Hurricane Sanity Suggestions

Hello my friends. If you are a Florida native you know that surviving hurricanes gracefully involves more then just being prepared for physical catastrophes. Our mental game as mammas can suffer some serious blows and challenges. I decided (in part for my own sanity) to create a list of some suggestions for best hurricane preparedness:

---

If the power goes out to keep your kids busy:

• Print coloring pages or plan crafts ahead of time
• Make a fort
• Pull out some puzzles
• Make something out of felt/glue/sewing
• Do mani/pedis with your daughters
• Lego building contest
• Have a dance party
• Play school
• Take turns reading books out loud
• Hang man
• Look at old photo books
• Break out the air-dry Crayola modeling clay
• Drawing contest
• Plan a few random acts of kindness for when the storm lets up
• Do push up or jump rope contests
• Spread a blanket and have a living room picnic
• Do a mini class with your kids to teach them something you've noticed you missed... 
  (cooking, laundry, sewing, grammar, counting money, tying shoes etc.)
• Take a bike ride with them to survey the after-math (of course be safe)

To keep your own fuse from getting too short:

• Spend time in prayer (If your mind is prone to wandering, make a prayer list)
• Rearrange your furniture or pictures
  (maybe this is just me but I love how it makes things feel fresh)
• Organize, declutter and purge
• Read a good fiction novel
• Go on a quiet walk or walk your doggie whenever the rain lets up
• Pick paint colors
  (OK this one is weird, but you'll definitely be seeing those swatches in all kinds of light)
• Take a long bubble bath and actually shave
• Do a bible study devotional
• Phone family you've needed to connect with but have been avoiding
• Journal your thoughts and feelings or just what is happening with the hurricane
• Get time alone (even for just 10 minutes)
• Write a letter
• Just lay on the floor with your family and pets...  laugh and listen

Look at the calendar and schedule some fun things to look forward to. Some ideas include going out to dinner as a family to their favorite restaurant, a service project, a movie night, letting them plan their favorite day,  or signing them up for an art class.  ; )  

Whatever you do, give yourself and your people grace these next few days. While there will certainly be challenging and ugly moments for all of us, I hope your time together as a family is overall a blessing.

Warmly,
- Caryn