Are You Scared of Storms?

OMG NO! I LOVE storms!!!!!! My entire family will sit with lights off watching them out the window or from one of the porches. They're BEAUTIFUL!

no love them and am from tornado alley so I do respect them. My kids are told what I was told its the angels bowling. Dad use to have us count the diffrence between lighting and thunder and supposedly that is how far away it was. I know better know but it kept us from getting scared

I'm not scared by my dog is. Nothing better than being woken up at 3AM by a big Golden Retriever with super awesome breath who is freaking out by the rumbling outside.

My kids sleep right through it but the last time my 4 year old asked me about thunder, I told her that it's Grampa Jimmy's bowling night and he's bowling a lot of strikes.

I LOVE, LOVE storms!!! Actually, I love any type of strange weather. It's just fascinating to me.

Not at all! We make a nice cup of cocoa and sit on the covered porch and watch. We especially love storms when the kids are in bed and we can turn out the lights and light a couple candles, cuddle up, or dance. We find thunderstorms romantic! I always have. :)
As for the boys: my youngest just says wow and I laugh and say wow back. My oldest: he has told me sometimes that it scares him a little. I asked why, and what does he think the thunder is, or what would it do. He stopped and said "Well, I don't know". I said "Exactly. Come in when it thunders, but there's nothing to be scared of. It's just the pop of electricity in the air. Think of it like a natural light show, or fireworks. We need to be smart and not be silly with fireworks, but they're nice to see".

No, I love them.

We used to have lightning showers every afternoon around 4:00pm. Twice, our barn was hit. Now, that WAS a little shocking (excuse the cheesy pun)! It was thrilling to watch and feel. Very humbling and awe inspiring, like fireworks but better, bigger and more dangerous.

My mom used to take my sister and I to the Oregon coast. We'd go out in the storms and watch the huge waves. A real treat was when we were able to watch the coast guard training in the surf. Afterwards we'd go take baths, watch TV (didn't have a TV at home), drink cider and do face masks.

Storms are very exciting and are, for me, an opportunity to remember good things about my childhood. I hope to share that with my kids.

If I grew up around tornadoes or hurricanes, I wonder if I'd feel the same way.

LOVE, LOVE, them// I even purchased a sound machine with Thunder sounds, Heavy rain and light rain.

We are in the middle of a drought, the moment it rains, I am running outside. Thunder and lightening, will not matter.

No, not scared of storms.

But per my kids, even if I were scared of storms myself, I would just be honest with them. Why not?

Even now, if a HUGE thunder sounds, I tell them "whoa, that was a loud one.... " and then we all go an look out the window to look for the lightening.
I tell them there is nothing wrong with being scared.
It is our body's way of telling us something might be dangerous.
But, I also explain thunder to them and lightening.
So that, they understand the mechanics of it.
Making it thus, more understood. Scientifically as well as emotionally.
Showing them info about it online and per the news.

As a kid, I was scared of storms.
I think most kids are.
Cozy Childhood memories.

I love storms. We used to stand in our garage or out covered porch when we were kids and just look at the sky, the clouds, the lightning (not in a tornado, of course).

Back when we were kids, though, we didn't have the Weather Channel, the super-duper-doppler-powered-by-ultra-mega-weather-man who could break in and give us updates every 10 seconds. Yes, I get that we have storms that are some time dangerous but I think a lot of TV stations build up the hype so you'll "Tune in to our exclusive coverage of the great drizzle of the century!".

I'm not normally scared. I live in NC where the tornadoes hit, and we had a tornado pass 6 blocks from our home, completely devastated the area. We were so lucky that we didn't sustain any damage- others lost everything. I was terrified, and completely unprepared to deal with this with my 4 yo. He didn't seem scared as we ran with the baby and hid in the basement covering ourselves, but I had to explain what a tornado was, and how dangerous they are. He thought it was fun at first, but as the power went out and you could hear the roar of the tornado, I could tell he was shaken up a bit. Since then, he's asked more questions like if we were going to be blow away and will that happen every time he hears thunder. I just told him that storms are almost always harmless, but you have to be prepared just in case- like we were. I think he's ok now. We'll see with the next storm.

If it's a 'normal' storm, just loud, I LOVE it! I like to sit and watch the lightning. The more dramatic, the better. Of course, I grew up in Idaho, where we are sheltered by the mountains. Growing up, it was pretty much unheard of for there to be a tornado in the state... Heck, it was big news if there was one in a neighboring state, even if it didn't do any damage! In the last decade or so though that has been changing, and even Idaho has seen a few...

