Life with three little kids is sometimes pure insanity. It’s like a three ring circus around here most of the time. Leaving the house is even crazier. Sometimes I think I’d forget my head if it weren’t attached. On the other hand, it’s good for all of us to get out of the house. Here are my 10 tips for making life easier and more efficient while on the go:
- Keep important things in the car- I always keep diapers and wipes in the car. It would be my luck that I would have forgotten to re-stock the diaper bag the day the baby has a blow out at the park. I also keep a bottle of sunscreen in the car year round, just in case. My kids are very fair skinned and I try to keep them protected even when it’s overcast.
- Always bring snacks- Snacks are a great distraction when everything starts going all wrong. The kids are fighting, the baby’s cranky…until you give them all a cracker. Snacks can be a miracle peace keeper. I try not to to buy pre-packaged snacks very often but I do stash some in the car in case I happen to forget to pack something up before leaving the house. It’s nice to have a back up.
- Don’t forget the stroller or baby carrier- I can’t do any sort of an outing without at least one of these. I only have two hands you know 🙂
- Get a Smartphone- I think my iPhone is worth every penny. I’ve got lots of preschool activities to keep the kids entertained in a pinch, plus I’ve got my calender and everything else I need, right at my finger tips. I don’t leave the house without it.
- Keep bottled water in the fridge- I fill all sorts of promotional BPA free bottles with water and keep them in the fridge in the garage so I can just grab a couple when heading out. The kids always get thirsty while we are out so it’s nice to have them handy.
- Carry a small amount of cash- You never know when you might need a couple of bucks for parking or some other unexpected expense that can only be taken care of with cash.
- Extra Clothing- The weather around here tends to change unexpectedly. I try to bring jackets even if it’s hot out when we leave the house. If we don’t use them, no biggie but at least our outing won’t be cut short if it does turn a little chilly.
- Pajamas- On the same note, I usually bring a pair of pajamas for each of the kids. Often when we head out for the afternoon, especially when we visit my in-laws, we end up staying for dinner and it’s bedtime before we know it. The kids will fall asleep in the car on the way home but since we had the jammies with us, we don’t have to worry about waking them when we get home.
- Don’t forget about yourself!- You pack snacks for the kids, make sure you pack something for yourself as well! Running after the kiddos burns up a lot of energy and you need to refuel! Starbucks now has grab & go cans (stock up the fridge with some next to the water bottles!)
- Think ahead- Pack bags etc. the night before so you aren’t frazzled when you are trying to round up everyone to get in the car.
Being prepared is the biggest stress reducer for me. Things run a lot smoother and aren’t as frantic if I’ve gotten things together ahead of time. What are your best tips for making life easier while on the go? I’d love to hear them!
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seattle’s Best Coffee blogging program for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.