I have several mom friends who classify themselves as a “Prepper”. Sometimes I look at these wonderful ladies and wonder if all of their efforts are for not. Other times I look at them and think of how terrible a mom I am that I am not prepared to take care of my children the way they are. There are even days when I wish we could be like the family on “Blast from the Past’ and have a home underground with everything we could need all ready to go. The rest of the time I am torn between which is the best route to take? Is prepping or survivalist the best? How extreme it too extreme? Which is the best way to prepare? What should we be preparing for? Who has it right?

Who does have it right?

What is a Prepper?

A prepper is someone who has taken every precaution to be prepared for any feasible situation they can think of. Most people associate preppers with someone who is preparing for a doomsday event, but being a prepper is more than that. It’s about cutting back on leisure’s today so that they can prepare for a situation that could arise tomorrow. They try to prepare for things like natural disasters, power outages, loss of income and man-made disasters. Preppers ultimately try to accumulate items that will let them live as close the same lifestyle that they are living now no matter what their family is facing.

What is a Survivalist?

A Survivalist is someone who learns primitive skills that they can use to survive off the land in a time of crisis. Survivalist usually have retreats or shelters in rural areas away from civilization OR can prepare them quickly at the time of need. Survivalist learn a combination of skills from homesteading, primitive, first-aid, navigation, herbology, permaculture, orienteering and so much more.

Who has it right?

I used to think the survivalist have it right (and in a doomsday-like crisis, they probably do). But the more research I conduct, I think both groups are correct. I like the idea of being able to provide for my family’s needs in an extended power outage, natural disaster, and even the loss of an income. But I am also aware that there are situations that may arise where my family may be displaced and need to leave our home’s comforts. A great mom would have a plan for any of these situations.

The Bigger Picture:

One of my best mom friends described her passion for being prepared as her duty as a mother; to protect her family in any situation. She furthered the discussion by saying she never wants her children to die because she didn’t take the time to learn (and teach them) the skills needed to survive. The word “die” was a big wake-up call for me that we needed to take this more seriously ourselves.

Another friend reminded me that our grandparents and ancestors were preppers because there was no government assistance and disaster services available to them. They were forced to prepare their homes and families for anything because there was no alternative.

What is your family’s alternative? What will you do if you lose power for an extended period of time? If your spouse loses their job? If your home is destroyed?

Do you possess the knowledge and skills for your family to survive in any situation?

Get prepping for your family’s survival TODAY!

How does a great mom get started?

Get started by setting aside an area in your home to stock up on nonperishable foods and everyday needs. Begin by devoting 10% of your monthly grocery budget towards purchasing these items and gradually increase the amount, if necessary.

“Budget” was the key word in that last sentence (in case you didn’t catch that). To really get started, a great mom needs to create a budget that will allow her family to devote a portion of their existing funds towards their preparation efforts.

After establishing a budget that will allow for prepping efforts to begin, borrow a few books from the library (see Books to Get You Started below) and switch your family’s normal television time to something more educational. There are several series that cater to the survivalist movement: Dual Survival, Survivorman, and Man vs. Wild are a few. Our family’s favorite is Dual Survival – we learn a lot from their debates and how each one may approach things differently.

Next, check your community calendar for pioneer days, primitive festivals, and survivalist camps. The vendors at these events love to answer questions and will often give you some great, free, hands-on lessons right there at the show! Our family attended a pioneer festival and met experts that taught us how to tan hides, make baskets, and some basic first-aid skills. All of these lessons were hands-on and included with our inexpensive entrance fee (less than $20 for our entire family of seven!)