Bomb Shelter Rules

After many cumulative years of living in Israel, this is my first round with rockets and sirens in my town. This is not a great situation by any stretch, but I have kids, so I am trying to keep it calm and light.

1. No loud noises. Once you exit the shelter, try not to clap behind someone's head (thanks, oldest child). People are jumpy. 2. Shower. The shelter is small, and although we are close, I certainly don't like being that close to someone who hasn't showered. Seasoned mom tip (not from me) - shower during the day.

3. Snacks and water. You only have to stay ten minutes after the siren, so there is no need to stock up, but if you have small kids, it might be a good idea.

4. Music helps. If you are lucky enough to bring music to the shelter, it helps clear the tension and keep your mind off the situation. AC/DC worked out perfectly - we could all sing along. But don't play it too loud, in case there is another siren.

5. Check in on each other. I can't tell you how much it helped to receive messages and hellos from people making sure we are ok. I never knew what to do when I was overseas during the rocket fire in Israel, and now I know. Get in touch.

6. Bring a fully-charged phone backup battery charger to the shelter. And try to keep your phone charged.

7. Sign up for alerts. I am signed up for our neighborhood, town, and region alerts, so I better not miss anything. 8. Be kind to yourself. It is stressful, there is no way around it. No matter how composed you have to be on the outside, your heart will inevitably be racing so take a few deep breaths.

9. Have a parent at home with the kids. Sounds obvious, but this one took us a minute to figure out and rearrange our schedule. For walking dogs. And grocery shopping. And overall errand-running. Make sure an adult stays with the kids (even big kids) to help keep the calm and distribute ice cream.

10. Get things done between sirens. No time like the quiet minutes between sirens to try and get something done. I am taking a Hebrew lesson and making the fixings for sushi salad. I figure if there is a lull, better to get my mind off the situation.

11. And keep your sense of humor. We took funny selfies in the shelter and lovingly (and irritably) named it the "Boom Room." Kinda cute, right?

Until next time,

The Tribe Guide