It is about making a conscious decision to invest time and effort to ask myself "What could possibly go wrong? What are the chances?" It means I must be prepared with plan A, B, C, ....F. It means making things ready beforehand for possible needs. But of course, the thing is, figuring out what it means to 'be prepared' is a little bit like the waves in the ocean, always shifting.
We were driving home after a lunch picnic when he had a h-u-g-e sneeze. I looked over and he was covered in blood! Face, shirt, pants all red and it was flowing hard. Russ grabbed what turned out to be the last of the Kleenex (!!!) and it was soaked through in seconds. Grateful to be driving past the Pagosa shopping center I pulled in, grabbed the left over napkins and went to work. Squeeze the nose, soothing talk, slow breathing rate and apply patience. Finally I was able to do a slow release, blood flow stopped. More soothing talk..."breathe through your mouth. Please don't touch it". I pillowed his head and ran into the grocery to get wipes and paper towels.. We cleaned Russ up and settled him in for the hour's drive. It was about half way home before either of us felt calmed.
I always think I'm prepared... until I'm not!