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5 Good Reasons to be (Un) prepared?

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Editors Note: I ran across this article last week and I figured with Mothers Day being around the corner this would be a great salute to all of the survival moms out there!

Survival Moms tend to be a bunch you’d want on your side when you’ve broken down in the desert or locked yourself out of the car, again.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve “swooped to the rescue” with a multi-tool, or band-aid.

It feels good to be someone who can be counted on when times are tough.

But, is there a possible downside to always being prepared?

I say there is. The very people you’re aiming to protect, your family, just may come to expect you to always have whatever it is they may need, want or wish for, at any given moment.

In fact, they may forget to do anything at all for themselves. Maybe. Not pointing any fingers.

There are at least five things my kids, maybe even my husband, have learned from the rare moments when I’ve been unprepared.

1. Patience: “No honey, sorry, we don’t have any juice in the car. You’ll have to wait until we get home”.

2. Forethought: “Hey, Mom, can we bring my thermos in case I get thirsty on the way again”?

3. Self-reliance: “No, I do not have crayons in my purse, find another way to entertain yourself”.

4. Adaptability: “ Sorry, Yellowstone doesn’t have a baby potty in the outhouse, would you rather squat outside”? (Turns out she would)

5. Although You Are The Most Important People In My World, Your Immediate Comfort May Not Be The Most Urgent Item On my To Do List: “Uh-oh kids. I forgot the bag with the snow pants in it. The good news is I have a first-aid kit, gloves and toothbrushes for everyone in my purse”! Which brings us back to #1.

I’m not saying you should go for an over-nighter in the winter woods without the snow gear on purpose. But maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to occasionally “forget” to pack your kids an extra snack, or pair of gloves, or your husband’s iPad charger when you‘ll be otherwise safe and taken care of. You’ll be delighted at how they begin thinking of these things for themselves, thereby becoming valuable members to your prepping team.

To give credit where credit is due, this was originally posted on survivalmom.com as a guest post from Magi over at, Half Acre Heaven.

Read more with these related articles from our site:

Disaster Preparedness: Prepping with Kids

Family Preparedness: What Are Your Survival Principles?

32 Survival Skills to Teach Your Kids

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6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Pogo

    May 23, 2013 at 6:17 PM

    There is an entire segment of our culture who believes that guvmint is their mommy. They are about to get a crash course in all 5 of these at once. Oh, the tantrum will be heard throughout the land.
    How about #6, although related to all 5. “Lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.”

    • Ilana

      August 11, 2013 at 10:01 AM

      I do not know if to laugh or cry – no one around me wants to believe it can get as bad as you predict(except myself), and I would like to do the right thing for my family.
      Have I understood correctly that all foods to store are based on the assumption that there will be water and electricity? I live in a condo apartment, not much place to store, no ability to grow my own stuff, and would appreciate if someone suggests the absolute essential items we should have in case of electricity and water are out. what kid of emergency stove to purchase. We do not have the means for all your survival bulletins and survival guides you offer online, which we are sure, are excellent, and we wanted to know if there are classes available for survival that you offer in Florida (not online).

  2. Dano

    August 1, 2013 at 10:59 PM

    um. This should be titled “5 things I tell me kid while parenting” and is missing the point. More focus about raising a child than actual survival preparation.
    Let separate first world problems from …being smart and having contingency plans.

    • Michael McNeill

      November 18, 2013 at 10:51 AM

      I knew from reading the title of the article and the first couple of paragraphs what to expect from the article. And it is a good one! This also applies to “not-your-kids” who become dependent on you to have everything prepped and ready to go for them.

  3. Constance

    September 11, 2013 at 9:12 PM

    When my son joined cob scouts (about 15 years ago), our whole family learned something: always be prepared. This included my son and daughter both learning that if they want to have something when we go somewhere, they have to get and bring it. Everyone has to make sure that all necessities are packed. Any extras 1 person wants: that person has to pack. If something is forgotten, we do without.

  4. Shr

    October 18, 2013 at 9:37 PM

    Loved this; Brought back one of my camping trips with my 5 daughters, they was always complained about me always packed too much stuff so made them pack their own food ,I’d pack my husband,and mine, as thy packed I did not offer any help:that night when we got to the camp grond I made them do every thing themselves as you think Ihad to snicker thy wanted too eatso I told them have at it.geeed they fouget to pack lunch meat no mayo.to use some of ours.sorry we might need it.
    Next morn they didn’t bring but5 eggs no borrowing. the whole weekend was the same way: by the time we got home they blamed each other after that they was eager to help and try to learn what to do to be more help.
    they have had their own family and it fells good when their husbands
    tell me I did a good job in making sure the could take care of them & they even change oil in their cars.
    I still laugh about it 50 yrs.later::::::::::::::::

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