avoid waiting for a female trainer - like I've had to for about a month after graduation. Just a thought.

Since I've started I have missed every holiday! I missed Christmas, thanksgiving, New Years, valentines day, and I just missed women's day!!!!

Truth be told, they better get used to it. Holidays are just another day in this life, and it's impossible to be home on most of them. :/

Yeah, I know about the holiday thing, I haven't really told her that much yet, lol. I figured that once I was on the road and she got used to it, we could do "family time" a little differently. We kinda do anyway, my sister lives in Hampshire IL and we are going to her house the weekend before easter for our Christmas gift exchange, I call it Marchmas! She will be fine, it will just take some getting used to for her. And thanks Star, I don't want things sugar coated, I want a real take on what to expect on the road, I thank you so much for your straightforwardness! I appreciate all the helpful advice on her, this is a great forum! And in one of Guys post earlier (can't remember which thread) but he said that it would be cool to run into one of the forum members at a TS or somewhere, I think that would be great, I personally would like to meet each of you!

Star pretty much summed it up but to help ya I will say this I came from a close family and my mother is constantly asking me when ya coming home,well after being gone I've learned to realize how much I was getting drug down from my family now I tell her the phone works both ways and so does the travel,I do love my family but I've noticed I like being alone with my wife and 2 kids ( dogs) better.