My wife and I wrote this together. She is 41 years old and we are raising three kids who are 11, 13, and 15. Life is full. Between soccer practices, work, caregiving, prepping, church, and daily responsibilities, it never slows down. We’ve learned that preparedness isn’t about perfection. It’s about building a solid foundation and then adapting when life demands it. Even five minutes of preparation at a time moves your family forward.
When one of our kids is at soccer, we work out together with friends who are also there. Twenty minutes is plenty. Even ten minutes counts. Just like with working out, prepping is about creating a foundation and then modifying when life changes. Sometimes you have to shift routines, adapt, and keep going, but the foundation stays in place.
We prep because life happens. My mom was diagnosed with stage four cancer. My dad now has cancer that is likely terminal. My wife had a major injury that left her unable to walk for months. I became her caregiver and spent hours every week driving to therapy. We tapped into our small money reserve and lived out of our prepper pantry during that time. Without those two buffers, it would have been a disaster.
People assume that because I have almost nearly 100k subscribers on YouTube, I must be making a lot of money. I average around $800-1000 a month with my wife and I working full time creating content. I still work as a handyman and builder to pay the bills. That is why we prep. Not for zombies. Not for apocalypse fantasies. We prep because life happens. Job loss. Economic instability. Medical emergencies. Storms. Supply chain disruptions. Ninety percent of emergencies are better handled at home. Bugging in puts you in charge of your environment, your resources, and your peace of mind. Bugging out is a last resort. Most emergencies are handled better at home. The only time we’d leave is if something forced us out like a major natural disaster, a security threat, or a truly extreme event. Such as zombies invading or Civil War started. Those scenarios are far less common.
Bug out bags get a lot of attention, but bug out is plan B. Bug in is plan A. Bugging in lets you use your home, your shelter, your prepper pantry, your heat sources, your community. Bugging out is for evacuation orders, fires, floods, or when home is no longer safe.
According to FEMA and Ready.gov, families should build plans and kits that support staying at home as well as evacuating if necessary. Wikipedia defines preparedness as the actions taken before disaster strikes to minimize its impact.
Food
Fire
Water
Shelter
Security
Every plan we build is rooted in these five. This keeps everything simple, structured, and effective for bug in or bug out.
We keep our bug out bags realistic. They’re not overloaded or full of gear we’ll never use. They cover our needs through those five categories.
Food
Calorie dense foods we actually eat. Jerky, protein bars, oatmeal, nut butters, tuna packs, canned sardines, freeze dried meals. We rotate regularly so nothing goes bad.
Fire
Ferro rod, stormproof matches, multiple lighters, tinder. Fire means warmth, cooking, and signaling. If you have skills, you can cook over an open flame.
Water
Water filters, purification tablets, stainless steel bottles. Don’t carry gallons. Filter and refill.
Shelter
Lightweight tarp, poncho, bivy, paracord. Shelter means staying dry and warm, not carrying a giant tent.
Security
Flashlights, headlamps, whistle, signal mirror, practical tools, copies of documents, and whatever you legally and responsibly choose to protect your family. FEMA kit lists align closely with this approach.
This isn’t about WROL or end of the world prepping. It’s about economic instability and job loss. When my mom was sick and my wife was injured, our year of food storage kept us steady. FEMA recommends at least three days of food, but many state preparedness programs encourage families to build toward longer reserves over time.
We focus on quinoa and jasmine rice because they store well, cook easily, and make a strong foundation for meals. We also store heirloom seeds to grow our own organic food and build long-term resilience. Organic is ideal, but if you don’t have the budget for it, start where you are. Preparedness isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.
Our prepper pantry includes
• Quinoa and jasmine rice
• Rice, beans, pasta
• Canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
• Raw honey, salt, sugar, powdered milk
• Tallow, broths, oils, spices, and grains we actually eat
• Heirloom seeds for growing food when possible
• A simple first in, first out rotation system
We also focus on meals that do not require refrigeration or heating. Shelf stable meals save energy and time. But if needed, we can start a fire or use propane fuel burners, which are excellent for families who camp or need quick hot meals during a power outage.
5 minute family prep wins for busy moms
Preparedness does not have to be overwhelming. Five minutes a day builds real security over time.
• Let each child pack their own comfort and survival kit with a blanket, snack, flashlight or glow stick, tissues or wipes, small book or Bible, and simple first aid.
• Add a few shelf stable food items or gallon of water per week.
• Create Evacuation Plan. Evacuating to Grandma’s house. ETA two hours.
• Rotate pantry items monthly
This checklist is for working moms, stay-at-home moms, and any mom carrying a heavy load. You don’t need to do it all at once. Pick one or two and build from there. The goal is to fill your tank so you can lead your family from strength.
☑️ Morning routine
• Get up 20 minutes earlier than everyone else. It sounds small, but it’s a game changer.
• Read Scripture or do a devotional. My wife does this almost every morning to set her mind on something higher than the chaos of the day.
• Speak a positive affirmation out loud. As lame as it may feel at first, it works. No one is watching but you.
• Smile at yourself in the mirror. Start the day telling your mind what direction it’s going.
• Move your body. Jumping jacks. Bodyweight squats. Walk around the yard. Get the blood and oxygen flowing.
☑️ Daily physical energy boost
• When your kids are at soccer, walk or work out. Even 10 to 20 minutes counts.
• If you’re just starting out, do 50 jumping jacks or a brisk walk. Start where you are, not where you wish you were.
