Is this thing on? :::tap:::tap:::tap::::
Sometimes being a mom is putting out fires. I feel like there are often a lot of fires. Ahem. Have you ever thought about creating a “Go-Bag”? Its a term from the survivalist or prepper movement for a bag that you can literally grab and go and have everything you need for approximately 3 days. Now when you hear that term, “go-bag”…. honestly, what goes through your mind? Crazy TV shows (I know, I’m guilty of watching too), over-the-top off-the-grid survivalists with their own livestock and infomercials about how to store your eggs for years… in 3 easy steps. Me too. Most of the time. Until yesterday. You see we had what I would call a “localized” emergency and I suddenly had to drag my 3 children and our cat over to a neighbors’ house in the middle of the night (Of course. Right? Because this kind of thing doesn’t happen at 11:00AM when everyone is at school). By myself. My husband was out for the evening for some much needed r & r. Our biggest family/household emergencies seem to happen when there is only 1 parent in the household. In any case, the gas company needed to come inspect our ventilation. I am relieved to say that we’re all fine and thankfully other than intense smells, our air is now fine as well. This got me to thinking though, this could have been worse, a lot worse and we were lucky we had the time to grab all of the things we needed for an impromptu night at the neighbors’ house. What if we didn’t? It occurred to G and I that we have approximately 1 localized emergency per 12-18 months. So, not often, but with minor regularity. When Mr. A was 18-months old, G had to grab him and a toddler Mr. M and head to the children’s hospital for an overnight stay while I was pregnant and in another city. When Mr. M was 6 he fell out of a tree and I had to wrap him in a towel, grab the other 2 children and speed to the ER with them all in tow. Two years ago I needed to go to the ER myself and it took 3 additional adults to hold down the house for the length of time that I would be at the hospital until G could get back home from traveling on business. Last night it was the ventilation in the house. Things happen. Life happens. I needed to be more prepared. I began to ask myself a couple of questions:
- Could my children safely move themselves to a neighbors’ house or go for help next door without me?
- Should I speak to the neighbors beforehand just to make sure its ok that I show up with loads of children and animals? What is the protocol for that?
- Could I be more prepared with making sure we have everything we need for leaving in an emergency?
- What exactly do we need for a “get out of the house” emergency?
There is an author named Lisa Bedford who wrote a book called The Survival Mom. It is all about preparing for any number of disasters that we just don’t think about from fires and floods to illness, financial downfall, plumbing and power outages. She calls them “everyday disasters”. And yes, she is also a prepper and covers food storage and other skills for a more catastrophic event, but firstly, as a suburban mom, she makes it relevant. In any case, I heard of her and it sort of crossed my mind to have…… oh I don’t know maybe a blanket and some water bottles and wipes in my car for emergencies, but certainly nothing organized and prepared like she was listing in her book. After yesterday though with the possibility of my children in life threatening danger, my outlook has changed a bit. Now, I’m not saying I’m going to buy a cow and go off the grid, but we definitely need a plan in place for where to meet in case of emergency, a list of contacts, and yes, I think, a “go-bag” for each family member.
So, as I am just starting on this “preparation” I may be updating on that so you’re welcome to following along as I navigate this new area and certainly if you have any advice on emergencies with children, please share.
Be fierce. #StarterPrep
#IamAFierceMom
Kelly
PinksWhirled 