As a parent, it is likely you would have set up a daily routine which, at least half of the time, will get you through the day with as few issues as possible. However, sometimes events happen which you don’t expect, and in those situations, it can be easy for things to fall apart. Whether your car breaks down, your electricity goes off, or some extreme weather is heading your way, you need to be fully prepared so that you can ease your family through a difficult situation as best as possible. Here are a few tips on situations you should consider preparing for.
Vehicle Breakdowns
The mornings are always hard for parents because there is so much to do. Children are never organized, especially when they first wake up, and they are likely to bombard you with questions and demand their breakfast, all while you are trying to get yourself ready for the day too. When you finally get them out the door, and you’re on the run to school, the last thing you need to happen is for your car to break down.
Unfortunately, no matter how well you maintain your car, the possibility of a breakdown is always there, so in case you do have unexpected car troubles it is important that you are prepared. Keep a little emergency preparation kit in the trunk of your car to minimize your stress: you can find some great ideas of what to include over at preparednessmama.com. Depending on what the problem with your car is, fixing it and getting it up and running again could be expensive, so try and keep an emergency fund in the bank for situations like these. That way the most you’ll have to worry about is how to entertain the kids until help arrives.
In-home disasters
As you know, a household with children doesn’t always run smoothly, and there is always a chance that things could go wrong, from minor injuries to power blackouts. However, there are a few items you can keep around the house to help you in emergencies. The top of the list is a first aid kit because small accidents are almost unavoidable. A power blackout is likely to occur at some point over the years, so keep flashlights, batteries, and portable chargers somewhere easily accessible. If your power is off for a long time, opening the fridge might not be a good idea. Therefore you should keep some long-lasting, prepared food in the pantry for situations such as this. Bottled water can also be stored away in case your water supply gets cut off. Don’t forget to label everything, so you don’t end up rummaging around in the dark for ages searching for something.
National emergencies
It is wise to be informed about the types of emergencies your family could be affected by in your local area, including natural disasters such as floods, storms, earthquakes, and wildfires. Create an emergency family plan for extreme situations which covers what each member of the family should do in a crisis. Plan for as many situations as you can. It’s important that your children know what they can do to help in an emergency situation as well. For example, if your child is young but old enough to understand specific and simple directions, then you could explain to them that in an emergency it’s important that they listen to adult instructions, and stick with the parent nearest to them unless told otherwise.
These are just a few examples of emergencies you could find yourself facing. Try and prepare for as many possible scenarios as you can think off, as it will reduce the amount of stress you face in the future.