View Full Version : 3 weeks on 3 weeks home FIFO
Hi Ladies
My DH is currently on 1:1 rotation FIFO, but is now looking at 3:3. I have 2 children (4 & 1) and was wanting some advice from anyone that has a DH working 3 on 3 off. It sounds great in theory.... especially the 3 weeks at home at a time, how ever I was wanting to know how people coped for the 3 weeks that their DH was away
Any thoughts??
Chickadee
11-11-2009, 08:15
DD's dad just finished a year of 2:1 and the 2 weeks was manageable. We got into a routine when he was away that worked for us and just stuck to it. I work, and DD goes to school, so my hardest was often the weekend when I just wanted to recover from the week but still had to do the house chores and entertain DD.
The other hard part was when rotations would change or he'd have to cover someone else instead of coming home the 3rd week. It would sometimes turn into 5:1 and that's hard. With your DH's 3:3 that may be less likely to happen?
tayahnkai
11-11-2009, 09:10
To me it sounds perfect :laughing: but then I just posted about my DH working 8-12weeks on/off.
The 1st week will be the hardest then by week 2 you will love the fact you can do your own things (like watch the TV shows you want, and cook foods that your DH hates!!!!) and by 3 week you will be counting down the days till he is home.
Just have a good routine in place for you and your kids - and take time for yourself. Make plans to see friends/family, especially on the weekends so you have something to look forward too.
The 3 weeks off will make it worth it. You will be able to plan things to do and go away etc.
:hugs:
maisymum
11-11-2009, 09:25
Hello :wave: .....yep hubby has been doing 3 / 3 for 2 yrs now and we have 4 kiddies..........it is hard when he is away and the time goes so slow the kids miss him heaps but on the flip side....the 3 weeks at home is fantastic :yes: it's like annual leave every 6 weeks.....we go away camping and lots of things.......it's like semi retirement :laughing:.....hope it works out for you........where is your hubby working for 3 / 3
Hi ladies! Thanks for your response.
Maisymum - greats to hear the 3/3 is working for you. I think that it would actually be better for us than the 1:1... It is so chaotic flipping from one routine to the next. We have a carvan and like to go away as often as we can but this can be limiting with the short stints home. He is looking to apply for a 3/3 roster, so he is not working that shift yet.
tayahnkai: 8/12 ... far out. that is a hard routine to get into. How did you go with the 8 weeks away.... and I bet at the end of the 12 weeks you would have been ready to send him back to work!
Chickadee - I also work. I dont think I could have him FIFO without me working during the week. I found being home on mat leave really hard with my youngest... I much better now I am back at work.
I think the 3/3 would work great. We cope fine when he is away, plus we are hoping to relocate to QLD so we could live anywhere if he was on a 3/3 rotation as it wouldnt matter so much if we lost days for travel!!!
:D
tayahnkai
12-11-2009, 06:27
We've been together for 10yrs and he was working away before we met. DH used to work 6:6 and that was so much better. His ship was based out of Brisbane so I could go and see him weekly and stay on the ship!!! Never really felt that long :)
Now he has changed company and has to fly out its alot harder. By the 6 week mark Im ready for him to come home or leave.
Yep by 12 weeks we are pretty over each other :laughing: but then you think well Im not going to see you for a couple of months.
This year has been alot harder cos we moved away from all our family/friends but we have also had a lot of visitors stay for a week or 2. So always something to look forward too :thumbsup:
The time home is great to be able to go away, even if its just camping somewhere
It sounds like you are making the most of your arrangement. I am starting to think that it would be a great thing for us to look at doing too! I am ok on my own too, and would love the 3 weeks with him home, it would feel like a holiday every few weeks.
Time will tell!
Why did you move away from your family? Are you in QLD?? We would love to move there!
tayahnkai
13-11-2009, 17:30
We are in Tassie now - moved from QLD at the start of the year. Where would you like to live? We were on the Sunshine Coast. Beautiful just getting really busy.
We are in Tassie now - moved from QLD at the start of the year. Where would you like to live? We were on the Sunshine Coast. Beautiful just getting really busy.
