A Mom’s Survival Guidewhen Life Delivers a Tornado

Has unexpected turmoil erupted in your home? This May brought deadly tornadoes to the mid-West including 8 tornadoes to the Dallas/Fort Worth area during the hailstorm of May 24, 2011. Life changes in an instant. We can be going along just fine then — bam — weather erupts, tornado hits and life as we know it is over. What is a Mom to do when life thrusts upon up us a catastrophic whirlwind of trouble when we least expect it?

Just keep moving. Breathe in, breathe out, and keep on moving like Rodney Atkins country song advises in “If You’re Going Through Hell”. Along with doing that, here’s my three survival tips to get you through any unexpected weather that may invade your life this summer. As you keep on moving, 1) Rise to the occasion for the sake of your kids; 2) Remember your man needs you too and 3) Don’t forget to take care of You.

First, focus on the kids. Whether it’s a natural disaster, act of war, death of a loved one or breakup of your marriage, life happens and we instantly have young faces turning to us for direction, asking “What now?” Our first move needs to be to rise to the occasion and be Mom and leader for our kids. Even when you want to fall apart yourself, your household is depending on you. Yes, even tho’ you, too, are devastated, heartbroken, terrified or angry. I don’t have the definitive answers for each of you on exactly what to tell your kids during various storms. I just want you to find the strength to focus on them in the midst of unexpected difficult moments.

Second, remember your man needs you too. Sure we all hope our husbands will be our rescuer in times of danger–that he will be the leader like Rudy Giuliani was for New York when the Twin Towers fell. Our husbands may in fact do so. But even if they do lead us in the storm, they need us to support them as well. They may look unaffected and stable, but underneath they are just as scared as we are.

Third, grab moments alone to take care of you. This is crucial during any storm. We can’t go it alone. In every life crisis I survive by finding moments alone to take care of me. You can’t take care of anyone else if you don’t take care of you. Just follow my crisis-tested REACH formula–Reach Over, Reach Out and Reach Up. Through every life storm I REACH OVER to my girlfriends, my family and my friends to carry me through it. I encourage you do so as well. Call SOMEONE trustworthy in your life to help you. Then REACH OUT — In the midst of a storm I always reach out to someone else in my life who is in the midst of their own crisis. This gives me perspective and helps get my mind off MY drama. Lastly, but most importantly I REACH UP — I look up to God who sees me. As Matthew 6 teaches God can handle the impossible, even when I can’t. So I give it over to him. Reach over, Reach out and Reach up and you will find the strength to take care of YOU in the tornado of your life.

If this summer delivers an unbearable storm in your home, be like Rodney Atkins in “If you’re Going through Hell”–breathe in, breathe out and keep on moving. And while you are doing that, remember my three survival tips:

1. Rise to the occasion for your kids
2. Support your Man who needs you too
3. REACH! to take care of you

Do this and you can weather anything life throws your way.

Until next month.

meet our contributors

Victorya Rogers

Victorya Michaels Rogers is a Life & Love Coach, equipping women to create and keep healthy relationships. Rogers’ authored four books, including Finding a Man Worth Keeping and The Automatic 2nd Date. Her latest release is the DVD “Straight Talk About Sex for Christian Couples” co-written with Sex Therapist Debby Wade. Victorya has been seen and heard on national TV, Radio, and print—from MTV to Focus on the Family, Cosmopolitan to Woman’s World. This former Hollywood agent is also an active REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential. She’s part of First Friday Women and lives in Southlake with her husband, Will, and their two children. Learn more about her coaching services at www.Victorya.com.

Samantha Conner

In my “past life” I earned a degree in Education at TCU and taught elementary school. But these days, I am working as a super stay-at-home-mom with a serious craft addiction. During naptime, I am an avid blogger, runner, and nester. My blog is the place where I chronicle my journey in homemaking and sell my fabulous handmade bows, tutus, and hair accessories. I have a loving husband and two young daughters. Their enthusiasm and support is what drives my creativity in home decor, unique crafts, party planning, holiday fun, and all things girly. I am dedicated to creating a warm, loving home for my family. And to me, that means a lot of 'crafty how-to’ projects along the way. I believe that life can be more fabulous with the use of polka dots, tulle, ribbon and rhinestones! I hope you enjoy sharing in our adventures and that I can inspire you to 'get crafty' in your own home. Follow my crafting journey at craftytexasgirls.blogspot.com

Rhonda Sargent Chambers

Rhonda, a former model and owner of RSC Show Productions, considers herself a “naturalized Texan”. After moving to Texas from San Francisco, she began her modeling career at a young age walking runways around the world from Japan to Mexico. She transitioned from full-time modeling to fashion show production with the creation of RSC Show Productions. As an instructor and speaker in the modeling community for over 30 years, she is a respected figure who consults with modeling agencies to develop criteria and guidelines for professional models to follow. Rhonda and her husband Kit have been together more than 20 years. The busy mom’s schedule is somewhat flexible since she owns her own business, but it’s the couple’s two boys, Callahan, 12, and Ford, 10, who now shape Rhonda’s daily routine. She is active in the community both personally and professionally giving her time to organizations such as Children’s Cancer Fund, Mane Gait Therapeutic Center, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Big Thought and The Elisa Project. She is passionate about fashion, and her forte will offer wonderful shopping and wardrobing tips for busy moms on the go! www.rscshow.com

Maxi Erdmann

I am Maxi Erdmann, and I reside in Keller, TX with my four sweet babies and my husband, Nathan. A University of Oklahoma grad, I love all things SOONER! I love food, but I don’t cook, I love music, but I don’t sing, (except in the shower), and I have a ridiculously expensive obsession with make-up. I have been writing since I could form letters and my mother put a pencil in my hand. Prior to having my third and fourth baby, I was a teacher at Southlake Christian Preschool. Before moving to Texas, I lived in Oklahoma where I spent my days as a full-time mom of twins and part-time make-up artist. I have also lived in Nashville, TN where I worked for Gaylord Entertainment and Springhouse Golf Course. My other interests include all things sports related and a new endeavor as an aspiring (learning!) photographer. It seems, along with my pencil, I have always had a camera around my neck. My days are filled with loud kids, tons of laundry and enough extra-curricular activities to keep six people busy. I’m up for the challenge, and I love every minute of it...

Brooke Hortenstine

Brooke Hortenstine is a Dallas-based editor, writer and charitable volunteer. As editor-at-large of PaperCity magazine, Brooke chronicles the evolving Dallas social scene and writes about all things luxurious — fashion, food, beauty, and interior design, to name a few. She has appeared as a style authority in television segments, and has been published in periodicals such as In Style and Four Seasons Magazine. Contemporary art, dining, travel, music, modern furnishings, and southern customs — think iced tea, old monograms and SEC football — top her lists of likes, as well as giving back to her community. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Contemporary artspace and the President’s Advisory Council to the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and serves as a member of Cattle Baron’s Ball benefiting the American Cancer Society. Her family includes her husband Blake Hortenstine, a ranch real estate broker, and their two-year-old son, Rollins Hortenstine.

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