How to Mentally Prepare Your Family for Prepping
Prepping can be an extremely sensitive subject for some people to talk about. That’s because it forces individuals to stop and think about situations that are scary and out of their control. Or they may think it’s ridiculous because they’ve watched preppers on TV and how they’ve built bunkers for an apocalyptic event. So when such a conversation comes up, they believe that simply ignoring the subject is the right solution. However, this coping mechanism doesn’t solve anything, and somewhere in the back of their minds, they may realize they need to consider another approach. Use these tips to mentally prepare your family for prepping! In case you missed this post, How to Survive Mentally When SHTF
Grab a Calendar to Make Plans Monthly
You can start out by having a monthly meeting with your family. It’s a good idea to start with a plan for each month. For instance, January is typically cold, think of stocking gloves or warm hats if needed in your area. I would picture flashlights, or maybe a lantern or two. Make sure every family member has a flashlight on their nightstand or dresser. Dont’s forget to stock batteries.
Make a list of food items you would want to eat in January. Soup and homemade bread come to my mind. As far as skills, learn to make white bread, wheat bread, sourdough bread, biscuits, tortillas, or whatever your family would enjoy eating that are made with items in storage.
You Need Tools To Be Prepared:
- Flashlights
- Solar Flashlights
- Headlamps
- Lanterns
- WaterBricks
- LifeStraws
- Big Berkey
- 6-Quart Dutch Oven
- Cast Iron Pans
- Cast Iron Pizza Pan
- This is where I buy my garden seeds: SeedsNow
Mentally Prepare Your Family for Prepping
When it comes to trying to convince your own family members about the need to start or continue prepping, you may have already “hit the wall,” with them showing very little interest. Your spouse may be that person. While you may be currently frustrated that they don’t see things the way you do, you have to find a way to keep calm and remain patient when talking with them about being prepared. If you ever hope to break through their defensive barriers, you have to do so in the right manner. These are ways on how to mentally prepare your family for the idea of prepping.
How to Mentally Prepare Your Spouse for Prepping
Preparing your spouse mentally on the idea of prepping can prove to be difficult right off the bat if you don’t have a plan on how you go about it. You also have to remember that he or she is not your adversary, so don’t allow the conversation to turn into a yelling match. Here are a few ways that you can go about it.
Take it Slowly
Before you even have your first conversation with your spouse about prepping, plan how you are going to approach the subject and remember to take it slowly. While your number one concern may be to prepare your family for the worst-case scenario, you don’t want to completely blindside them on the matter. Starting off by talking about your doomsday concerns with your spouse isn’t going to help to win him/her over. If anything, they’ll think that their spouse has gone nuts, or you may scare them from ever continuing the conversation.
Instead of using such a tactless approach, try discussing with them why it’s important for your family to be prepared for the next pandemic, a job loss, or a long-term injury that puts you out of work. You could then move on to the subject of keeping your family safe during some of the natural disasters that are most likely to happen in your area.
Wait for the Right Moment to Present Itself
For those of you who already know that your spouse will be hesitant about the idea of prepping, sometimes you just have to be patient and wait for the right moment. You may be thinking that the right time will never arrive? Trust me, with all of the natural disasters and civil unrest that is covered on the news regularly, you won’t have to wait long. When a disaster on the news does show up, casually ask your spouse what they would do if your family was faced with that situation.
Share Information That’s Relatable to Them
Your spouse may not understand your way of thinking when it comes to prepping, so you have to get them on the same page by making it something that is personal to them. But tread lightly. Talk to them about past disasters that may have happened in your area and how many of the families were completely unprepared for them. Share your concerns about keeping them and your children safe in case such a scenario ever happened. Once it’s become personal to them, they’ll be much more willing to hear what else you have to say.
Avoid Getting Upset
Through all of this, you need to remember to remain calm and that it won’t help if you raise your voice. Doing so isn’t going to break down their defensive barrier. It will only put a stop to the present conversation and throw a wrench in the possibility of any future talks on the subject. Remember, you are on the same team and that their well-being is what your overall goal is in the first place, so try and help them understand that proper preparation is critical for all families.
How to Mentally Prepare Your Kids for Prepping
Once you finally have your spouse open to the idea of prepping, it’s time to talk with your children about preparing for different kinds of disasters. While your kids may be much easier to persuade than your spouse, you still need to do so carefully. These are a few things for you to keep in mind:
- Be sure to keep it age appropriate and basic. I’m sure the last thing that you want to do is scare your kids and cause them unnecessary stress. You also don’t want to make it complicated if you’re talking with smaller children. Keep it simple.
- Take it slowly. Just like with your spouse, move slowly into the conversation. Be sure to get them involved by asking them about some of their concerns and questions that they may have.
