Fired Up
One great thing about homeschooling is that we get to go on frequent field trips. Last week we headed off to a local fire station for a tour with some other IDVA kids.
It was fun for my son to see the inner workings of the station and how the firefighters live. He was surprised that they work 24 hour shifts and have beds to sleep in and a kitchen to cook in.
At one point a firefighter demonstrated to the kids how they quickly put on their fire suit, oxygen tank, helmet, and other apparatus. Then, telling them how safe he was inside all that gear, he invited the kids to pound on him. One boy took that as a challenge and really started thumping away.
What impressed me most about the firefighters is the fact that they must maintain a state of readiness at all times. Not only do they have to keep themselves fit and alert, but there are literally thousands of pieces of equipment that require constant upkeep.
These guys never know when a big call is going to come in and they'll be asked to perform under the worst of circumstances. It's one of the toughest jobs in the world. I think my son learned enough to understand that these men and women deserve our respect. Especially when they've got little fists pummeling them!
It was fun for my son to see the inner workings of the station and how the firefighters live. He was surprised that they work 24 hour shifts and have beds to sleep in and a kitchen to cook in.
At one point a firefighter demonstrated to the kids how they quickly put on their fire suit, oxygen tank, helmet, and other apparatus. Then, telling them how safe he was inside all that gear, he invited the kids to pound on him. One boy took that as a challenge and really started thumping away.
What impressed me most about the firefighters is the fact that they must maintain a state of readiness at all times. Not only do they have to keep themselves fit and alert, but there are literally thousands of pieces of equipment that require constant upkeep.
These guys never know when a big call is going to come in and they'll be asked to perform under the worst of circumstances. It's one of the toughest jobs in the world. I think my son learned enough to understand that these men and women deserve our respect. Especially when they've got little fists pummeling them!
Permalink posted by Idaho Dad at 12:44 AM
6 Comments:
So true Phil, so many people here critisize the police as well so easily and call them all sorts of names, but then you wonder who's the first to call them when needed. I teach my kids aswell to have absolute respect for theses selfless people.
When my daughter was about 3, she watched one of the Barney videos which tells about firefighters and how they work. She fell in love straight away and wanted to be a firefighter! I don't know about now...
If you ever are in a position where those guys have to help you, you never forget them.
Hometown heros are what they are! Along with police and public servants. They're the first responders to awful tragidies and see more "stuff" than anyone should have to see in a lifetime. Our kids need to be taught from an early age to respect their authority ... what a great experience your son and the other children had.
I am loving the picture of homeschooling you paint in your posts. How exciting to tour the firehouse! My son (3) loves firemen and fire engines and probably would have fainted with delight at getting to see them up close like that!
My son has already been in more firetrucks by 4-years-old than I've been in my entire life. But my son is funny, he loves: firetrucks, trains, buses, cars, boats, planes, police cars, tractors, bulldozers...
Quite the stereotype, huh?
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