So Your Husband is a Tradesman and You Want to be a TA?

Do you wonder what it would be like to go out to work with your husband in the construction industry? If your husband is a tradesman he can just about double his output with a reliable and efficient trades assistant at his side. Could you it be you?

There are not only the working conditions to consider. Could you handle working together 24/7? I have compiled a list of some pros and cons that I have come across since I began working alongside my carpenter husband as his TA.

The Cons

1. All day he will make you fetch things. I am afraid this is in your job description. You are there in a supporting role, to aid the "tradesman" that in this case is your husband. It will take some getting use to, he will often forget to thankyou while he is rushing around trying to get the job done and is barking out orders to you. However, that does not mean he is not appreciating all your hard work. Try not to take it personally, if his nature becomes a little gruff on the job, smile at him and chances are he will come out of it.
2. He wanders off to speak to supervisors and leaves you to finish the packing up. Again this is the job of a TA. Your husband needs to talk shop with the bosses; this is where the money comes from, as more jobs are booked in. He might look buddy buddy with the "boys" but it is just politics, it is just business so don't be offended.
3. On site toilets are disgusting. This is a big problem on all building sites from huge multi storey developments to residential house blocks. On site toilets are the pits. If the spiders and other wild life inhabiting these conveniences are not enough, chances are you will have to share them with the blokes, many who seem to of left all of their toilet training habits back in Kindergarten, be prepared it is not pretty. My advice is to carry your own supply of toilet paper and hand cleaners and always try to go before you hit the job.
4. No me time. Now you are with your husband twenty-four seven it might feel as if you no longer have any time left to yourself. You are probaly right so talk to your husband about this and make arrangements for the time you need. He will understand. He is after all the love of your life and you are his. Talk about your needs and schedule, schedule, schedule!
5. Schedule ahead of time before it all gets too much and starts to cause a rift of resentment in your relationship. Do not forget that now that you are working with your husband that perhaps he might need some time himself to do something he might not of been able to do previously. This change is designed to enrich your lives, make sure it does.
6. He gets grumpy, and stressed. It can be difficult to be around your husband when he is in a mood because his day is not going to plan. Maybe the materials were not delivered on time or the plans are wrong or worse that it is difficult to access the job because other trades are in the way. Remember he is not mad at you even if you are bearing the brunt of it. Help him put it in perspective, tell him to pull his head in and suggest you take a walk, go to another job, have an ice cream in the park or whatever else it takes to diffuse the situation and see it for what it is and that's a minor hiccup not the end of the world.
7. You still have the housework to do when you get home. This con needs planning, you need to discuss if you are both prepared to share the load then you must make up a roster stated clearly who does what. Otherwise hire a cleaner.
8. You get fed up of being around each other all day. This can be a problem, especially when you are not use to living in each other's pockets, why not start out working just half days or alternate days until you both become accustomed to the new arrangement.
9. It is hot, heavy, dirty work. There is no way around this one there is nothing glamorous about a building site. You have to wear safety gear, steel cap boots, hardhat, work shirt and pants and maybe even one of those fluorescent vest so that you can be seen from the moon. Makeup is impractical and no good for your skin in this environment and there really is no point spending hours on your hair. Just drink plenty of water and embrace your natural beauty.

The Pros

1. You can talk to each other about any silly thing without running up the phone bill. You can now talk and talk for hours on end without having to hand over a fist full of dollars to the telephone company.
2. You will feel like you are contributing financially as together you are building the families financial reserves. It is fun planning where you are going to spend your earnings while on the job, it also helps to keep you motivated especially if you are planning something lovely like an exotic holiday.
3. Because you now have an active role in earning an income you can hire a cleaner to do the housework without feeling guilty. I cannot express in words how wonderful it is to come home to a clean house after a hot, tiring day on the job. Its beyond bliss.
4. Your relationship strengthens, as you grow closer. You are together, working together and playing together. Remember no one knows when their time is up, you will always be glad to of shared this time with him and him with you.
5. The physical work is making you fitter; you burn more calories every day and so can indulge a little more.
6. Because you have increased the earning capacity of your husbands business, now your partnership, your holiday and other luxuries budget has also expanded.
7. You understand your husband better because you see what his day involves.
8. He appreciates you more because you are willing to jump into the trenches with him to make your lives better.

This list is by no means exhaustive. I have included a few things that have come to mind since I began working with my husband as his TA several years ago. Its been fun to say the least, but you have to remember to pack your sense of humor along with your lunches and remember to take time out both on your own and together away from the job.

Working together will pay off financially and if you are careful the extra time spent together will only serve to strengthen your relationship