afraid of thunderstorms???

[ahka]

In the past several weeks, we had some very loud frightening thunder storms in the evenings or at nights.  In the usually dark and quite evenings or at nights, the contrast of the bright doses of lightening and the loud thunders are really scaring kids and even I am sometimes feeling frightened. 

I try to stay calm myself and calm kids saying that there has been many thunderstorms before and many to come.  We are in a safe house and there is nothing to worry about at this time.  In the morning we will see the light again. 

My kids seems to be trusting me and going to bed, give me a kiss, wish good night and no more fuss as it used to be when they were younger.

I would check the weather alerts if our area is in danger for something more severe like tornadoes just to be sure that we don’t need to go to the basement or seek other safety plan.  I would put kids into the beds and go to bed myself.  

It might be a reasonable reasoning but I can’t guarantee 100% that everything is going to be OK.  It is outside of my power!  I have a fear that someday I will be wrong and my kids will experience something horrible related to the powers of nature.  I can pray to G-d that it never happens to our family.  I don’t want to tell kids that I might be wrong.    

I guess I should stop thinking about “What if…” creating horrible images in my head. 

Are you afraid of thunderstorms? 

What do you do to calm down yourself and kids?