Going Out? Plan Ahead

I remember the days when I was a young single mother of one and I thought I was really hot stuff. I would take pictures of my baby boy and I dressed in the same clothes (dark Polo jeans, matching gray Gap sweatshirts, tan Timberland boots), leisurely push him in his single seat stroller around the mall with one hand, and carry him on my hip like a new purse or accessory.  Fast forward 12 years later, the brand names clothes have evolved to thrift stores apparel, the single seat stroller has been upgraded to a double seat stroller, and I can no longer pick up all of my children with two hands.

New Mode of Transportation for Twins

Trying to accomplish ANYTHING when having children underfoot requires the strategy of a military logistical maneuver.  Having a preteen, especially toddler twin boys, means I just can’t go out without planning for it.  I need to be prepare for all possible scenarios, i.e. change of clothes for accidents and having videos/books/toys/snacks for distraction.  Getting a family of 5, including small children, out the door can be tiring and makes you question why you were even trying to go out in the first place.  Planning ahead for any trips, short or long, makes my life a little more manageable instead of looking like like a crazed woman with kids falling out of a shopping cart.

• Layout the Clothes: Its always a good tip to layout the clothes for the next day the night before. An injury can occur trying to find matching socks in the hamper while the little ones are writing on the walls, and your running late.
• Pack the Bag: To help avoid the last minute rush, pack the diaper bag the night or morning before going out. Make sure to include bottles, sippy cups, snacks, books, toys, CDs, DVDs, and a change of clothes for each child.  (If you have more than one car, you can have a second “emergency” bag with diapers, wipes, change of clothes, etc., in case the diaper bag is ever forgotten.)  There are many wonderful diaper bags on the market that can help you accommodate everything you need.  When the twins were infants, one of diaper bags I used was the Eddie Bauer Diaper Bag for accommodating all the baby “stuff”.  Currently with twin toddlers, I found the Double Up Books Tote Bag to be easy and convenient to use.  Its a tote bag so it can double for a purse and diaper bag in one.  Double Up Books is the premier bookstore for multiples, specializing in books about twins and multiples for families.

Double Up Books Tote Bag

• Don’t Get Lost: After you finally made it out of the house with the bag packed and kiddos strapped, do you know where you are going? When driving to an unfamiliar location, print out directions (i.e. Mapquest , Google Maps) or upload the address to a vehicle navigation system BEFORE you leave. (Its worthwhile to check out Beat the Traffic, Traffic.com to assist with avoiding traffic spots).
• Drive a Nice Car Stroller: As important as cars & sports are to men, a good stroller can be a mother’s joy.  Strollers can help to facilitate a great outing experience with comfort & ease or it can be clunky & hard to open. Baby Jogger, Combi, Graco, Kolcraft, Maclaren, Peg Perego are all ‘Moms of Multiples’ tested and recommended strollers.  I used a Graco Double Stroller when the twins were babies and now use the Baby Jogger City Mini Double Stroller. 

City Mini Double Stroller

• Don’t Forget to Eat: Eating is a necessary part of life but it so easily forgotten.  Busy women, mothers, WAHMs, often skip meals or eat quick junk food in replacement for nutritious meals because of their full schedules.  Unfortunately, skipping meals causes many health issues, poor eating habits, and added weight gain.  A great opportunity to include a healthy snack or lunch for yourself is when packing the diaper bag.  I enjoy using the Easylunhbox system for my entire family, because everyone can use it for work, school, or on a trip.  Easylunchboxes.com is a cost effective and efficient way to transport lunches.  The container bottoms have three compartments to hold an entrée or sandwich and two side dishes. The fitted lid covers all three compartments in an easy snap, keeps food cool, intact, and is completely portable.



Easylunchboxes.com