Why is that that the only time we think to get prepared is when disaster is breathing down our necks?

So often we hear about hurricanes, fires or other disasters and think, ‘I should really put a few things together in case of an emergency,’ but never actually get around to doing anything about it. It’s a universal problem driven by two things. First, for many of us, it’s difficult to be sure of what is needed or how to put it together in an organized fashion. And second, the thought of something bad happening to our loved ones is often too difficult to consider. These are fears worth overcoming.

Alicia on the importance of getting informed

The most important step in getting prepared is to read up on the topic. There are many websites out there that can help you wrap your head around what exactly you need to get ready for anything. One of the best sites for this is the Department of Homeland Security. We recommend that you spend enough time on the site to gain the confidence you need to get started.

Pay particular attention to the following areas:

• Assembling a kit of emergency supplies — what’s necessary and what’s not?
• Making an emergency plan — what are the important components of a plan?
• Preparing for communication gaps — where should you look for important directives and how to you stay in touch if phones aren’t working?

Sarah on getting it done

One way to make the entire task seem less daunting is to keep in mind that it will take you less than 3 hours to get prepared for the unexpected. That’s right, isn’t your family’s safety worth one night of prime time TV? And if that still seems overwhelming, break it up into smaller bite-sized pieces. Assign one week as ‘emergency preparedness week’ and have your family spend 30 minutes a night (ideally right before or after dinner) going through the steps together. Once everyone agrees on what to do, write it down and post it in the house. Think of how much worry this will save you all down the line.

These three organizational tips are designed to help you get the basics in order.

#1: Remember the ‘Big 4′
Water, food, cash and a first aid kit are the foundation of any emergency kit. Make sure you have enough of each of these things to last each person in the house at least 5 days. Imagine how much suffering could have been avoided in the recent hurricanes if people had prepared a family emergency kit stocked with these amenities.

#2: Engage the Entire Family
Getting prepared should be a family event, not a burden for one person to carry. It’s in everybody’s best interest to know what’s been done and to be invested in the process. Make sure each family member has a job to do and encourage them to get it done within a week. One person can buy flashlights, a whistle and lots of batteries, another can find a radio (battery operated) in the house and make sure it still works, and someone else can clear out space in the pantry, garage or basement to store all of the emergency supplies.

#3: Get ‘Extras’
Think about any items that are critical to you and that may not be easy to get for a few days in an emergency and have extras on hand. Some important things to consider are prescription medicines taken regularly, glasses and contact lenses including saline solution and contact case, and baby items such as formula and diapers.

Between the house, kids, husband, bills, work, and everything else that gets tossed on your plate, there always seems to be one person that gets overlooked: you!

But just because you’re up to your neck with activities and responsibilities, it doesn’t mean you need to leave yourself out of the mix. Let us help you find the time for ‘me time’ with these hints and ideas.

Alicia on “Make it a Joint Effort”

“Keeping on top of all those daily ‘must do’s’ can be a tough task. But there’s no reason for you to tackle all those responsibilities on your own! A great plan that saves time (and sanity) is to team up with your husband and switch up those family responsibilities. When it comes to our daughter Lucy and her endless array of activities, my husband Adam and I take turns with the small stuff (practices, rehearsals, and the like) but always show up together for big events like games and recitals. That way, both Adam and I can enjoy a little time to ourselves all while keeping our family buttoned up done at the same time.”

Sarah on: “Ditch the Guilt”

“Sometimes, our own worst enemy when it comes to carving out a little personal time is ourselves. Who hasn’t pushed their own needs to the side with the rationalization ‘with all that’s going on, how could I possibility take a moment for myself’? But keep in mind having a little me time now and again won’t make you any less of a super wife, mom, or employee; in fact, it’s usually quite the opposite. It’s a general rule of thumb that your mood affects those around you — whether for the better or worse! So, if you have any guilt about devoting a little time to yourself: cast it aside. It’s a mindset better left for the birds!”

