When we first became parents, Hubby and I tried to be organized with the items that Jill needed whenever we were out of the house. We kept the diaper bag stocked and kept a backup bag in our car. As our kids have grown we have found ourselves giving them more responsibility for making sure they take their belongings with them whenever we leave the house.

We seem to have fallen into a routine that may sound familiar to at least some of you.  About a half an hour before we leave I say, “Kids, put your socks and shoes on, go to the bathroom and get your things together.” They hear, “Kids, keep playing and completely ignore me.” Fifteen minutes before we leave I yell, “Are your socks and shoes on?”  To which they reply, “Why, are we going somewhere?” At the time set for leaving our house, I walk to the door and listen to the kids yell, “Wait, I need to find something to take with me!” or “Don’t leave yet!  I need to put my shoes on!” No matter what I do, this is the pattern.

Hubby and the kids take martial arts classes and the pattern usually only differs in the items they take and that they have a uniform to put on. The other night Hubby came home and got dressed for class. The kids were at the fifteen-minute point so they made the mad-dash uniform change and when all was said and done we raced out the door for a quick dinner and then off to class. Imagine the laughs that ensued when the kids discovered that in Hubby’s hurry to get out of the house he put his pants on backwards and left his jacket at home! (Yes, yes, gi for those of you martial artists out there.)

With all of my planning and organizing it seems as parents we forget things too. Yes, I have to admit I’ve left things behind too. Parenting takes patience. Oh, and lots of to-do and to-bring lists too!

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