That said, when I moved from there to the south, storms took on a new meaning. I still remember when Tropical Storm Hermine passed through, (I lived in TX at the time, where we got hammered) I was home alone in a 3rd story apartment building with my newborn daughter. We were under a tornado warning, (I guess one did actually touch down a couple miles from where I was...) and I spent the night standing at the window, watching the clouds terrified that we would get hit by a tornado. At one point I was ready to pack up my DD and head downstairs to make nice with the basement neighbors. :P

Now I'm living in TN, and we have had a couple of tornados in the area. It seems like we are put on tornado warning at least once a week! Last month one man was killed when his trailer got flipped about a mile from our house. BUT... the specific area where I am is in juuuust the right spot, that it isn't likely to be hit. (because of the the mountains are around us...) So I pay close attention to the weather, I have my 'tornado kit', and I feel I am as prepared as I can be. Sooo, I try to enjoy the storm. If a tornado happens to come, I'll hide out in the bathtub and hope for the best!!!

OK, I am the scardy cat! I don't mind storms in general especially if I am inside but I am terrified of lighting. I passed this on to my daughters as well.

No. I sleep really well during storms. When my kids are scared, we talk about it and I try to comfort them the best I can.

I love storms and no, I"m not afraid of them. I've lived through a few hurricanes, though they are scarier than the typical thunderstorm, I love the sound of thunder. My kiddos are afraid of the sound of thunder and of the lightning. I just reassure them that they are safe in our home and that nothing bad will happen to them.

I love them, too. We live on a hill, my bedroom has windows on three sides and a great view of the sky all around. When we are having a thunderstorm, I like to open the blinds, sit on the bed and watch the lightening.

I've always loved them myself. The Arizona monsoons are awesome in summer. Now, if I lived in the midwest where the tornadoes are I'm not certain I would feel as confident. But a good thunder and lightning storm in CA or AZ is always a spectator sport. I used to wake my kids up from naps to watch a good storm. They are just awesome works of nature created by God. Nothing else likem at all.

I love storms. i always told my kids the truth, My kids were never affraid of storms, we lived in Japan with typhoons, so they were used to it. J.

ever since hurricane Ike, yeah storms freak me out a bit. I just tell my daughter that everything will be ok, and even if something happens we can handle it.

Just like we did in 2008

I love a good hard rain. I do not love lightening STORMS and nighttime storms that accompany hurricane/tropical storms. I do like to watch lightening when it is a little ways away and you can see it through the clouds at night...but not if it is too close. That has always scared me. It wakes me up in the night even now, and if the winds are strong, the lightening is close and the rain is pouring (or suddenly lessens) it is scary.

My daughter is very unnerved by them as well. She will sleep with her brother if it is storming badly at bedtime.
I live in the Southeast, where we get lots of afternoon "pop up" thunderstorms during the summer. And lots of "threats" of tropical storms during hurricane season (the weather channels and news stations tend to overhype every tropical depression to the point that you can't believe anything they say... which is really unnerving sometimes... what if they are wrong and it comes HERE, ?)..

I dare say you didn't give a second thought to the weather when you were little! It's when you have the responsibility of a family that these things pop into your nightmares.

Your post reminds me of the story I heard about my grandmother. Before my mama was born, and when her three oldest brothers were little, a cyclone hit their Texas home - when they were in it. My grandparents and my uncles were uninjured, but the house was totaled. They rebuilt, but apparently after that my grandmother freaked out whenever she saw a dark cloud. And I can hardly blame her.

When my husband and I moved into our house (back in 1977!), there were still civil defense warning sirens scattered around what was then a much smaller city. When there was a tornado warning, they'd set the sirens off. I was so sad when they dismantled that system.

If you prepare in advance for the bad ones, then you can tell your children, "Yes, storms do scare me a bit, but this is what we will do if a BAD storm comes." Then show them your emergency closet or shelf, and teach them what you all will do if you need to take shelter or if the utililties go out. It will also help you be proactive so that your children won't pick up on your fears.

Also, when a storm is near, turn your radio on to the station with the best weather advisories. And - if it's JUST a storm, you can enjoy the show and teach your children about thunder and lightning and Ben Franklin's kite and all that.

Hurricanes, tornados and even snow storms scare me even though I have I have only been in a snow storm. I only liked the desert storms going to the Colorado River at night in my teens and 20s. Give me a moderate earthquake instead.

Yes I am. Always have been. I live in north texas and we have some pretty bad storms here. Especially this time of year. I love just a steady rainy day but round here we usually have to duck and cover!

I love storms! I tell my kids anything can happen on any given day and there is no reason to worry about something that is out of our control.

i love storms (so i guess it's not surprising that my kids do too.) maybe if i experienced a bad tornado or something it would wake me up, but i've been in wild hurricanes, blizzards and thunderstorms and i absolutely adore it.
a couple of months ago i was outside in a t-storm and lightning struck so close that my hair stood up and i was dazzled for several minutes.
i poured a libation to Zeus.
sometimes the men have to yell at me during the summer when i'm in the pool and a storm rolls in and i want to float and watch it. i HATE getting out of the water when there are glorious billowing stormclouds and bright flashes to watch!
i suppose the gods will translate me directly to olympus one of these days if i don't wise up.
:) khairete
S.

