It all started on a seemingly ordinary evening. My partner, Jake, and I were perched on the sidelines of karate class, indulging in a quick dinner from the drive-thru. I passed some fries to our toddler, who was strapped into the stroller, while giving a thumbs-up to our 6-year-old, Max. As we bantered back and forth, savoring our “romantic” Monday night, I absentmindedly reached into my purse for my phone. Instead of the cool touch of plastic, my fingers plunged into something warm and sticky. I recoiled as if I had touched a hot stove, pulling out my hand coated in goo from a half-eaten fried apple pie.
“Jake!” I hissed, shooting him a glare. “Why is there a half-eaten pie in my purse?”
With a casual shrug, he replied, “Didn’t want to put it in my pockets, so I just stashed it in yours.”
“Did you consider the trash can?”
Blank expression.
“Grrrr. We’ll discuss this later.”
Once home, we had a little chat about respect and the appropriate use of trash bins. But that was just the beginning. I dumped the contents of my bag onto the kitchen table. Among the chaos were Jake’s phone, wallet, and keys, alongside a surprising assortment of six Hot Wheels, 15 Pokémon cards, four random rocks, and—surprise!—a pair of boys’ socks. Yes, socks. I didn’t even check if they were clean; I just tossed them into the washing machine.
This, my fellow parents, is what I’ve dubbed “the family purse”—a bottomless pit where everyone dumps their stuff without a second thought. And I’ve had enough.
My bag should only carry my essentials: phone, wallet, hairbrush, and the snacks. But somehow, it has morphed into a mobile storage unit for all things needed and unneeded. Need sunscreen? Toss it in Mom’s purse! A bottle of water? Mom’s purse! Found a squishy stick? You guessed it—Mom’s purse!
I’m sure there’s some profound meaning here about carrying their burdens or blurred boundaries, but right now, I just want to reclaim my bag’s original purpose and lighten my load.
So now I zip up my purse and stash it away when we get home, preventing secret deposits. I also play a game with Max called “Do you really need to take that?” before we leave the house. Spoiler alert: He probably won’t read all those books at the park, but they’ll end up in my purse on the way back home.
And for their future convenience, I’ve tucked away two stylish fanny packs—perfectly wrapped and hidden in my closet. Now they can carry around all the half-eaten pies and dirty socks to their heart’s content, while my purse and I remain mess-free.
For More Insights
For more insights on managing family life, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination. You can also learn more about family organization tips on this other blog post. Plus, if you’re interested in DIY methods, visit Make A Mom for their expert insights.
Summary:
Navigating family life often leads to unexpected clutter, especially when it comes to the family purse. In this humorous tale, the author laments how her bag has transformed into a catch-all for everyone’s belongings, from half-eaten pies to toys and socks. With a light-hearted approach, she shares her efforts to reclaim her purse for personal use while finding creative solutions to keep her family’s belongings organized.