Parenthood is already tough
enough as it is, with all the milestones our kids need to cope with, all the
growing, changing, and questions they ask. On top of all that, we are the
safe-keepers of their health, wellbeing, and their journey towards adulthood,
which makes our role in their lives precious and unique. For that very reason,
self-defense should be a key variable in your life, a goal you should
consistently strive to achieve and improve.
On the whole, self-defense is not
a single ability, but a set of skills that help you keep yourself from harm and
prevent any physical or emotional damage to befall your youngsters. In this
complicated, messy world of ours, everything from safe gun use, martial arts
classes, all the way to preventative security measures can help increase your
family safety. Here are a few suggestions to bring out your protective
instincts and to help you act in your family’s best interest when facing a
threat to your safety.
Take up a krav maga course
Single moms, soon-to-be moms, and single
parents in general often feel that traditional martial arts courses aren’t
fully geared towards their own situation, and that is a fair assessment. It’s
not realistic to expect a pregnant woman or a dad wearing his baby to
seamlessly knock out an assailant with a head kick. This is where real-life
skills such as krav maga save the day, to help parents take up a course adapted
to their needs.
There are other, mixed martial
arts classes available too, ones that are designed to help parents learn
simple, effective techniques, learn to read body language to recognize a
potential threat, and of course, master the most effective steps before, during,
and after a conflict to defend themselves properly.
Learn how to use and store your firearm
As you’ve probably already
learned from your krav maga instructor, intruders in your home or even an
assailant in the street might have a weapon on them, which makes it much more
challenging to defend yourself and your kids. In this scenario, owning and
knowing how to use a gun can be a true, literal life-saver. First and foremost,
make sure that you use a secure gun cabinet to store your firearm
safely and ensure your kids don’t have access to your weapon or the bullets,
which should be stored separately.
Some safes come with smart
features such as fingerprint recognition for added security, and you should
check for the capacity so that your firearm can fit comfortably and leave room
for you to reach inside in one simple move. This way, you’ll keep your home and
your family safe from intruders, and you’ll prevent any gun-related accidents
at home.
Practice makes perfect
Now that you’ve taken a krav maga
course or a similar self-defense martial arts seminar, and you’ve mastered the
essential defensive moves and the right behavioral patterns, you need to
regularly keep yourself in check. These moves are typically adapted to your own
abilities, but even if they do come naturally to you, regular visits to the
instructor or the gym are necessary to refresh your knowledge and keep your
body in excellent form.
The same goes for using any kind
of a legal weapon you’re entitled to have for self-defense purposes. If you own
a gun, for example, excellent marksmanship and responsible ownership are qualities you should
nurture to make sure you always handle the weapon in a safe, controlled manner.
Home security is a must
Your safety nook, your very own
oasis shouldn’t be a place where you or your kids feel threatened. A part of
that self-defense mindset is taking the needed steps to keep your home safe especially from burglars
and thieves, and any kind of intruders. These precautions should be part of
your daily routine, so when your kids are old enough, you can show them how to
implement them on their own, too.
For instance, how you store your
spare key to the main entrance should be common knowledge in your home: never
leave it in easily reachable spots, but rather with a trusted neighbor or in a
spot that an intruder could never find. Make sure all of your locks are sturdy,
and consider installing an alarm system just in case. This is a worthy
investment especially if you have various entry points to your home.
This is by no means an easy feat,
nor is it something you can master over a quick, month-long course and then
enjoy the perks. It’s a lifelong lesson in implementing the most effective,
family-friendly measures that include modifying your own behavior, preventative
security steps, and ongoing education and training. It’s also an opportunity to
be a role model for your kids and to teach them to one day stand up for
themselves in any situation.
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