Being Prepared

My Spring Break is coming a bit early this year, at least I hope so. If you haven’t seen me in the past few weeks I am about as pregnant as you can get. Two weeks until the due date if you are counting with me.  The screeners even let me out of the Waist to Hip ratio measuring at the Wellness Checks two weeks ago. Apparently you have to have a waist for that to be a valid indicator of health!

My life recently has been about readiness. The bassinet is clean and in my bedroom. I bought newborn size diapers. The tiny clothes are washed and ready, the bottles are carried down from the attic, and I purchased the new car seat. I have a few small things (like a haircut and packing a bag) still on the list, but the big items are all crossed off. Being a procrastinator by nature I have to leave a few things until they need to get done.

On the other hand there are some things that have to wait. I can plan care for my older daughter loosely, and gather a list of names of folks willing to be called, but I don’t actually need anybody at the house to care for her until I am ready to go to the hospital. I have friends who are ready to help, but it’s hard to keep track of who can help on a weekday or who can help on a Thursday at 2 AM  A few of Sophia’s regular babysitters are around and I have printed out class schedules, but students are busy people and how will I know what meetings they have on any given evening.

So, I was never a boy scout. I was a Bluebird for a few years, but I remember more lessons on doing your nails than preparedness. One of the scholarship candidates I interviewed last week was an Eagle Scout who talked a bit about being prepared. It was a deeper conversation than I expected, so I looked up the Boy Scout Motto and found an anecdote about someone asking Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, what Boy Scouts were supposed to be prepared for.  “Why, for any old thing,” said Baden-Powell. His idea was that all Scouts should prepare themselves to become productive citizens and to give happiness to other people. He wanted each Scout to be ready in mind and body for any struggle, and to meet with a strong heart whatever challenges might lie ahead.

I like the idea of preparedness in body and mind. I know I am ready for the baby in body…more than ready, and the readiness of things is mostly accomplished but less important.  So the question really is, am I ready in mind? Can I be? Those of you with children can snicker and know the real answer is probably “No.”

What do you need to prepare for in your life and in what ways can you be? I’ll leave you with that question as you get ready for Spring Break.

Blessings,

Stephanie