Ah Kristen, I love how you connect what occurs around you to something much bigger.
Much could be written about children and reading...

I always figure I have my thoughts to help me survive what ever comes my way, no matter what I loose, as long as I dont lose my mind :-) I am well equipped to get through. 

We occasionalyften talk as a family about what to do in times of peril - talking physical survival now - but we remind each other that whatever is taken or gone, we have each other, and wherever we are can be home.

As far as day to day 'survival', I try not to sweat the small stuff.