It all started off nicely. My partner and I were lounging on the sidelines of a karate class, indulging in some fast food. I was passing French fries to our toddler, strapped securely in his stroller, while giving a thumbs-up to our 6-year-old as my partner and I savored the romance of a Monday night at home.
As I reached into my bag for my phone, I was greeted not by the familiar cool surface of my device, but by the squishy, sticky mess of half a fried apple pie. Yes, that delicious little treat, the guilty pleasure of my partner, was now an unwelcome resident in my purse. “Why on earth is this in my bag?” I hissed at him, horrified.
His response? A casual shrug. “I didn’t want to put it in my pockets. So, I just stuck it in yours.”
“Did you consider using the trash can?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Blank stare.
“Grrrr. We’ll discuss this later,” I muttered.
Once we got home, I launched into a heartfelt discussion about respect and the correct use of trash cans. Then I dumped the contents of my bag onto the kitchen table, revealing not just my essentials like my phone, wallet, and hairbrush, but also his keys, lip balm, six Hot Wheels, 15 Pokémon cards, four random rocks, and a pair of boys’ socks. Yes, socks. I didn’t even check if they were clean; I just tossed them into the washing machine.
Welcome to what I like to call “the family bag” — the repository for everyone’s random items that they just toss in without a second thought. And honestly, I’m over it.
My purse, which should hold my essentials and a few snacks, has morphed into a mobile home for all the things I didn’t sign up to carry. Need sunscreen? Toss it in Mom’s bag! Found a cool stick? Mom’s bag! You get the idea.
Now, I’m sure there’s a deeper psychological angle here about how I carry everyone’s burdens or how they don’t respect my belongings. But right now, I just want to reclaim my bag’s original purpose and lighten my load a bit.
So, I’ve started zipping my purse and putting it away when we get home, preventing covert stowing of items. I’m also encouraging my partner to use his pockets, and I play the “Do you really need that?” game with my 6-year-old before we leave. Spoiler alert: those three books he insists on taking to the park will almost definitely end up in my bag on the way back.
And guess what? I’ve already hidden two stylish fanny packs for them in the back of my closet. Soon, they can carry their own half-eaten pies and dirty socks, freeing my purse—and me—from this chaotic mess.
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In summary, reclaiming your space can be a hilarious journey filled with unexpected items and family antics. It’s all about finding the balance and keeping the chaos at bay!