A few weeks ago, we were bracing for yet another big snowstorm. Milk and bread were already sold out at the local grocery store. Moms with young kids were wondering when the school would make the call to cancel school, and I realized that I miss this. I miss preparing my home and family for a big weather event. I miss the anticipation of “the call.” Will the school call the evening before to cancel school or wait to call at 5AM? (I hated the 5AM call until I realized I could put my phone on silent and find out at 7AM when we would normally wake-up. Why did it take me until my youngest was a senior in high school to figure that out?) I miss the giddiness of a free day where nobody expects you to do anything or be anywhere. In the empty nest, I really miss snow days. It just not fun anymore.

So much snow at the empty nest.

Well, that storm came and went, and within a week another Nor’easter was forecasted to dump 12-18” of snow on us. But this storm would be different. Both my college kids were home for a few days, and we would get to have a good old-fashioned snow day together. It meant we got to sleep in and stay in our pajamas and watch a movie marathon (Harry Potter was always a snow day favorite). I made a big pot of “Snowstorm Sloppy Joe’s”—another snow day tradition. (Snowstorm Sloppy Joe’s are the same as Hurricane Sloppy Joe’s. Different season; same “secret” recipe. Two pounds of ground beef and two cans of Hunt’s Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce served on hamburger buns with potato chips. Yeah, I’m a culinary phenom.) My kids weren’t excited about clearing more than a foot of snow from the boxwood hedges, but I was relieved to have the help. They shoveled a path for Tucker the Westie, who was a little panicked that the snow was over his head. Tucker loves playing in the snow, and he was very happy to have his favorite kids home to play with him. Back inside, we all snuggled by the fireplace, and this mama was happy. Nothing warm’s an empty-nester mama’s heart more than having her babies back in the nest.

Snow day at the empty nest.

A few days later, the snow was quickly melting and the kids were returning to their college campuses. My nest was empty again, but that snow day memory will carry me for a while.

That last big storm got me thinking about how I used to prepare for a snowstorm when I had kids at home and how my storm prep has really changed now that I am an empty-nester. Here are my Snow Day Pro Tips for moms and empty-nesters:

PRO TIPS FOR SNOW DAY PREPARATION FOR MOMS:

Storm-nesting is a thing. (Well, it is now, because I just made that up.) It means that you prepare for a storm before you are in it. I was a girl scout and a mom who proudly calls herself “Mrs. Worst Case Scenario.” I’m a prepper. I seriously do not understand moms who don’t plan ahead for snowstorms (or hurricanes). Accept that prepping your nest is part of your job. Winter comes every year and with it comes snow. I’m baffled when I hear moms asking for snow plow service recommendations as the snow is falling. Or freaking out in the grocery store when the shelves of bottled water are empty. Or who fearfully wonder what they will do if the power goes out. So, here’s some advice to get your nest storm-ready:

