The best part about trying to figure out your life is having others along the way help! On my last blog about top items and the blog before on life hacks, there were responses from you guys that were great! My favorite part about it is that it wasn’t just working moms. As Rebekkah pointed out on Facebook where I shared the post, a lot of these hacks are important for everyone!
User Hack #1
Necessity kits
How many times have you been out to eat and something drops on your shirt? You have a whole set of things to get done that day, but you refuse to walk about in that messy of a shirt. (Real mom moment – I have gotten so used to having something on my clothing – spit up with newborns, fruit juice from a crawler, and everything under the sun with a toddler – I probably would walk into Nordstrom in that state and not think a thing of it! 😬) Two different kits were proposed – car and travel. This looks different for everyone depending on who you are and if you have kids. But here is what you guys said.
Car
- Facial wipes
- Moisturizer
- 2 combs of different sizes
- Basic makeup
- Disposable toothbrush
- Disposable flossers
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
A few more I can think of:
- Baby wipes
- Diapers
- Lotion
- Hand sanitizer
- Epi pen (shout out to the momma’s with allergy babies)
- Snacks
- Extra clothing (for you and children)
Travel
I travel about 25% of the time for my job. So maybe one or two trips a month. Somehow, I still manage to forget something each trip. Every time! One would think I would get better at this…
- Toothbrush
- Deodorant
- Comb
- Chargers
- Belt
- Umbrella
A few more things I thought of:
- RAZOR!! (This is what I forget most. Thankfully I take short trips)
- Travel size shampoo, conditioner, etc
- Basic makeup
- Socks/under garments
User Hack #2
Comfy clothes
Ohhh man. What a culture we live in. Princesses have babies and walk out a few hours later in heels and a dress with every hair in place to present their baby to the world. Don’t get me wrong, Kate Middleton is fierce (and had a team to help her). But if you choose (or happen) to have kids, as working moms, there is pressure to show right back up at work as soon as the dust settles. If someone can let me know what age that is supposed to happen at, I would love to know so I can plan to survive to see it!
“Stop trying to shove into clothes that were not made for being on the go!”
Finding clothes you are comfortable in is important for anyone. With this being a blog primarily targeting the working mom, I’m going to stick to that.
Nursing moms. As if a baby isn’t enough of an adjustment, you now have to figure out how to feed a child with your body. You have to drink water, rest, get up with the baby, wear weird things you never knew existed and pump if you want to have more than an hour and a half away from your child. If you have never had to hook yourself up to a pump, count your blessings. I have never understood cows more.
With all this comes the need to be able to “Mom” in public. Wearing a tank top under all clothing was the ticket for me! Then you can adjust easily to nurse without feeling exposed. Power to the mommas who aren’t concerned at all and are comfortable nursing regardless!
There is a book to be written on this but it boils down to, be comfortable! For some mommas, it’s our sanity to feel a little put together – throw on makeup and maybe even heels. I just got to the point with Eli almost two years old that it’s actually enjoyable to spend some time getting ready! Don’t feel guilty either way! Rock the “mom bun” with sweats! Throw on some cute jeans, heels and a top! Go all out and have the polished look from head to toe! Just know that the mom that chooses something different than you is in a different stage and situation. We all do the best we can in the ways that matter most to us. Regardless, stay comfy!
User hack #3
Locking toddlers down
This is probably my favorite hack! Half the battle as a parent is finding ways to safely contain your children when they are little! This does just that!
Prime-Line U 9888 Flip Action Steel Door Lock
Hacking the Working Mom 