- Help them relate. You can help your children better understand by using situations that they can relate to. Discuss with them what they would need to do if a disaster were ever to take place while they were at school, or how they could stay safe if they were ever home alone when it happened.
- Teach them about paying attention to their surroundings. When you’re out in public, explain to your children that they need to know what’s going on around them. When you’re at the store, point out where all the emergency exits are. Don’t be afraid to ask them what they would do in different situations. You could teach them through games that would be fun as you discuss emergency exit plans, where to meet, how to pack the car, how to filter water, and so much more.
Final Word
Getting everyone in your family on board with the idea of prepping can oftentimes be challenging, especially if you’re married to someone who is stubborn, already has anxiety issues, or you’re in a tight spot financially. Regardless of your situation, you have to help your spouse understand that prepping is a lot like a life insurance policy that may one day prove to make all the difference. What are some other ways that you can think of when it comes to mentally preparing your family for prepping? May God Bless this world, Linda.
Copyright Images: Calendar Deposit photos_177049296_s-2019
Good article and on point.
Both my kids are grown with kids of their own. One embraced preparedness and one didn’t.
The one who didn’t doesn’t reject it, items I give them or at times the idea. The issue is in the spouse who comes from a play family where everything is geared towards either fun or making money. The don’t pay attention to what’s going on around them. So occasionally I have to wake them up.
Early in Jan of 20 I held a family meeting for a pandemic that I knew was coming. I got eye rolls and sighs and doomsday comments which I had to set straight. I explained it wasn’t doomsday but our world was bout to change and that I just didn’t know how far it would go. They believe me more now but still have blinders on.
I’ll always be the crazy dad and the typical “crazy uncle nobody wants to talk to on thanksgiving” but so be it. All we can do is try and just let it go after that. You’ve got some real good advice in this article.
Matt, I know what you are saying. I have fed my kids from our pantry several times because of hard times, but they still don’t stock up. They would rather get coffee from the store than to make it at home. I don’t under stand that. I’d rather have home made anything. I do like to get food on occasion, but not a steady diet of it. I’m stocking up on long term storage items now while they are available. I feel that things are going to get worse.
Hi Matt, thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me as I’m sure you know by now. I’m the same “crazy lady” that asks how is your food storage? How is your water storage? How much ammo do you have stored? (only family members). Neighbors would think I was a Kook. I have FaceBook only for my blog. But I look in awe at all the vacations people take, I enjoy looking at the pictures but in the back of my mind, I think I hope they know how the economy is going as in tanking. I see people buying more expensive homes, and I think, really? I try not to be judgmental but I think really? Is that necessary? Are you prepared to grow your own food? I’m happy for them, but I live a different kind of life. Right or wrong, I must be prepared. That’s how I roll. It’s way of life for me. Stay safe, Linda
Matt, I too was paying attention in January 2020. Stocked up a bit more on some basics. Told my (all young) adult kids that things might change because of a virus, and to just humor me…my kids had seen how my preps had helped during some very tough times, so they even pitched in, would get ‘extra’. (Like my son came home with 5 boxes of gloves from his group home workplace, because his boss was going to throw them out as the supply closet was full?). I guess my kids figured I wasn’t crazy…then they knew it for sure a couple months later.
That’s awesome
Linda, another great post! You are so intelligent! I admire you so much. Thank you so much for showing us what we need to be doing and thinking about.
Hi Deborah, I hope someday we meet in person, I would love it so much! I have so much zucchini right now, I’m totally stoked! I’m going to make some zucchini bites today for a post! Thank you for your kind words! Linda
Zucchini chips! Or grated zucchini for zucchini bread yum. Can you dehydrate some and freeze some? I like fried zucchini, too. Similar to fried squash or fried green tomatoes. Oh, now I’m hungry for fried green tomatoes. Yum
Hi Deborah, oh my gosh, grated for zucchini bread! Have you tried June K. zucchini cake? https://www.foodstoragemoms.com/zucchini-cake-recipe/ I love fried green tomatoes and fried zucchini! Life is so good! Linda
Oh hooray! I for one will be grateful for new zucchini recipes, yum!
Hi Amy, I have so many zucchini I am going to post some of my recipes that are not on the blog yet! Linda
just thinkin” as i read your post !
one maybe suggestion on food storage,
if you have children,explain to them ,not to scare
make it a game ,let them go to store w/ you & pick out
something in food line they would like or etc that they think should be add ed
make it a weekly thing ? as you add to your “stash “?
just thinkin “——
Hi Daphne, oh you are spot-on for having the children go to the store and pick out something they want in the “stash”. After your comment the other day, I ordered six bottles (total) of all the items you mentioned. Thanks again for the reminder of the remedies of the past! Linda
For young children, try to present some prepping activities as a game. Who can pour or scoop 5 bags of rice into a bucket without spilling any? How much
extra clothing can you fit into a backpack that is your BOB? What 2 toys do you want in your BOB?
