Book Spotlight: Sharing My First Responder by Francesca Koos
A must-have for families dealing with long shifts and big emotions
In our house, the calendar is everything. My husband is a firefighter/paramedic, and I’m a nurse case manager—so between our odd shifts, someone is always coming or going. And while we’ve gotten used to this rhythm as adults, our kids are still figuring it out... especially our 6-year-old.
She’s a total daddy’s girl, and when he leaves for a long shift, it’s tough. We’re talking big feelings—sadness, anger, clinginess, the occasional meltdown—and yes, a little extra attitude toward mom.
That’s why I was so thankful I heard about Sharing My First Responder by Francesca Koos. It’s a beautiful children’s book that really gets what it’s like to be part of a first responder family. It doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff, but it handles it in such a gentle, reassuring way that kids can really connect with.
This book helped us:
Put feelings into words. Our daughter started saying things like “I miss Daddy when he’s at work,” instead of just acting out. That’s been a game changer.
Start honest conversations. It gave us the language to talk about the hard parts of this lifestyle without making them scary or overwhelming.
Remind our kids they’re loved. Even when one of us is gone for 24, 48, or more hours, love stays constant. This book helps reinforce that message.
Feel seen as a family. It’s rare to find a book that actually reflects your real life, and this one did just that.
The illustrations are sweet, the message is heartfelt, and most importantly—it helped our daughter feel understood. It didn’t fix everything overnight, but it gave us a foundation to build on. Now, instead of just crying or lashing out, she brings the book to me and says, “Let’s read this when I’m sad.”
If you're a first responder family—or know one—Sharing My First Responder is such a helpful, comforting resource. Highly recommend adding it to your bookshelf.
You can find Sharing My First Responder by Francesca Koos via First Responder Family Collective on Instagram. (not an ad)
