The Prepared Homemaker

A great homemaker is a Prepared Homemaker. While no one was really prepared for this Corona Virus – Covid-19, a prepared homemaker has systems in place for the unexpected. When Covid-19 hit our area, I heard about two cases in the next county over. The next day I learned they were my second cousin and his wife. My second cousin was in the hospital with it. That got me thinking about being even more prepared just in case I suddenly had to go into the hospital.

Caring For Your Pets

Today we’re making a prep list for our pets. I keep a petsitter list on my computer. When I go on vacation, I just need to update it and print it. Once Covid-19 came into the area, I updated it and printed it. It’s taped to my kitchen cabinet – just in case.

Special Prep for Covid-19

I also made sure I have a month’s worth of food. I usually order for several months in advance anyway, so it was just making sure I have enough on hand in case I needed to be quarantined. A person who gets sick will be quarantined for 14 days after their symptoms are over. That could mean 3-4 weeks total. They will also need that much litter. Thankfully, none of my cats are on medications, but if they were, the instructions would be on the list and I would make sure I had enough for that month, also.

What Should Be Included?

• The Names and ages of your pets. If you don’t have a regular sitter, then add pictures with names.
• Feeding schedule, including any special instructions.
• Location of the food.
• Location of the litterbox and instructions or dog-walking instructions.
• Location of the extra litter and/or doggie poop bags.
• Medications and instructions with name of pet clearly identified.
• Name, address, and phone number of Vet.
• Any miscellaneous instructions. For my daughter, I know one of her dogs needs to go out twice in the morning about 15 minutes apart. And she needs to do three circles after she finds the “right spot” before she will settle in and do her job. And if she gets interrupted, she starts the process all over again. I know that, but a caretaker in her city wouldn’t.

“Be Prepared, Not Scared”

We had a weatherman, Vince Condella, who always said that. It was the motto of the station for as long as he was the head meteorologist. When we are prepared, we are less scared and less stressed. My intention is not to scare you but to help you be prepared, “just in case.” And once you have things prepped in your house, you can keep them up. I actually had a binder full of different forms all filled out years ago. Today they are all on the computer. In future posts, I will give you more ways to be a prepared homemaker.

Be well. Stay well.

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