There have been many accolades lately for the dad bod: that pinnacle of the paunch achieved by men in their mid 30's. While it's oft referred to as the dad physique, dads and non-dads alike have profited from the idea of a positive view on a softer midsection.
In my mind, the closest female corollary to the dad bod is the illustrious mom bag. Think back to your childhood. Runny nose? Boom! Mom has a tissue for that. Irrationally wailing because you haven't snacked in 30 minutes? Suddenly there's a miracle snack at the ready! These treasures all came from some cavernous bag that mom always hauled around.
I'm not a mom yet, but I've often wondered, and dreamed of fashioning the ultimate mom bag for every-day use. Through extensive research, and rummaging through my own mom's current bag, I've devised a list of the essentials of the ultimate mom bag.
1.First aid supplies. This has got to be the most important. Band Aids are a must. They're necessary for everything from cuts and scrapes to blisters from uncomfortable shoes. Also good to include: ibuprofen packs, cough drops and Neosporin.
2.Tissues. Preferably said tissues are in cartoon character packaging. If not, it's ok. It's most important to have something to clear up boogies or blow runny noses.
3.Sewing kit. Missing button? No problem. Torn shirt collar? With a properly stocked mom bag, you're covered.
4.Small non-perishable snack. At some point, everyone gets hangry. It's ok. Low blood sugar gets most people irrationally cranky. The best offense is a good defense; so keep a mom bag prepped with some pre-packaged snack that won't go bad anytime soon. Personal favorite: 100 calorie almond packs. The protein really helps tide over even the hangriest of individuals.
5.Re-usable shopping bag. A must-have for the eco-conscious mom bag. Why waste plastic or paper bags when there are many fold-up options for reusable eco-bliss that easily fit in bags even smaller than the massive mom bag.
6.Writing implements. Picture this: sharing a meal with friends at your favorite restaurant, but when the bill comes, everyone pays with a card. When the chic server returns with the split bills, invariably, they only bring one pen to sign off. Everyone is left to wait her turn to use the single pen... unless there is a mom bag present. Mom bags often boast at least one, if not multiple pens, and usually also a small notepad just in case writing down notes or stray thoughts becomes necessary.
7.Hand sanitizer and lotion. Let's face it- there's a lot of gross places and things in the world. Nobody wants ick on their hands after fishing a wayward smartphone out of a public toilet. (Waterproof case FTW?) Sanitizer is one necessity that pretty much anyone can benefit from to keep grubby mits clean. The lotion is just a bonus; it's like lip balm for your hands.
8.Nail clippers. As my mom would say, nail clippers, in a pinch, will work as tiny scissors. She's also apparently used the emery board as a screwdriver. They're also good for, you know, cutting nails.
While this may seem like an extensive list, but in reality, it can all fit within a reasonably sized mom bag.