Here are a few tricks to help you find (and keep) some time for ‘me time’:

#1. Bundle Up
While no amount of wishful thinking will help you escape your weekly errands and chores, there’s still a way to make all of your ‘must do’s’ work in your favor. Try to bundle all of your errands and appointments in as few clusters as possible. Not only will you save tons of time that would otherwise be wasted shuttling to and from your destinations, you’ll give your car a much needed break from all those ‘city’ miles, which as we all know, can really add up!

#2. Seize the Opportunity
Sure, we could all benefit from a little more time in the day (if not to get more done, then for a full night’s rest), but there are tricks to help you make the most of the time you already have. Try to line up some spare moments for yourself during family down time, such as when the kids are busy with after school clubs or during nap hour. And if conflicting schedules keep you from enjoying a little me time (all those practices and play dates never seem line up!) hiring a mother’s helper a few afternoons a week is sure to do the trick as well.

#3. Keep Everyone in the Know
Once you’ve managed to secure a little time for yourself, don’t forget to let your loved ones in on your personal plans as well. Discussing the details in advance and blocking the time on your family calendar will prevent you from having to ditch your plans at the last minute due to an unforeseen conflict. Then once you’re squared away with your family, kick back and relax — it’s definitely well deserved!

You remember the feeling. The anxiety. The pressure. The dread that is the college application process.

Nowadays, the stresses on high school students are even greater, with increasingly larger numbers of qualified students applying to schools, which means fewer potential spots open for them. When you factor in requirements like SAT tests, AP exams, essays, financial aid, not to mention keeping up your G.P.A., it can get downright overwhelming. As if being is high school wasn’t hard enough already! Parent of students going through this process tend to get just as caught up in the madness and mayhem as their children, if not more, which only leads to more stress on everyone. Fortunately, there are some ways to smooth this potentially obstacle-riddled path to college. And, no, you won’t be tested on this.

Alicia on ‘Timetables’

‘Most of the stress from the college application process stems from deadlines. With everything seemingly due on the same day, those last few days and hours are usually spent scribbling essays, collecting recommendations, writing checks, and running to the post office. It is a classic case of procrastination, one that is easily remedied with some simple organization. Granted, the eye-rolling teen in the house will scoff at the idea of structured organization, but as deadlines approach, it will all be worth it.’

Sarah on ‘The Perfect Fit’

‘With more than 4,000 colleges and universities to choose from, the process of finding the right school for your child is a daunting one. Nobody likes to get rejected either, so the tendency is to apply to a large a number of schools in order to increase the odds of acceptance. While this tactic is certainly understandable, it isn’t efficient. With time being as tight as it is, helping your child focus on their top choices will increase the quality of the applications, while decreasing the amount of last minute stress.’

As the application process hits its peak, here are a few tips for keeping those last minute freak-outs to a minimum.

#1. The Top 5
At this point, your child has probably looked at brochures, visited campuses, and heard from advisors, all telling them where they should go. By sitting down with them and narrowing their school choices down to a manageable number of five, they can focus on creating the best applications possible for those specific schools. If they finish those five applications and have time for others, that’s great. At least they’ve done a thorough job on the ones that really matter.

#2. Help, Don’t Hover
There are plenty of ways to assist your child’s application process while not giving the impression like you’re micro-managing. Talk with them about all the different activities they have going on in their life (schoolwork, extra-curricular activities) and together make a calendar of when different applications are due, and how that will fit into the schedule. By focusing on the most important responsibilities, and eliminating any unnecessary tasks, they’ll stay focused without feeling pressured.

#3. Take a Break
Sometimes, the best way to relieve stress is to simply get away from the environment that’s causing it. When your child’s life seems about to be swallowed whole by the applications, take a weekend off to do nothing related at all to college. When it’s been drummed into their heads that where you go to college will affect the rest of their lives, going on a camping trip, or spending the day seeing movies, always helps to get some perspective on the matter at hand.