Thinking gold coast region. Assuming DH gets work up that way. We spend a lot of time in QLD, love the climate and the hussle and bussle! There are also some great blocks on the fringe of the hinterland that we would be interested in
Why Tassie? Is it beautiful there? totally different climate than sunshine coast I would imagine
tayahnkai
14-11-2009, 12:09
Yeah Tassie is beautiful. We were kinda over the hot weather. Last summer was ridiculous and I think this one is going to be just as bad in QLD. Hubby has to go back to College next year and the only options are Launceston, Perth, and maybe Newcastle. The other places are just too dear to live. Tassie is so quiet and everyone loves to visit! I do miss the shopping and the variety of things though. I think we will eventually move back to QLD somehwere.
Yeah Tassie is beautiful. We were kinda over the hot weather. Last summer was ridiculous and I think this one is going to be just as bad in QLD. Hubby has to go back to College next year and the only options are Launceston, Perth, and maybe Newcastle. The other places are just too dear to live. Tassie is so quiet and everyone loves to visit! I do miss the shopping and the variety of things though. I think we will eventually move back to QLD somehwere.
We are in SA. I would love to move to QLD. We are on day 7 tomorrow of a major heatwave here, 7 days of 39 / 40 degrees! Very hot! I love the warm weather. This is a bit too hot, but we would look for a house with a pool if we were to make the move! Time will tell. :fingerscrossed::fingerscrossed: that DH gets a job in QLD FIFO somewhere. We have only just started looking and this is where the 3:3 came from. I am sure he will be able to get work we just need to make sure that the shifts suit us! And if he did get work that was 3:3 then maybe he would actually be home at the right time of the month to help with us TTC # 3 too!! lol!!!!
Proudofmy3Babies
15-11-2009, 13:47
Hi...
I'm in QLD near the Hinterland:) and we love it here....my husband works FIFO too and has been doing 4/4 but is just now swapping onto the Norwegian Roster of 3/3/3/6 which is awesome in some respects and in others not so great! On a 4/4 and I assume a 3/3 they would/should accrue leave too for other times?? On the Norweigian Roster they can only have their set time off...luckily for us they change started after we found out our due date so hubbies 6wk break is when baby is due...
What do your husbands do?? Tayahnkai - Ive never heard of such a long roster? My husband has been in the offshore industry for 15years or more and I wouldnt cope lol...I just did 6.5wks and just ask Maisysmum how much I whinged! He is just home now for only 2wks and returning to work..
I think Tayahnkai explained the 3wk roster perfectly...its exactly that...the first week you find your feet and routine again...the second week is all ok for routines and the third week your over it and counting down the days...my husband says I always have a meltdown at the beginning of the third week because I know he's coming back soon lol....
Im a SAHM and trust me...your sooooooo right...its alot easier when you work when they are away...time goes faster and the regular adult interaction is fabulous:)
My husband's vessel is going to be off the WestCoast...generally they arrive home in Brisbane at 6am the morning after the finish work...so that could also be an option for him to hunt for work off the WestCoast too??
tayahnkai
15-11-2009, 16:13
Hi Mel, DH works on a tanker. His ship is based out of Karratha(sp?) and runs to Japan. Its usually about a 3 week round trip and he does 3 of these. He is changing to only 2 trips so hopefully back to 6weeks. Waiting till after xmas so he gets xmas off. Usual ship rosters are 6wks but I guess its easier for them to swing in Karratha then flying in/out of Japan. He did do 4/4 when offshore though. He accures leave for days worked and can take them anytime (must have a reason - birth, family, wedding etc) if he has any owing.
Proudofmy3Babies
15-11-2009, 19:06
Hi...I asked my DH what vessel would do that many weeks...I love the thought of him being home for a straight 8-12 wks...but away for that long?? Not so sure I would cope...your a stronger woman than me!! If I was working without kids..it would probably be ok..but SAHM with two under 3 and one on the way.....6.5wks was enough!! I think we will stick to the offshore hehe....they are only just going onto location this time away though...he's done 12mths in China overseeing the vessel being built....but its been ok bc they werent using travel days...flying in and out on the day they joined and swung off....Now we start loosing the travel days too:(
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