Mums are life’s true superheroes, there is just no ifs and buts about it.
And nowhere is this more visible than when you have a rummage through a mum’s handbag, which is packed with stuff to see herself and her children through pretty much any eventualities that might occur.
That’s right, mamas; once you enter the trenches also known as motherhood, your handbag is no longer of the ‘just my lipstick and phone’ variety, but rather a bottomless hold-it-all that you will no longer be able to leave the house without.
These magical bags are customized to our children’s ages and areas of interest at all times, and will literally save your life (and, more importantly, maybe, your sanity) on so many occasions.
We all have different tool-kits for surviving our busy mama-lives, and I find myself always peering nosily into other mums’ handbags – you know; just to see if they are carting something around that I should be too.
Currently, these are my can’t-leave-the-house-without-them handbag bits:
1. Phone
Real one (mine), pink toy one (my toddler’s). I also always make sure I have ear plugs and one of those power units for emergency charging my phone when one of the kids has watched so many episodes of Shimmer and Shine on Youtube that the battery dies. (So that’s pretty much every day then).
2. Crayons
Many a coffee meeting with my mum friends or Sunday brunch have been saved by having crayons in my bag at all times.
3. Homemade Energy Bars
For those days when you have slept only 47 consecutive minutes the night before and are just trying to stay awake and keep everyone alive.
4. Wipes
Where there are kids, things get sticky. Very, very sticky.
5. Books
Usually, one for me, to read on my daily commute, and at least one children’s book, to read whenever any of my kids need a little moment. (Or, for them to look at in silence while I try and have a 10-minute conversation with another adult at some point). It’s 50/50.
6. Ribena Minis
Kids get thirsty from all the running around they always do, and thirsty kids are grumpy kids, trust me, so I always make sure I have a refreshing and sugar-free drink on hand to offer up when we are out and about.
7. Sunglasses
To hide the fact that I spent a long part of last night (circa 5 am) convincing a three-year-old that it was, indeed, still night time and we should all go back to sleep.
8. Plasters
Sometimes it is scraped knees and bloody elbows, other times it is invisible boo-boos. Plasters – preferably ones with princesses or racing cars – make everything better, though, always.
9. Raisins
Hello, you sticky little tantrum tamers.
10. Zip Lock Bags
These are such a life-saver. Mostly because they help keep my bag clean, as in, when they hand me back a half-eaten packet of raisins, a wipe they have just wiped their nose on, some very dirty rocks and pebbles they just found and need to bring home, I can stick them all into little zip lock bags until I am near a bin/the house/the car – and not wreck the inside of my bag in the process.
What are YOUR handbag essentials, mamas? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @Herfamilydotie
