You would think we’ve gotten so advanced with technology, power outages are now a thing of the 16th century. But every time the power goes out, we’re all reminded of just how much we rely on electricity to do the most basic of things. The question on everyone’s mind in these situations is, “What on earth do we do now?” No Internet service, no Netflix (what horror!), and the kids can’t fall asleep without their night light. For every parent who’s struggled with these “severe” parenting challenges, we’ve got a few suggestions.
1. Light a candle and take a few deep breaths.
First things first, take a deep breath. You and the kids will survive — just as soon as you can find the matches. . . But go ahead and light a candle, and enjoy the calming atmosphere.
2. Read a book.
Now that you have your candle lit, take out that book you bought 2 months ago and start reading. Reading a book will help curb your screen addiction and remind you how much you used to love reading novels.
3. Play hide-and-seek with the kids.
Since the Wi-Fi is out, childhood games are back in. Minecraft and Candy Crush can’t compare to the excitement of playing hide-and-seek with the kids. Take yourself back to the good ‘ole days and just have some fun!
4. Build forts in the living room.
Now we’re really talking. Couch cushions are perfect fort material — or have you forgotten? Your kids will remind you of how much fun you used to have and impress you with their imagination and storytelling skills
5. Raid the freezer for ice cream.
Diet? Did somebody say “diet”? Not tonight. With world hunger such a pressing issue, it would be tragic to let that ice cream go to waste — that’s exactly what grandma would say and grandma is ALWAYS right. So go ahead and indulge. After all, it’s dark — nobody will notice!
6. Sit by the fireplace and go around the circle sharing scary ghost stories.
Now that the fort is set up and the ice cream is safe inside your belly, it’s time to let your storytelling skills shine. Ghosts, witches, and magic spells will keep everyone wide-eyed.
7. Stargaze.
Depending on how wide the power outage is and the weather conditions, you may be able to spot a few stars in the sky. Or catch a shooting star, or two. Maybe you could wish for the power to come back on? But not until after you:
8. Set up a tent in the backyard and pretend you’re camping for the night.
Time to put your hardcore survival skills to use . . . in the backyard. Imagine you’re out in the wilderness, surrounded by predators lurking in the shadows, and you’ve got to set up your defenses before you can go to sleep. Give the kids responsibilities and treat this like a top-secret mission.
Just don’t forget to turn off the sprinklers. . .