Wallet. Keys. Phone.
That’s all I used to need before leaving the house as a single man. I wouldn’t get locked out, be unable to buy a sandwich or call for help if my car (when I had one) broke down with these items.
Backpack.
The backpack was added for travel or when I got a laptop for work related items. This added weight, but was easily managed because it could hold the other items. I am also speaking pre-smartphone so the calls and texts could wait a while before being returned and not offend anyone.
Wife’s Purse, Water Bottle and Sunglasses.
When Abigail and I got married there wasn’t much more added to that list lucky. The purse was a sort of black hole and could hold EVERYTHING she would ever need. It still is a black hole to this day… No joke, she “lost” her keys for three weeks recently. Where were they? In her purse.
Dog Cage, Food & Water Dishes, Leash, Treats and Poo Bags.
Our pet papillon added a larger number of items required to bring along when we would visit family or go on a dog friendly outing. She added lots of laughs though so I didn’t complain about it much.
Diaper bag, Backup Wipes & Diapers, Boppy, Maya Wrap, Extra Outfits, Car Seat, Stroller, Snacks and Caffeine.
Having a child added to the mix definitely adds to this list. The diaper bag is a no brainer (burp cloths, pacifiers, ziplock, etc.). Although I may or may not have left the house without it a time or three. I like to keep wipes and diapers in the trunk of the car as a backup in case we run out of what fits in the diaper bag. That has come in handy more than once. If you don’t know what a boppy is you should. It’s this pillow that wraps around your waist and is a lifesaver when you want to hold your little bundle of joy, but your arms need some assistance. The Maya wrap we have is also a great arm saver. It allows for hands free (mostly) carrying of a baby. Hooray!
There are extra baby outfits in the diaper bag, but I like to bring an extra outfit or two for myself. Never know when it might come in handy. Can’t drive in a car with a kiddo safely without a car seat and the stroller we have is magic, because the car seat can snap right into it. No moving baby from one carrier to another if he’s asleep. The snacks and caffeine are for me. I sometimes share them with Abigail, but only when she really wants ’em. I try and pack extra just in case that happens. Eventually I’ll be packing snacks for Wes too, but he’s exclusively breastfeed still at this point.
New Car?
Let me tell you how interesting it is packing all of this up in the 2005 Hyundai Accent we own. It’s about time to upgrade I think. We’re quickly running out of space! Any car sponsors out there want to help us out?
I was always a keys, wallet, mobile, sunglasses man until I had kids. But post becoming a father I now carry tissues, snacks and other things in a manbag when I am traveling for business or going to local conferences by myself in. After carrying a nappy bag with all its goodies, I can finally see the value of women’s handbags.