Isis

The world is, and always has been, a potentially dangerous place.
It doesn't stop me from traveling and leading a normal life (we went to London last summer, of COURSE we thought about what it means to be in Heathrow airport!)
Life it too short to freak out about every bad thing that "could" happen.
I have always taught my kids basic safety precautions (stay with me, if you get lost look for a cop/security person or another mom, don't talk to or take things from strangers, etc.)
Beyond that, we live life and explore the world, and if something bad happens, well, what are you gonna do, live in a bunker?

Well, maybe I have a different perspective on this, but here goes:

When I was seven, my mom was a Jehovah's Witness. I grew up with warnings of the impending apocalypse. I was verbally 'prepped' that there was going to a problem,etc. And given instructions about who to find if mom and dad were gone, etc. Somehow, I was being made responsible for myself in an 'end of the world' event, even if only in theory.

Let me just say that this was more information than I could have possibly dealt with at that particular point in my life. And this has deeply informed my own philosophy as to how much to share with our son. We go on strictly a 'need to know' basis. He is seven, still having a hard time when a Lego piece is missing- how do I respect his level of ability to comprehend and absorb political/world events information, much of which is abstract when it comes to subjects like ISIS or other 'bad' organizations. At least, abstract to him?

So, if he asks, I answer, and specifically to the question. I try to keep any explanations very simple and give him reassurances that he is okay. I want to respect his sense of peace so he can go about his life without some 'maybe' event or attack hanging over him. Just like I don't remind him that we live in the Cascadian Subduction zone and that if we have an earthquake, it very likely could be devastating.

It is always good to have a plan; it's never good to live in fear.

there is always a new threat. always something new to freak out over. always a new reason to cower.
so i don't.
but i AM pissed that they've taken the name of a glorious goddess!
khairete
S.

I have to wonder if they realize half of America is laughing at them for taking the name of Archer's spy organization (or, even better, the name of the Egyptian mother goddess of nature and magic)?

I feel very safe living here in the US. We do have the best and strongest military in the world. I would be more worried living in Europe or the middle east. As far as survival strategies for some kind of invasion or nation-wide disaster? I think there's more of a chance that we would be invaded by aliens from another dimension.

eta
We spend more on Welfare? Hardly! http://www.usfederalbudget.us/welfare_budget_2012_4.html
I am not including health care in "Welfare", just as this chart does not specifically reveal the amount of corporate welfare we are forced to pay out to special interests.
And if you don't understand Obama's Foreign Policy, that's on you. Do a little research before you start slinging accusations around.

Maybe it would also help to understand he's taken fewer vacation days that Bush 1 or 2, Clinton, or Reagan. There's also no such thing as a true vacation for presidents, they still receive morning briefings and are capable of making decisions - Nancy Reagan said "Presidents don't get vacations, just a change of scenery." http://www.factcheck.org/2014/08/presidential-vacations/

Feline,

My kids are very aware of what is going on. We live in DC - so we are bombarded by the stuff every day. We aren't desensitized to it - but we are paying attention to other details - like HOW they are getting in the country (via the open Mexican border with all those kids...Americans are soo easily distracted...)

DO I believe we are the strongest military? We are strong but we aren't what we used to be. Liberals put more money at welfare than they do defense. People don't really understand just how weak we are right now. If they would pay attention and do their own research and see just how low our military is? They might not be so comfortable!!

Any way - we do NOT live in fear. We live in reality and are prepared. We have "Go-Bags" for each of us. Just two weeks ago we found MREs for our dog - so his bag is much easier to carry.

We have guns and ammo - not enough - I'd like a rifle for each of us and a handgun for each of us. ALL of us are proficient in shooting as well as Bow and Arrow usage. So we feel we could do okay. The problem would be fresh water supply. Water is VERY heavy to carry. I wish we had ATVs to use...but we don't...maybe one day.

Should you "prep"? Yes. Not like you see on the TV shows but be prepared. Have an emergency plan in place - not just because of "real world" events but because SH*T happens - earthquakes, floods, fire, etc. which I hope doesn't happen to you or your family. But "prepping" doesn't mean going over board, it means being prepared for events...there is nothing wrong with having a bag ready to go - as you never know how much time you'll have to get out.

Do you have your head in the sand? No.
Are you doomed? Nope. You're one smart cookie. I have faith in you.
Learn to hunt? That's up to you. You would serve yourself well by knowing how to tell good stuff from bad stuff (poison oak/ivy and english ivy) as well as knowing how to start a fire in the rain for warmth...pitching a tent or using your environment to make cover for you and your daughter.

Don't live in fear. Just pay attention. Be prepared.

While I do think that ISIS is a problem, I don't think you need to worry about "prepping" for them quite yet.

As a Soldier with over 13 years in the military, I am concerned. I am worried about the civilians that ISIS is murdering. I am worried that the global community is not acting when they ought to be stomping the sh*t out of them. Humans everywhere should be showing organizations like this exactly how we handle genocidal maniacs. Standing back, watching it all play out on TV, while saying "it's sad, but they aren't any real danger to OUR country" is not the way. Not at ALL.

My 6 yr old has not asked and I assume has not seen this stuff. If she does, then I will answer her questions as best I can. We have told her that in general there are people that believe others are the enemy and hurt them if they can. My older kids know about this stuff since it is discussed and they see my paper. Personally, I do not live in fear. What is the point. I am watchful, I watch for details around me. Regardless if there is a high alert state or not. People that are criticizing for not just going after them need to think. How can you go after someone like this without a plan. Would you go after a gang faction here without one?

What can you do about xenophobes who want to wipe out everyone but their way of thinking/living?
Ultimately they think the world is against them but their extremism makes it a self fulfilling prophecy.
The world (not just us) needs to get serious about dealing with them.

Our son is in high school and reads the news same as we do.

Tyler and I tells the boys the truth when they ask questions.

We do not live in fear. We are prepared.

We are outdoorsy-types so hunting is something we know how to do. If you are not comfortable with it? You might want to find people who also have an emergency plan in place. I looked up Union Hall on a map, you are in what I would describe as "hilly billy" country, sorry, not meant to offend, but that's in the lower southwest corner of Virginia right? There are plenty of people around there who would help you out if it was a real emergency. At least I'd like to hope they would..

Make sure you have a back up plan. Make sure you have provisions that will allow you to take care of your family for one to four weeks. Make sure your kids know the plan too. Do you have a meeting place if there is an emergency? This is not just about terrorist acts, this is life.

You need to talk with your kids on their level. Don't frighten them. Make sure they know you are ready to take care of them if and when danger happens. Show them how you are prepared and what they need to do if you are not together when an emergency happens. As long as they know you have got it under control? They will take it easier and not freak out.

I don't perceive ISIS being a huge threat to us, no. We spend more on our military than the next 15 countries combined. Are there seriously people who believe that we can't protect ourselves from some backwater idiots half a world away with the $624 Billion that we've allocated to defense this year?! I mean, seriously. I'm not worried.

I approach things as Nervy Girl does. I answer questions honestly, briefly, and only what they're asking me. I give no-fear responses. My eldest is a freshman in high school so they talk about this when discussing current events.

reading some of the posts here made me laugh in a cringe kind of way.
first, isis is worlds away (look at the world map).
second, knowing how to hunt does not prepare you for war.
unless you have gone through war, literary, day in and day out, you will not know what war is. even if there is war in the neighborhood across the street from where you live, you will still don't know what war is.
third: isis will be dealt with. i could not imagine not dealing with them at this point.