• Hydrate. Eat something simple like a salad with grass fed free range meat or a healthy croc pot meal you've prepared in advance. It fuels your body without draining your time.
☑️ Get outside and get real vitamin D
• Step away from your phone. Leave it inside or far away.
• Spend at least 20 minutes outdoors every day if possible. More is better. Sunlight is good for your energy, your mood, and your mind.
• Be fully present with your family. Listen to your kids. Laugh with them. Look up at the sky.
• Go for a walk, sit on the porch, or just breathe. Outside has a way of resetting everything.
☑️ Mid-day reset
• Take a few deep breaths. Inhale 4, hold 7, exhale 8.
• Remind yourself out loud that you are capable. You’ve made it through worse. You can handle this too.
• Step outside again if possible. Even five minutes outdoors can shift your mindset.
☑️ Evening wind-down and boundaries
• Set a hard stop on screens and work. Give your brain time to calm down.
• Write down one to three things that went well today.
• Spend time with your spouse, your kids, or a friend without scrolling through a feed.
• Go to bed at a decent time. Sleep matters more than you think.
☑️ Weekly check-in
• Look at your schedule. What needs to shift? What can you let go of?
• Rotate one pantry item or prep a small thing. Five minute family prep win.
• Check in with a friend. Real conversations with real people build strength.
• Remind yourself you’re not supposed to be perfect. Just consistent.
Moms, especially working moms and moms at home, can burn out fast when responsibilities keep piling up. My wife has carried a huge load through these storms. She gets up early for devotions before the day starts. That quiet time sets her mindset. It’s not about pretending everything is fine. It’s about speaking life over your day before it begins. She puts a smile on her face and sets a positive tone. That matters.
Mindset is a powerful part of preventing burnout. You can prep all the food and water in the world, but if your spirit is crushed, you won’t stand strong.
We had a close friend pass away during the same season when my mom was fighting cancer and my wife was injured. It was overwhelming. It’s easy in those moments to turn away from God or lose faith. We chose to say, God, whatever you have to teach us, please let us learn it. We reminded ourselves there’s always a rainbow after the storm.
• Start your day with prayer, Scripture, or quiet time
• Speak positive affirmations to yourself and your kids
• Smile intentionally at the beginning of the day
• Build your resilience through faith and gratitude
• Give yourself permission to breathe
Faith kept us going when everything around us was shaking.
We build fitness into daily life because it matters in preparedness. When our kids are at soccer, we work out together on the sidelines with friends. Twenty minutes is enough. Ten minutes is better than nothing. If you are out of shape, start with fifty jumping jacks or a short walk. Preparedness is a foundation, but you can modify and adapt it as needed.
Faith is our foundation too. A stocked pantry can’t save an empty soul. We pray together as a family. Faith builds strength when everything else shakes.
Three kids. Work. Sports. Aging parents. Cancer. Injury. Caregiving. A small emergency fund. Limited income. The death of a close friend. We are still standing. Not because we are wealthy. Because we are intentional. We bug in first. We build around food, fire, water, shelter, and security. We store a year of food. We work out. We adjust and modify as life changes. And we keep moving forward.
Funny Fact! A friend told me men can tune out high pitched repetitive sounds. Research backs this up. Women generally have more sensitive hearing at higher frequencies, which explains why moms hear the kids first and dads seem oblivious. It’s not that dads don’t care. The brain processes sound differently. That’s also why moms often get irritated faster in noisy situations. Your brain is wired to pick it up and address the issue.
Q: What should be in a kids seventy two hour kit for working moms?
• Comfort item like a small blanket or stuffed toy
• Favorite snack
• Flashlight or glow stick
• Tissues or wipes
• Small book or Bible
• Basic first aid kit
• Simple clothing change if possible
Q: What are the five core survival areas every family should prep?
• Food
• Fire
• Water
• Shelter
• Security
Q: How much food should a family store?
• We build toward a year of shelf-stable food for economic instability, job loss, or medical emergencies.
• FEMA recommends several days as a minimum, but many states encourage six to twelve months over time.
Q: Do we really need a bug out bag if we plan to bug in?
• Yes. Bug out bags are for wildfire, floods, or unsafe conditions.
• Bug in is Plan A, but bug out gives your family options.
Q: How can busy moms prepare without burning out?
• Take five minutes a day to prep.
• Rotate one item a week.
• Build outdoor time and movement into your daily routine.
• Start your day with devotions or affirmations.
• Protect your mindset intentionally.
Q: Why do moms seem to get irritated by noise faster than dads?
• Research shows women are more sensitive to higher-pitched sounds.
• Moms often hear things faster and louder, which explains why the noise gets to them first.
• It’s biology, not bad parenting.
• Wikipedia preparedness overview
• FEMA and Ready.gov family plan guidance
• FEMA emergency kit checklist
• Ready.gov food storage guidelines
• State-level recommendations for longer term preparedness
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Real-life family preparedness starts with more than just gear. It starts with mindset, consistency, and simple five-minute prep wins. This guide covers bug-in strategies, family bug out bags, year-long food storage, practical mom burnout prevention, and faith-based resilience. Whether you’re a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, or leading your family through busy seasons, this article will give you simple, realistic tools to stay strong and prepared.
Explore the gear I personally use and trust.
Preparation is freedom. Do not wait for the grid to fail to figure out what you should have done. Start now. Train your body, build your get home bag, and learn how to move with confidence when everything else stops.
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