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Creating a “Mom Emergency Plan”

When my friend Jennifer went out for a neighborhood bike ride with her 7-year-old son, she never dreamed that she wouldn’t make it back to the house within the hour. But an accident left her hospitalized with a broken pelvis and other injuries for days, and in the bed recovering for weeks. Problem was, her husband still needed to get to work, her kids to school and activities, and everyone needed to eat—three times a day!

In lots of our homes, taking mom out of the daily picture is equivalent to inserting a truckload of chaos. You’re the keeper of all schedules, the planner of all meals, and the coordinator of all children’s activities. So here’s an emergency plan for what you need to help your crew survive the unexpected.

1. Determine who your urgent need go-to person is. This person needs to be in town, able to intervene quickly if your children need supervision or care, and at least somewhat familiar to the kids. It could be a grandparent, a trusted neighbor or friend, or another family from your church. Ask this person if they are willing and comfortable with acting in that role if needed, and write down contact information for them. Make sure they—and your spouse—know where to find this planner in your home if called upon to help out. (Make it an easy-to-locate spot, like the top of the fridge or by the kitchen phone.)

2. Determine who your long-term resources could be. If you were hospitalized for days or weeks, or otherwise unable to keep things going at home, you’d need a long-term helper. That’s where an out-of-town grandparent or other relative can often be useful. If your short-term helper can take care of things for a day or so, then the longer-term back-up could take over. Make sure that they, too, know where to find your emergency planner.

3. Write down the MUST KNOW info for your child. If your child has a severe food allergy, takes medication daily, or has any particular medical or physical needs, write it down and place it in the planner.

4. Write down the essentials of each child’s day. It may seem like overkill to write down that he has to be at school at 7:55, but details you know and take for granted can be helpful to those stepping in. Drop-off and pick-up locations and times, car pool arrangements, etc.

5. Write down the extras. Leave details about activities. (Janie has ballet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Metro School of Dance. She is required to wear a pink leotard, ballet shoes, and have her hair in a bun; Jeffrey has football practice Monday-Thursday after school, and should be picked up at 4:30 by the gymnasium.) Leave a list of friends and contact numbers for their parents and favorite sources of entertainment for the kids (they love to go to the playground at Westgate Park; it’s safe for them to ride their bikes on the trail by their school, etc.).

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