I recently read the saying, "Failing to prepare is the same as preparing to fail."

I think I kind of live by that.

I pride myself in being prepared, for the obvious, as well for the unexpected. I've made mental plans for what to do if there is a fire in the home, if there is an intruder, if we lose power, if I become unconscious and the kids are home with me ... I have tried to prepare for the unexpected.

My sisters think I may try to plan a little too much.

But when my daughter stuck tweezers in the bathroom electric outlet last week, I was disappointed that I had not prepared for that. Fortunately, she was uninjured because the breaker flipped before she got zapped.

I was in the shower when it happened and therefore, really unprepared to deal with a crisis. I know CPR and first aid, but not what to do with someone who has just been shocked. I didn't even know how much of a shock she would have gotten from a household outlet.

But rest assured, I know now — and if the situation presents itself again, I will be prepared. (That said, I'm pretty sure my daughter will not go anywhere near an outlet for quite some time — I made it clear that she nearly gave me a heart attack.)

Being prepared more than just having the necessary items on hand, I also try to prepare by walking through situations in my head. Who will I call? What will the kids do? Where are my car keys, purse, etc.?

I'm fairly certain my mom was not prepared when my brother nailed a 6-foot long 2x4 to his hand when he was in elementary school. My mom was home alone with four children.

But like many moms, she was quick on her feet. She packed us all in the car. I recall her being very cool and calm — even though it was tough to get us all into the car, what with that large board attached to my brother's hand.

She had to put my brother in the passenger seat and maneuver the board so that it lay across the driver and passenger and hung out both windows.

There were no cell phones, so she drove us up the street to a neighbor's house — a neighbor who happened to be a nurse.

The nurse told my mom to leave the wound intact and take my brother to the emergency room. My sisters and I stayed with the nurse.

Granted, my mom had probably not walked through that particular scenario in her head.

But she was still prepared enough to keep herself together, drop her daughters off at a safe place, and get my brother to the ER.

As parents, we can't possibly be prepared for everything. We'd be fooling ourselves if we thought we could.

I have to admit though, sometimes I feel better fooling myself and believing that I am prepared for anything.

But I know better. So all I can do is prepare the best I can and hope that it is enough to get us through the ugly situations that will inevitably come with having kids.

But I'm hiding the tweezers. And the 2x4s.

Kym Byrnes writes from Finksburg. E-mail her at kymbyrnes@gmail.com.

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