A Trades Wife Survival Guide (With a Little Humor and a Lot of Truth)
Being married to an electrician is a shockingly unique experience. The schedules are unpredictable, the conversations are half wire diagrams, and the garage is basically a second supply house. Over the years, I’ve learned to laugh at the chaos, find pride in the work he does, and connect with other women who are living the same “trades wife” reality.
So if you’re not sure whether you’re married to an electrician or just slowly becoming one by proximity, here are some telltale signs:
⚡ 1. You’ve Found Wire Nuts in the Washer… More Than Once
And maybe a random screw. The laundry is not just laundry — it’s a hardware treasure hunt.
⚡ 2. Vacations Include Detours to Electrical Supply Stores
“Let’s just swing by real quick” turns into 45 minutes of walking aisles of panels and conduit fittings… in sandals.
⚡ 3. You Know What a GFCI, arc fault, and 3-way switch are (even if you didn’t ask to)
And you’ve explained them to a friend once or twice like a pro — because someone’s been talking about them a lot over dinner.
⚡ 4. You’ve Had at Least One Heated Conversation About Permits or Inspectors
Not with an inspector, but with your husband… while he’s venting and you’re nodding like you totally get it.
⚡ 5. You Say Things Like “That’s Not Up to Code” in Regular Conversation
It just slips out now — whether you’re talking about a neighbor’s DIY lighting or the baby monitor plugged into a surge protector.
⚡ 6. Your Garage Looks Like a Mini Home Depot
Conduit, boxes of Romex, labels, breaker panels, and a ladder that somehow blocks everything you actually need.
⚡ 7. You Know the Difference Between “Coming Home” and “Coming Back for Tools”
If he says he’s “heading home,” you always follow up with, “For good or just to grab something?”
⚡ 8. You’ve Learned to Plan Around the Job Schedule (That’s Never Really the Schedule)
And you’re a master of backup plans, kid juggling, and dinner that can be reheated at least twice.
⚡ 9. You Hear About Every Nightmare DIY Job
“Look at this photo the customer sent me.” “Guess how they wired this?” “Why do people do this?” You now have a library of bad wiring stories.
⚡ 10. Despite the Crazy Hours, Messy Vans, and Tool Bags in the Living Room… You’re Proud
Because you know the work he’s doing matters. He’s keeping families safe, keeping businesses running, and building something real. And you’re part of that — every single day.
💡 Plugged-In Together
Being a trades wife means embracing the unexpected because schedules change, tools get left everywhere, and “I’ll be home soon” has a very flexible definition. It means learning things you never expected to know, like the difference between 12-gauge and 14-gauge wire, or how to politely smile when someone tells your husband, “I’ve always wanted to be an electrician.”
But it also means standing beside someone who builds things that matter, who makes homes safer, keeps businesses running, and pours their body and soul into every job. It means being the calm in the chaos, the second set of eyes on paperwork, the person who figures out dinner while kids are climbing over tool bags. You’re not just married to the trades you’re part of it.
If you saw yourself in this list, know that you’re not alone. We are pretty incredible group of women holding families, businesses, and dreams together—one wire nut, one late-night reheat, and one breaker panel at a time. You’re not just surviving the trades life… you’re shaping it.
Don’t forget to check out my other blogs on life with an electrical contractor:
7 Wife-Approved Hacks for Dads in the Trades
Teaching Electrical Safety to Children: Practical Tips for Safer Homes
5 Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) the Contractor Life Chaos