1. Buy a generator. When we built our house, we installed a generator that powered most of our house. It was a really big expenditure, and I understand that it may not be in every homeowner’s budget. One way or the other, you should purchase a generator that fits in your budget. A quick calculation and I figured out that the peace of mind that a generator brings can be purchased for $1.00-$4.00 per day. (One of my neighbors purchased his generator after our town lost power and he could see our fully-functioning house across the street). If you have a generator, have it serviced twice a year. (I didn’t know that had to be done.) Know how to change the oil in the generator. (I had no idea I had to change the oil.) Have the service technician show you how to manually start the generator and how to do regular maintenance. Write the instructions done and keep them where you can easily find them. Even better: make a video of the technician explaining the process.
2. Contract with reliable snow plow service. You need to be on their schedule before snow starts falling. I always give the company a quick call before a big storm. I probably don’t need to (and they say I don’t) but it gives me an extra measure of peace of mind.
3. Gas up your car in advance of the storm. You don’t want to be sitting on a line to get gas the day of a storm. If you are using a gas-powered generator, you need to plan ahead to fill gas cans. Again, not the day of the storm.
4. Get cash. I keep an envelope of emergency cash in the house.
5. Go to the grocery store well ahead of the storm. I stock my pantry with non-perishable foods that we actually eat. For years, I would stock up on cans of tuna until I realized my kids would rather gnaw off a limb than eat tuna fish. My own mother always had tuna and canned salmon and herring for variety. I simply could not imagine a time where I would be so hungry that I would eat herring. (Sorry Mom.) I quickly figured out that I was better stocking up on peanut butter and cereal. Kids won’t die eating cereal for a few days if necessary. Think about what foods your family eats and stock your pantry accordingly. Remember to have sufficient pet food on hand as well.
6. Make sure you have sufficient prescription medications on hand. I also make sure we have OTC cold medicines, etc. (Just in case).
7. Buy bottled water. Water pipes do break and fresh water is a necessity. Just keep a few cases on hand. By the way, before the storm hits, you can fill pitchers with water.
8. Know how to turn off your main water and gas lines.
9. Know how to re-boot your cable and internet.
10. Charge all your devices. I also have a portable charger. Charge that as well.
11. Download entertainment on multiple devices. If cable and internet are down, your family will go stir crazy without entertainment. (Sure, they could read books, but they will still be complaining.)
12. Do the laundry and change the sheets. During one snowstorm, we didn’t have power for 10 days. Our generator does not power our washer and dryer. (I really should address that.) I always do all the laundry in advance of a storm. I change the bed linens because it makes everyone feel comfy to slip into fresh sheets.
13. Run the dishwasher. My dishwasher is not powered by the generator. I keep a stash of paper plates, bowls, and cups on hand as well as plastic utensils.
14. Stock up on batteries. Replace batteries in your flashlights. Don’t rely on the flashlight on your phone. You don’t want to use up the phone battery. I also have battery powered lanterns. For safety reasons, I avoid using candles.
15. Have a working fire extinguisher. (In case you decide to use candles anyway.)
16. Talk to your neighbors. Now that you are all prepared, check in with your neighbors. If they don’t have a generator because they think they will never need it, invite them to come to your house if they lose power. If there are elderly people in your neighborhood, ask if they have prepared for the storm. Check in with them regularly. Be a good neighbor and help where you can.
17. Have a contingency plan. Have a place to go if you can’t stay in your house. Consider family, friends or a hotel. Again, plan before the storm.
18. Make a big pot of Snowstorm Sloppy Joes or soup or stew or whatever your family calls comfort food.
19. Take a bubble bath. Enjoy a glass of wine. And sit back and relax knowing that your nest is storm ready.

PRO TIPS FOR SNOW DAY PREPARATION FOR EMPTY-NESTERS:

1. Get out of town. One of the benefits of being an empty-nester is you don’t have to stay at home during a snowstorm. Heck, you don’t have to hang around in the winter at all.
2. If you do decide to stay at home, complete the storm prep for moms. Ask yourself what you need to change based on your empty-nest status. You’ll likely need less bread and milk and more wine. With my two kids at college and my husband traveling quite a bit, I also need to be sure that I have someone scheduled to shovel my walkways (and a potty spot for Tucker the Westie). Think through “worst case scenarios” and how you will address them without a house full of helpers.
3. Don’t do stupid things. Every time it snows, I think back to when I actually enjoyed the invigorating workout of shoveling snow and I think I can relive my glory days. That is just a bad idea. Even if you are in great shape, this is not the time to “tweak” your back. During a recent storm, I decided to walk down the driveway after dinner to get the mail. It was dark and icy. I wiped out. As I scrambled to get up, I realized that I didn’t have my phone and no one was around. My neighbors were all in their nice warm houses for the night. I quickly understood that if I had gotten really hurt with no way to call for help I could’ve been there until the morning. That was stupid. Again, I repeat don’t do stupid things.
4. For an empty-nester, it is hard when your chicks are out of the nest and you aren’t there to protect them from the storm. Check in with your kids at college. Make sure they have a plan for the storm, too. They should have basic emergency supplies in their dorm room, like a real flashlight. They also need snacks and easy to prepare food. (They can live on protein bars and microwaveable mac and cheese for a while.) My son was surprised when they had a snow day that only one dining hall was open. He had to walk across campus in a blizzard just to get something to eat. If you have time ahead of the storm, send your kids storm ready care packages. Knowing that your kids are prepared will let you relax.

With all your prep completed and the snow softly falling, you can sit back and remember all the happy snow day memories you have shared with your family. Snow days are different in the empty nest, but for me, they are still a little magical.