Are your emotions ready for hurricane season?
By Heidi Perez
SouthFlorida.com
I love living in South Florida. I love being able to take my children outside almost every day of the year. My least favorite aspect of South Florida is not the heat; it's the hurricanes.
With one hurricane after another, 2005 and 2006 were intense years, and 2007 was kind enough to give us some time to unwind and recover, but now hurricane season is looming again. For many of us, this time of year brings a sense of dread and anxiety.
"Whenever I think about hurricane season, I wonder if I've made the right decision to keep on living here," said Cori Glick, a mom and lifelong Floridian. "Now that I am responsible for this precious little life [her son], the decisions about how to keep us safe weigh heavily. Much more so than when I only had to think about myself."
Every newspaper will publish a hurricane readiness list, but the emotional aspect of preparing ourselves for this annual event is rarely mentioned.
How can we help our families to cope with yet another hurricane season – and perhaps another hurricane?
Talk about it
"The key to emotionally preparing your children for a hurricane is to talk, talk and talk some more," said local child therapist and new mother Monica Schaly. "Talk to them in an age-appropriate manner about what happens during the storm, how we can prepare ourselves and how we can stay safe. Keep it simple, concrete and to the point. It is OK to acknowledge that hurricanes can be scary, but reaffirm that Mommy and Daddy will do everything to keep them safe."
Be prepared
Being proactive increases one's sense of control, so let your children help with the preparations. Explain why each item or action is needed so they will understand how the affects of a storm can be managed. Being prepared for the worst – but not focusing excessively on it – often helps relieve apprehension.
Stay calm
Children sense when parents fear, which creates a cycle of fear. Although being fearful is understandable, it does not help the situation, so try to stay focused on the positive. Imagine yourself as being the calm in the center of the storm. Uncontrollable chaos may be surrounding you, but you are in perfect control of yourself. Although you cannot control the storm, you can control your reaction to it.
Get to know your neighbors
Creating friendships is an important step toward building a sense of community peace. It is invaluable to know that you have someone nearby if you need help or support. This is especially relevant during an event like a hurricane.
Plan for the time during and after a storm
Besides keeping children safe, try to have fun together by playing games or setting up a camp to help lighten the mood. Protect your children's psyches by avoiding negative stimuli (unnecessary media exposure), and try to stick to some daily routines to reaffirm a sense of normality. Above all, maintain your own composure and express confidence that everything will be OK.
Listen
"Listening is as important as talking," child therapist Schaly insists. "Not only should we be educating our children about hurricanes, we should also be encouraging them to express their thoughts and feelings. Offering crayons, pens and paper, and asking your child to 'draw the storm,' is another way to gain insight into what they might be feeling. If you understand your child's fears, you can address them appropriately and calm their anxiety."
Seek assistance and know your resources
Many local organizations and web sites provide assistance with preparations for a potentially traumatic experience, such as a hurricane.
Hug
Not surprisingly, studies show that hugs can help to lower blood pressure. Life goes down easier when taken with a hug. So hug each other. Often.
Heidi Perez is a former preschool teacher and nanny, now a mother of two and freelance writer. She lives in Plantation.