How to have "the conversation" with loved ones.

I'm sure everyone that has taken a long hard look around them and decided that the world is indeed going to hell in a handbasket has started trying to prepare. The biggest hurdle for most people seems to be having a conversation with the others in your household (or other immediate family) about what you are seeing and learning.  It's an ackward moment to say to your husband and children, I think we need to build a pantry and stock it with a year's worth of food and supplies, so while starting this project a portion of our disposable income will indeed go to that - instead of the whatever you think you can't live without right now.

IMHO, it is the best tact to start slowly with conversations like remember when we were young and first married and lived paycheck to paycheck, I don't want illness or job loss to ever force us to decide between groceries and the light bill again, or something similar from a friends life. Then as the feeling of becoming self-reliant starts to build, start in with small projects that different members of your family would be interested in. Perhaps someone likes carpentry, suggest a building project like a solar dehydrator. Perhaps someone in your family is really into art, gently guide them to exploring dye and paper making. There are many examples of things you can gently guide your family into learning the skills that could come in handy after the SHTF. I encouraged our family to take CPR together. It didn't cost much and now everyone has that skill. My kids are also learning fabulous skills like homemade bread, yogurt, cheese and noodle making. I've got one that likes to cook, one that enjoys the science part of it and one that's just my good little helper.

All in all, I'd say, go slow.  The fact that your on the path puts you well ahead of most everybody else. It's more important to go together, even if it takes a while, then to trek out on your own making waves or alienating members of your family.  That will only lead to "i told you so" conversations later.

Oh, and another biggie for my family is reading. So, as part of my leading, I'm filling our home with books that I think will help them wake up and see what I'm seeing. But on their own terms, not with mom lecturing them. The books I'm showcasing are being read by members of my family as we speak. Some are starting to awaken.  When they do, I'll be right there to help them on, and encourage the ones still in the dark.