Hi Desert, oh I love this! Kids love scooping stuff into buckets! Great tips for every family! Thank you! Linda
I priced Sure jel a few days ago at Walmart ( if you make your own Jelly) 2 box pack was a little over $5.00
and a single box was $4.44. It would be crazy to buy a single box. It keeps well and you can always make different kinds of jelly. It’s a lot better than store bought. You can make flavors that you can’t find as easy in stores. Elderberry, Cherry, blackberry, blueberry, gooseberry or if you have a yard full you can
make dandelion jelly. So you have no waste. I so have to agree that I think times are going to get worse.
Stocking up is the way to go and be safe. I still have a few friends that see stocking up as buying and keeping skids of food. I told them just make sure you have enough to survive on, not buy the store out.
Hi June, I agree we need to stock up but we are not buying out the stores. I would buy the two box packs as well! I sure hope people start to understand it is going to get much worse. I was just looking at your zucchini cake recipe!! It’s my very favorite! AND I have so many zucchini’s in the garden! I’m so grateful for you and that you shared that recipe. It’s so good! In case anyone wants it, here it is. https://www.foodstoragemoms.com/zucchini-cake-recipe/ We will sleep at night knowing we are prepared. Stay safe, Linda
linda ,you very welcome ,we jus ‘have to keep thinkin’
so much going on now ,that we not used to !
sometimes “old “is better ,just gotta put thinkin cap on ! and keep on keepin’on !
Hi Daphne, yes, indeed, and we will be prepared for what hits us hopefully. I had a cut on my foot and I used the bottle of iodine I had in the cupboard. It healed the darn thing overnight. Linda
wow ! we forget ! had i had iodine ,maybe i would have not gone thru what i did w/ my foot
7 anti shots .1 every day .anti by mouth ,surgery on foot ! over a month struggling w/, more like 2 !
you be come paranoid
,fur baby got my arm ,bad ,what i did was SCAREY BUT ITS OK !
i got it all now !
there is so much stuff in air & ground now that we never had before ,makes canning a whole new way also,bacteria’s we never had ,look WHAT WE GOT ! SHUT THE WHOLE WORLD DN AS WE KNOW IT !
SO GLAD YOUR FOOT IS OK !
Hi Daphne, my foot had a “split” from dry skin that wouldn’t close up. I kept scraping the dead skin, used a file, razor blade deal, and then applied the clear colored iodine. FINALLY, it closed up and healed. Yikes, for now anyway. Animal scratches or bites can be bad. Stay healthy and safe. Linda
wow ! glad all is well now !
you be safe & healthy also ! dont want to loose you !
love reading all you post !
Hi Daphne, you made my day, my friend! Life is good with people like you! Linda
you make my day ! i look forward to seeing what you come up w/ next ! you are one awesome person !
hurricane season is jus ‘ around the corner ?
Hi Daphne, oh, hurricane season, be safe!! Linda
Linda,
i am so glad that you like the Zucchini cake recipe that I sent to you. I really do like it myself.
Have you or any other reader tried my other recipes I have sent like the cucumber spread? To me that
recipe is really good and you can use it as a spread for sandwiches or a dip. It is really good too I think.
Hi June, that cake is so good! I need to look for that cucumber spread recipe. I want to make that. I will go look!!! Linda
One good thing came out of all of the disasters last year (virus, fires, floods, hurricanes), and that is people are more are aware now of how life can change in an instant. I feel sure more people than ever before have BOBs, places go if they need to evacuate, fuller pantries, and emergency cooking and lighting supplies. My daughter, who is the holdout in our family, even turned her laundry room into a huge pantry and moved the laundry someplace else, then bought an extra freezer to go in there. I talked to her about having enough propane and she said they had 4 small tanks and just had their big tank in the ground filled. I said you are 2/3 of the way to being a prepper now. She replied So, do I get a B+? I said If you tell me all your gas cans are full, I will give you an A-. All 7 gas cans were full. I’m so proud. They actually had to use their gas can gasoline during the panic buying when the pipeline went down. They had to go to work and no gas stations had gas.
Hi Angela, I have to agree with you. I believe more than ever before people saw the news, the gas shortages, the panic buying, and all that stuff. When you go to the store and you see the shelves more than slightly empty, I bet some stopped in their tracks in shock. It was a wake-up call for many people. I love the grading your daughter joked about, I LOVE it! She is working on being prepared. Thank goodness she had gas cans stored! Proud mamma, I’m sure! Linda