The Emergency Box I Sent My Son — And Why It Still Matters

Two and a half years ago, my college-aged son packed up his life and moved across the country to California. As a father — and someone who believes deeply in preparedness — that wasn’t easy. When your child moves away, you lose the ability to protect them in the ways you’re used to. You can’t fix things immediately. You can’t show up at a moment’s notice. You can’t control the environment they’re walking into.

So I did what I could. I packed a small emergency preparedness box and mailed it to him with one instruction: “Only open this in case of emergency.” He recently came home. The box was still sealed.

In this video, I open that box and take a hard, honest look at what I chose to send. Not just whether the gear was good — but whether my thinking was good.

Was I preparing responsibly?
Was I projecting fear?
Did I focus on the right threats?

California faces wildfires, earthquakes, blackouts, and social unrest. But preparedness isn’t just about worst-case scenarios — it’s about proportional response and wisdom.

Watch the full breakdown and let me know what you would have packed.