This is such a tough subject to tackle. I suppose that’s why I avoid it. How do you get your family on board with a preparedness program when they are really, REALLY not interested? I have a bit of experience here as my DH is nowhere near as concerned for the future as I am. I have to walk a very fine line if I want him to be part of the process and not turn him off to the whole thing.
I did not begin with my most dire predictions. Instead, I began with the most likely scenarios.
First:
You know I have been concerned about being without power for any length of time, especially for the kids. We live so far from town, I really hate to think we would be stuck here and not have something truly necessary like toilet paper or milk. I’m thinking I will get some things ahead and keep them in the spare room closet.
Next:
I am finding that I am saving quite a bit by buying so many things in bulk. Now that we have the membership to BJ’s, I’m going to look at my grocery list and see what else would work in bulk.
Then:
Dont’ the hurricane lamps look nice on the table? I got some extra fuel for them too. It’s up in that empty closet in the den. I hate relying on candles when the power is out. They really aren’t safe.
How about:
Can you believe what happened to that poor family who got stranded in the storm? I made a list of what they should have had with them. If I get one or two things a week, we could have the car outfitted in just a few weeks.
These might be good starting off points. I found that it helped to make sure my family knew that the meal they just raved about came from storage. For us, that’s often food we grew or foraged so it’s pretty easy. Think about a meal of crab cakes, peas, home made fries and home made rolls. The peas should be dehydrated rather than canned as canned peas are vile. Make the dessert something spectacular like apple pie.
Fortunately, a lot of our friends are on the same page as I am and Bruce was indoctrinated by osmosis. He isn’t the type to worry but he is now a least willing to admit that the economy probably won’t recover overnight and that having a deep pantry is a good inflation hedge. We also lived through the ice storm last year and I know that Bruce was pleased to be able to help neighbors who were not prepared. I think he was a bit surprised at just how well prepared we were.
The one thing that won’t help is to turn preparedness into a power struggle. When push comes to shove, your family is your best resource. Maybe you could tell your significant other just that. I’m worried about the future. There is so much that could happen that would leave us at the mercy of some government agency, one that may or may not arrive. But I don’t want you to be unhappy. Could we compromise on this? Could we get to a minimum level of preparedness and see how it feels? If it doesn’t really interfere with our regular life, maybe we could do more. This matters to me but you matter more. I can’t make any promises but it will certainly work better that fighting about it.
October 19, 2009 at 9:21 pm
**EXCELLENT** post Kathy!!
October 20, 2009 at 7:27 am
osmosis is a pretty accurate description in many cases! My husband loves it when he needs something during a “crisis” and I can hand it to him. Now, when he doesn’t get it, he mnetions that it hsould be put on “the list”. Now he’s fully integrated into preparedness, we’ve started on all of the kids…not easy to do. (3 out of 5 are ok) Friends and neighbors have been given the same examples as you gave, but so far, no luck!
October 20, 2009 at 9:15 am
I think that little by little people are coming to the conclusion that this economy thing is real and it can only help to be prepared according to your ability. I just keep doing what I am doing and don’t really count on anyone else, but friends and family are noticing and so far I have gotten some good response. Good post on a difficult subject.
October 20, 2009 at 10:35 am
What a great network of support and encouragement this is. Thank you!
October 20, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I like the idea of being able to help others by my own preparedness, maybe I can pitch preps to my family members in such a way. I know they’d like to help their friends and extended family members if push comes to shove. It’s empowering to be the one helping, not the one being helped.
October 20, 2009 at 4:20 pm
that exactly how I have moved the ball with my family, piece by piece..a little food, sencondary heat, rainbarrels.
big one is a generator..is it wrong to hope for a ice storm…”see honey if we only had a generator, you could watch the game”….
ah the webs we weeve….
October 20, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Thank you all for the feed back. I never really know if what I write is relevant or not.
October 21, 2009 at 11:37 am
Kathy, you’re so subtle! I was going to say sneaky but I didn’t want you to think I felt there were any bad connotations in convincing the family this way. Loved the post!
Diana
October 21, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Kathy – your posts are relevant, even if you think the topic is mundane. Keep sharing your heart – it always speaks to one or more of us.
I am having the same issues. The hubby’s idea of preparedness is having his cans of Campbell soup and some wine. He’s getting more cooperative, but I’m tired of spending what little free time I have canning and then eating it all myself because he wants store bought.
What I can tastes much better than what I can buy, but I don’t have time to be doing this plus all the clean-up afterwards.
I’ve been getting canned beans on sale lately. I’m not sure it’s worth me spending 3+ hours to soak, can, and watch over a pressure cooker when I can buy 28 cans for $21. Those three hours of time are an entire evening of my low energy and limited patience after working all day.
October 22, 2009 at 9:49 pm
dogear6, I ear you!
My husband too prefer storebough. I found a parade: I prep when he is not there/looking with homemade stuff and he does knoe the difference most of the time! That way I don’t eat it up all by myself.
What help me a lot with preping and working full time is my slow cooker: I prep the receipe to can in the slow cooker in the morning. It cook all day and when I am ready in the evening it is hot and I just have to laddle and do the water bath.
November 19, 2009 at 10:33 am
GREAT! Well developed…KUDOS from a developing preper husband!
In my SITREP, it’s wifey who bemoans: “There’s NOTHING I can do! YOU deal with that!”
Why? Because I’ve taken the WRONG…(emphasis intended)…approach. I learned, of course, but a bit late.
BTW, the “BULK BUYING” is a genuinely fine solution to BOTH preps,AND Economy…you’ve done well Kathy! Keep it up!
November 20, 2009 at 12:27 am
[…] who wrote in about getting his wife "on board" with preparedness efforts. It's titled "All Aboard" and was posted over on Kathy Harrison's The Just In Case Book Blog. (As may be obvious, Kathy is […]
March 5, 2010 at 12:07 pm
All right guys…. need help on this one. I find myself having to sneak food into the house for LT storage. My very trusting Christian wife has a real hard time with what she refers to as “hording”, I think that I spelled it right, well anyways her comment whenever I try to discuss putting food up or supplies is that “the Lord will provide for us” which I’m in complete agreement with. However, I know that we are also prepare and not just sit on our hands and wait. Can anyone provide me with some scripture out of the “BIBLE” that I can discuss with my wife to help sway her opinion on being prepared? Thanks…. singed a Frustrated Husband!
March 5, 2010 at 12:18 pm
One more thing… the kids are definitely on board as I’ve included them in dehydrating foods as well as helping with the vacumm sealer… Thank you in advance for your comments.