The Little Bit of Survival Mom Instinct in All of Us

Gaye Levy, Contributing Writer
Activist Post

When it comes to survival skills, it is my belief that there is a little bit of “Mom Instinct” in all of us.  Whether we are protecting our families, a loved one, a partner or even a neighbor, that certain instinct kicks in and without deference to gender; our need to nurture and protect takes over.

Now in my case, I am well beyond the child bearing years so there are no little ones running about in my household.  On the other hand, I take a keen interest in the comings and goings as well as the welfare of the cherished young adults in my extended family.  So I suppose you would say that I am a Mom of sorts, and my guess is that you are too.

With that introduction, today I am thrilled to share my thoughts about Lisa Bedford’s new book: Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios.

First Impressions Count

This is a nifty little book – and I only say “little” because of its compact size that can easily be carried around in a backpack or handbag.  That said, the book is 300-plus pages of non-stop tips and advice for dealing with every type of disaster imaginable.  It is written in a witty and sassy manner that you will find familiar and fun.  The chapters and pages are well laid out and, for me, are more easily navigated due to the use of colored tip boxes and side bars that simply jump out and say “read me”.

Are You a Survival Mom? (or Survival Dad, Husband, Wife or Friend?)

The cornerstone of any survival and preparedness book is finding a common ground with its audience.  And though the book is directed toward “moms”, from the get-go Lisa defines “Survival Moms” as having the following qualities:

• They are Realists
• They are Creative
• They Never Give Up
• They are Proactive
• They are Passionate

Now I don’t know about you, but I would like to believe that these qualities describe all of us that care about securing a future for ourselves and our loved ones, regardless of whether or not we are moms in the traditional sense.

Okay, What Else

Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios covers the basics of prepping including food storage, water purification, financial and medical preparedness and communication during a crisis.  It goes beyond the basics, however, with the addition of charts, checklists and worksheets to help you stay organized in your preparedness efforts.

On the other hand, the book is weak in the area of dealing with pandemics or nuclear emergencies.  This, to me, was a distinct omission, but, then again, if the book covered everything, it would be over a thousand pages long and weigh more than a few pounds.  I think it is perfect the way it is.

The Final Word

Much of the information in this book can be found elsewhere, including here on Backdoor Survival.  And, if you are smart, you will have printed out some of that information so that you have it if the power grid goes down.  On the other hand, wouldn’t it be nice to have your reference material consolidated in book form so that you can take it with you?  And also so that you can share it and easily refer to it when time and circumstances allow?

Not a bad idea in my view.

Full disclosure:  A few months ago, I asked Lisa for a review copy of her book.  I did this because she shares with me a practical, common sense approach to preparedness.  That said, the opinion expressed here is an honest one and is not biased by the author or the publisher.

Read other articles by Gaye Levy here.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye Levy, the SurvivalWoman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable, self-reliant and stylish lifestyle through emergency preparation and disaster planning through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com. SurvivalWoman speaks her mind and delivers her message with optimism and grace, regardless of mayhem swirling around us.