Night Shift rant...

[snarlingcoyote]

I used to work nights when I was a full-time grad student.

DH used to say I was "napping". I finally told him that while he "napped" I worked. Then I went to classes. Then I came home and studied. Then I "napped". Then I got up and went to evening classes. Then I came home and "napped". Then I got up and went to work.

He got the point.

He was wonderful when I was on the night shift after that.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

Absolutely can relate to all you've posted. I work third shift for 7 days on and 7 days off. Have had the same schedule for 5 years now and people still have a problem with knowing my schedule. It's not that hard to figure out. I work one week and I'm off the next. I could tell you my schedule 10 yrs from now assuming I stay on the same shift. It never amazes me how people send chain text to me mid day knowing I'm probably sleeping. So I've started forwarding them at 3am to wake them from their sleep hoping it flicks a switch in their head. And on the driving home. I am so on the same page. But try driving 50 miles after a 12 hour shift. It so sucks.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I used to work nights when I was a full-time grad student.

DH used to say I was "napping".

When I was on nights my mom used the term napping Others just couldn't understand why I would be asleep at noon, or 1. Well frickin-duh-I didn't go to bed till 9 am. I did the same as the OP, and started calling them at 2 am just to chat. Broke that habit

It boggles the mind how many people just thought I would be available since I was "home all day"-calls to watch their sick kids who couldn't go to school or daycare; notes left on their doors for the UPS man to have me sign for packages. ridiculous!!

I finally had to quit nights. I was a sleep deprived mess. As soon as my girls were old enough to stay home after school, and in the summer--I was done.

Good luck jfoofj!!

 

[FortWildernessLoopy]

I've almost always worked graveyards because I love the shift. I am currently unemployed (stinkin economy and stupid layoffs) but my DH still works 3rd shift. A long time ago, I'd just turn the ringer off figuring if something bad happened it would either still be bad or all better by the time I woke up. I was living in PA in the middle of nowhere on 9/11. My mother was PANICKED that I didn't answer the phone since she thought I was where the plane went down. I learned then that I'd have to leave it on at all times. Now we're so programmed to just pick it up and hang up that I've hung up on my parents numerous times

OT but before my DH had ever worked graveyards, he decided we should go to a zoo and science center in Denver (we were living in Colorado Springs at the time). I got off work, changed clothes, packed a picnic, woke my DH up and off we went. Apparently my DH woke me up after an IMAX show. He said I fell asleep almost instantly and he was mortified that they did the speaker test of god only knows how many decibels and then complete silence...with the exception of my snoring