Yesterday was our first big spring storm and threat of severe weather. I picked the kids up at Julia’s and while driving home, we started hearing the tornado sirens. They wondered what they were for and I was telling them about tornados. I was listening to the weather and it was 20 miles from us, so I told them we’d be safe and get home.
They wondered if the tornado was going to take our house away. I told them it wasn’t going to hit us and we’d be fine. But of course Emma had to do her what ifs – but what if it does? What if our house is gone? Where will we live? What will happen to our toys? I was trying to say yes Emma, you’re right, tornados can do that, but the chances are slim and Jesus will protect us so don’t worry.
About two miles from home, Aidan got into a panic listening to Emma and said “Mommy, I don’t want the tornado to take away my toys.” He was near tears. He can be a bit hard to calm down sometimes. So when we got home, I checked the weather. Sure enough, everything was heading right for us. So I told the kids to pack some of their toys in a backpack to take down with us to the basement if we needed to go, but just to grab their most important toys – not everything.
They ran off upstairs to pack – and were pretty excited about it. Who knew packing for tornadoes could be so much fun. Aidan came down with a handful of action figures and put them in my purse, because according to him, “Mommy, I put them in there because you have to take your purse with you. It has your phone in there.” So he was set.
And then, my dear Emma, kicked her pack-rat instincts into high gear. For those of you who know Emma, this is no surprise. She grabbed a small suitcase and managed to stuff it full of a complete random collection of crap, as only she can do. But, as she pointed out, she also put in a stuffed animal for Caleigh.
By this time, Brian got home and was saying, “We may really end up in the basement.” The sky went from light to almost complete black. Pretty scary but pretty cool. Emma was glad to have Daddy home because her suitcase was too heavy to bring downstairs and she instructed him that if we ran to the basement, he was in charge of getting her suitcase.
Emma then said “hey Mommy, you didn’t pack your suitcase or toys.” I told her that I didn’t need to. If we had to go, the only thing I’d probably grab on the way down was the computer base since it has most of the kids’ pictures on it. Aidan obviously overheard us. Because two minutes later he comes running into the kitchen saying “Mommy, I’ve got your stuff for you!” and there he was, carrying the computer keyboard. It was so cute to see him being so helpful.
Needless to say, the storm passed and we never went to the basement. But it’s great to know that my little kiddos are prepared for a tornado – action figures, suitcases, keyboard and all.
