Mom gear 101

Things I have found you need as a mom:

1. In the car you must always have diapers, wipes, a couple of toys, pac 'n' play. stroller, bottled water, snacks, a "restaurant bag" and jackets.

2. A "restaurant bag" has bibs and assorted toys that the kids only get to play with while they are waiting on the food. I have a travel fishing game, play-doh and wind-up toys.

3. Flip-flops. Oh how I LOVE flip-flops. I can't live without flip flops. Easy to put on and off to run to the mailbox or dumpster or pool. I don't know if I can live where there is snow because then I would have to actually TIE my shoes on. They are my work shoes. And for kids they are great too, except when they are really small, like my 2-year-old, he will flip them off and lose them in a store. Besides that they can put on their own shoes. Also crocs are nice for this, and with crocs they are less likely to fall while running.

4. A good stroller, like a jog stroller that you can take looong walks in and your kids are comfortable enough to sleep.

5. Balls. Both literally and figuratively. Easy and cheap toy and the guts to endure another day without adult conversation.

6. Play dates. That is so suburban, I know, but you have to meet your friends and have new toys for your kids to be engrossed in for a couple hours. It will get you to nap time and you will get to exchange a few sentences in a couple hours between screams of "Share!" and "Be nice!"

7. Trips to the mall. We hit the soft pretzel store first then while the kids are engrossed, and let me emphasize GROSS because of the sugar all over the place, you can have 10 minutes to look at clothes. Not try them on, but look and buy and hope for the best. Then you hit the Disney store and destroy it and the pet store. If you are luck the mall will have a free enclosed play area where you can sip a latte.

8. When in doubt when your kids are malfunctioning: give them a bath or take them on a walk. Always help reset them.

9. You have to have a yard (without one, you have to go to the park alot). Outside is sooo great for kids to discover bugs and dirt and weeds. Entertainment for what seems like hours. And the fresh air is good for both of you. Remember when your mom would say "Go outside...be back by dinner!" The good ol' days.

10. Be in the moment. Forget the laundry and the mess you will make, and play. Play. Play. Sometimes when the kids aren't playing well, you need to stop and help them play for like 10 minutes and the you can go back to work. Or stop working and enjoy them. Soon enough they won't even be sleeping under the same roof as you. Time flies. You are creating their childhood. Play!