Summer Packing List for Moms

I had no idea how easy I had it, but in my early twenties it took me 10 minutes, tops, to pack for a trip to the beach. The night before I simply threw into my chic carryall:

4 bikinis
1 sundress
3 tanks
2 pairs shorts
1 skirt
1 cardigan
1 pair flip flops
1 pair heeled sandals
bras & panties
workout gear + tennies
jewelry & makeup
toiletries
Exedrin
SPF 5 "sunscreen" & sunglasses
5 magazines
10 books
5 packs Malboro Lights

That was it.

Now that I am in my mid-thirties, married and the mother of three young children, here's what I pack for the entire family for a week's trip to the beach.  It takes me days to launder and organize. Then I load it all into a caravan of well-worn American Tourister rolling bags and a horde of canvas boat totes:

2 Jumbo Packs Disney Princess Pull-Ups
1 Mega Pack Pampers Swaddlers
1 Pack Little Mermaid-festooned swim diapers
2 pairs plastic pants to go over swim diapers
3 deluxe packs wipes
7 girls' swimsuits, brightly colored
4 girls' rashguards with SPF
5 boys' swim trunks
4 boys' rashguards with SPF
2 pairs kids' water shoes
6 kids' sun hats
10 bottles kids' sunscreen spray, SPF 109
1 bottle kids' sunscreen for the face
1 bottle kids' sunscreen for the scalp
1 bottle kids' sunscreen for between the toes & inside bellybutton
20 cotton kids' tees, various sizes
30 cotton kids' shorts, various sizes
100 pairs kids' underwear
1 dressy outfit for each kid (will not be worn)
1 pair casual sandals for each kid
1 pair nice sandals for each kid (will not be worn)
1 pair tennis shoes for each kid (will not be worn)
Socks (Ibid.)
4 pairs PJs for each kid
2 pairs men's swim trunks
10 men's tee shirts
5 men's polo shirts
4 pairs men's khaki shorts
1 pair men's khaki pants
1 nice golf shirt
Golf shoes & socks
Golf clubs & gear
2 men's baseball caps - 1 nice, 1 thrashed
1 pair men's sandals, nice
1 pair men's flip flops
1 pair men's tennis shoes
7 pairs men's underwear
4 pairs men's socks
2 pairs men's PJ bottoms
1 women's tee that doubles as nightgown & swimsuit cover
1 tank that doubles as workout top
1 skirt that doubles as a headscarf
1 BBD (big black dress) that doubles as picnic blanket
1 pair shorts that double as hot pads in kitchen
2 pairs panties (each pair can be washed on alternate days)
1 bra that doubles as secret moneybelt
1 pair shoes with removable heels and straps for various looks
1 chapstick to serve as makeup, can be dyed with food coloring for various parts of face
Children's vitamins
Children's Tylenol
Children's aspirin
Children's Benadryl
Children's Pepto
Children's Dimetapp
Children's Zoloft...just kidding
Mommy's Zoloft...not kidding
1 vat baby wash
1 vat shower gel
1 vat Pantene 2 in 1
1 can shaving gel
1 men's razor, mom can use dad's when hair removal or marital fight is necessary
1 stick men's deodorant, can double as mom's perfume
3 toothbrushes, mom can share with others on alternating days
1 tube SpongeBob toothpaste
1 tube Disney Princess toothpaste
1 tube `erase the years of coffee, nicotine & merlot please Lord' toothpaste
1 laptop
1 portable DVD player
42 kid DVDs (1 will be watched on repeat the entire time)
1 HTC Evo
1 CrackBerry
2 digital cameras
23 chargers for various appliances, most of which do not match electronics packed
89 children's books
5 masculine non-fiction hardcover books
1 chick lit paperback beach read (will not be read)
74 sand toys
20 beach towels in headache-inducing patterns & colors
8 pairs sunglasses, various sizes & degrees of lens scratches
3 bikes, mom will stay behind on rides to run to store and spend $400 on things she forgot to pack, or take nap from packing exhaustion

Jessica writes daily at A Parent in Silver Spring and contrary to how it may appear, is very happy to be going on vacation with her family.