After the Storm

We experienced our first tornado scare with the kids tonight. An awful storm tore through the city tonight, racing black clouds at 70 miles an hour. The sirens blared and the TV weatherman warned "If you're in the area I'm talking about, you shouldn't be watching this. Take cover!"

We got the kids out of bed, ran downstairs and started emptying out our under the stairs storage area. It's really the safest place in our home, with all of the extra support. We filled the office with the junk and I collected every blanket and pillow in the house. We tucked the kids in a corner, put the dogs in their kennels inside and climbed in with our cell phones and radio and flashlight. My heart raced as I thought through all of the what-ifs.

We've hidden under the stairs or at least hung out in the basement during storms before. But I couldn't believe how much more worried and cautious I was with the kids around this time. It's like that mama bear instinct really kicks in and you're ready to throw your body on top of them to save them from whatever is coming.

Amazingly, the storm passed just as quickly as it came and when I peeked outside I saw a perfect rainbow. Just the sign I needed.