Chapter 1: Mr. and Mrs. Cop: What Makes Us Different
“I actually am careful about what I wear to bed when he’s on duty. Because I never know when another uniform will knock on my door…” Fran, CHP wife, thirteen years “How many normal people use words like trained observer and incident in their conversations?” Rhonda, CHP wife, eleven years ———————————————————————————————— I didn’t sign up…
Read MoreIntroduction: Attitude is Everything
“Marriage is hard,” he warned. “Marriage to a cop is even harder. You need to think through if you truly want to do this. Do you think you have what it takes to be the few who make it? Most cops are divorced…” The background investigator could tell I wasn’t fazed. Which is why he…
Read MoreBlogging A CHiP on my Shoulder
Starting this week, I will be posting my book, A CHiP on my Shoulder – How to Love Your Cop with Attitude. Yep, a couple of times a week, you’ll be able to start at the beginning and read through it, word for word. Kind of an out of the box idea, I know. But…
Read MoreTo the One Who Wants Out
Last night I heard that another law enforcement marriage looks like it’s ending. A couple from my own church. And it grieves me. Because I believe that those who stand up and stand in the gap deserve better. And those who love them and are willing to sacrifice parts of life that others don’t deserve…
Read MoreSorry, No Lamb Chops Today!
Yesterday we buried Officer Kenyon Youngstrom and paid tribute to who he was as an officer, a family man, and a man of faith. We heard from several CHP officers, some of whom shed tears while they spoke, and I offered Kleenex to still others who were affected. Many of the officers present did not…
Read MoreRemembering September 11, 2001
I wrote the following narrative a couple of days after September 11th, 2001 to a group of mothers of preschoolers. Thought I’d share it with you (adding a little commentary here and there as well as changing the kids’ names): “The phone rang about 7:30 am, waking my husband and I out of a sound,…
Read MoreSeven Books for Police Wives
Seven Books For Police Families Way back in the dark ages of the late 80s, before everyone had a computer and a cell phone, there was no information or help for those of us who were new law enforcement wives. Some of us muddled through, some gave it up, but in LA, very few of…
Read MoreHorrormones
Years ago my daughter was having a really bad day. Like nothing was going right. At all. She was cranky. Really cranky. Like spouting off to me and her brother for nothing. Everything was bad. Really bad. Like climb back into bed and pull the covers over your head bad. And then the tears started.…
Read MoreAuthenticity
When my book first came out and my friends and family members read it, a frequent observation was, “Wow, you really put a lot of personal stuff in there. Has Chief read it?” Are you kidding?! Of course Chief read it! He went through it with a fine-tooth comb. And he gave me feedback –…
Read MoreAnger Management
It was the final inning of the game and we were down by 2 runs. It was a hard fought battle – they were hitters, and the umpire seemed to be against us. We had two boys on base, and our “manchild” was up – he could hit homeruns into the next county. We were…
Read More