There’s the story about the diaper bag. The story goes that for the first child, you have the complete set: a multitude of diapers, wipes, extra soothers, baby food, the whole kitchen sink in your diaper bag. You’re prepared for anything, and then some. For the next child, a few diapers and wipes go into the bag, maybe a change of clothing for the baby. For the third, perhaps you remember to throw in a diaper, if you’re lucky. Tough, the baby will deal.
My daughter is all “grown up” now, by which I mean she’s four and a half and out of diapers during the daytime. We have to bring very little for a day out. I was not big on a diaper bag anyway, and I felt like we could be fairly minimalist, what with elimination communication and nursing on the agenda. So why is it that I appear to have the ultimate Preschool Mom Bag?
The other day, I was describing to my husband what exactly it is that I have in the backpack that I drag around to all occasions, except perhaps fancy dress parties (but then I always dress as the Frazzled Mom anyway). I have a first aid kit, gloves, and a CPR mask. I generally have a water bottle and some snacks. There’s an umbrella, reflective straps for a jacket for the night time, lip gloss, Kleenex, and hand warmers. Just in case we get stuck somewhere, I have a granola bar, a little container of bubbles and a bubble wand, crayons, and a cell phone. If we need groceries, I have a reusable bag. Of course, I also have an extra pencil, child’s sunglasses, and extra socks for the play area at the mall. And health supplies for myself. And there’s my wallet, yes, that too.
I believe that he was astounded.
Do you have a preschool parent bag? What do you have in yours?