It completely and totally depends where I'm at. For a summer in highschool I chased tornados (yeah, the whole 'live forever' thing was definitely there) and I grew up with monsoons and earthquakes and hurricanes. I've also been part of clean up crews/ disaster crews for certain hurricanes and other natural disasters (pre kids, it's been hard to watch what's been going on SINCE my son was born; thailand, katrina, etc... and NOT be able to go)

That said... as an ADULT (parent with child in particular, prior to my son I didn't really care if I lived or died, but now I have this vested interest in staying alive)... thunder irks me. Sounds like bombs detonating or buildings going. My adrenaline gets triggered by thunder, for just that reason, so it can be very difficult. I solve it by making up games that put the adrenaline to good use. As an ADULT, I like being warm and dry and not having my basement flood or plans get stormed out... so I wait with baited breath to find out how bad things will get. As an adult, even safe within my home I have meals to cook and clothes to clean and electronics to charge and work to accomplish that HAS to have electricity, so every storm that comes makes me cringe at the thought of losing power.

Nope - not scared of storms! LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!!!

When we have lightning - I smile up at the sky - I tell my kids that God is taking our picture.

When I hear thunder - I smile - I think - Now THAT'S a parade just for me! now my kids?! They say that SOMEONE must've had some BAD GAS!!! As some thunder just sounds....well, you know BOYS and kids!!!

The weather hasn't changed since you were a kid. The media just has a wider swath - TVs, computer/internet/cell phones, newspapers, magazines - the MORE DRAMATIC - the more it's publicized....

So the next time you have a lightning and thunder storm - smile up at the sky - God is taking a picture of you! Thunder?! It's your own private parade....

The only storms that scare me are hurricanes that I have to hunker down through or bad thunderstorms that I have to drive through.
But all three of my dogs are terrified of thunder, fireworks, and other loud noises. The last bad thunderstorm we had, my border collie mix curled up in a ball next to me, and was trembling so hard, he made the bed shake.

Oh NO I LOVE THEM!!! Thats one of the things that I look forward to in summer. My daughter loves them too but some of the bigger cracks scare her, like the ones that rattle the house, but then she calms down and listens to the thunder. We actually sit on our porch and watch the storms. Nature is amazing.
My cat is afraid of them and my daughter comforts him during storms. She tells him that its ok. My FIL LOVES them too but my MIL is deathly afraid of them and will sit in her basement until they are over. But me and my husband are big fans.
I tell my daughter that the thunder is GOD bowling and the lightening is HIM getting a strike and the rain is Angels crying cause they are loosing. She doesn't quite understand that right now but that is what I was told when I was a kid.
We have had a couple of good storms already this year and I was excited. AHHHH CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE!!!!

We tell our kids that God and the Angels are bowling....and there is nothing to be scared of. I hate storms personally. My husband LOVES them-- he will stay awake at night to watch the sky light up! Crazy nut! My mom knows someone who saw a girl get struck by lightening and die as a child ... so I fear lightening a lot. I know the odds are against that type of thing--it is just a wrong place, wrong time scenario!

Heck No! I LOVE them! But my sister is afraid of them :)

I grew in in Southern Ca. and lived thru the occasional Thunder storm (My Favorite!) and Earthquakes and when The Santa Ana Winds blew thru it was wicked!

I love EXTREME weather...always have...plan on retiring down south somewhere so I can enjoy it even more!

Growing up my Father always told us of his fear of Tornadoes (he grew up in the south, where they really happen) I have never experienced one but I am leary of them, that's for sure!

I use the same thing that keeps me sane during storms with my kids meteorology. At least for me it is the understanding of what will or will not hurt us and how to best protect ourselves and why. We get out our science books and look at the clouds and wind patterns.

I think if the weather keeps up as it is we may have to invest in equipment as well.:)

I had most of my childhood years in "Tornado alley" and although I got to see plenty of funnel cloud formations none ever touched down so close that we felt the brunt of the storm. I am back in tornado alley as an adult and although sometimes I get a bit worried because we do not have a basement, I actually get more peeved that they sound the sirens so much.
I love thunderstorms though = )
I tell my kids it is no big deal, I tell them we will take precautions if it is looking really bad out ( conditions right for a tornado)
I think our kids take their cues from us, and since I don't stress for the most part they don't.

When I was younger, I was definitely scared of storms... that lasted into my adult years (I'm now 50+). When I was young, and growing up in "tornado alley" in Kansas, I would wake during storms and if possible, go get in bed with my parents.... eventually, they discouraged that, but let me sit in their room, then I eventually would just sit in the hall near their door. (One thing to understand... our house was about a mile away from the path of a very devastating F4 tornado in 1966 when I was 9.)

Even as a young adult, I would wake during storms and wonder if there would be a tornado. Hubby bought me a NOAA weather radio which really helped, but it wasn't until many years later that I quit fearing them so much.

Now I like the wind, thunder, lightning, and all..... Yes, I worry about the safety of others, but I don't worry so much about my own safety. It is terrifying, though, to see the devastation those storms can cause!