How To Be Prepared For Anything

The Sport Mom Edition

by ERIN SHARPLIN LOVE
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I  AM A SPORT MOM AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!  I will say it loud and proud, and I know that there are so many more moms and dads who feel the same way!  Sure, there are days and weeks that I am exhausted, but there is just something so thrilling and satisfying about watching your child excel at a sport.   What no one told me is that there are so many different situations and mishaps that will come your way during a typical ball season.  Let me give you a few examples:
  • Teammate steps on sunglasses and breaks them.  The sun is shining bright and right in the girls’ faces.  We are in the outfield next!
  • One second the sun is shining and the next a random, unpredicted downpour occurs.
   • You get to a field you have never been to and there is no cover, no shade, and the only space available to sit is the hard, cold bleachers.
  • You are down by 1, in the last inning, and your best pitcher has a headache.
  • It is a blistering hot day and the turf is registering a temperature of 125 degrees.
  • A ball from the field behind is fouled and it knocks one of the parents in the head.
   • There is a four hour break until the next game, but you can’t leave in case it starts earlier than scheduled.

I can go on and on, but you get the point.  There are so many mishaps that can occur and , for one,  will be prepared for them.  Don’t you want to be prepared, too?  Now that I have lived through being a softball and baseball mom for at least one full year, I can give you tips and tricks that may save you when disaster strikes.   Below I have broken the kit down into “large items” and “small items.”  I carry most of this at all times but exchange items based on weather forecast and the sport complex that we will be playing in.  

Large Items:
   • Folding chair
   • Stadium seat
   • Tent
   • Blanket
   • Ice chest
   • Large umbrella
   • Wagon – to carry all of this stuff!
   • Battery-operated fan/heater
   • Weather pod

Small Items:
   • Pens and pencils, black sharpie
   • Scissors
   • Phone chargers
   • Sunglasses (extra pair for you) and sport sunglasses (extra pair for your child -or someone else’s child)
   • Handheld fan
   • Cooling towels or hand warmers
   • Hat/cap/beanie (depending on weather)
   • Rain jacket/poncho
   • Small first aid kit (band aids, antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, instant cold compress)
   • Pain Reliever (adult AND children)
   • Sunblock
   • Deodorant
   • Reusable insulated cups
   • Pickle juice (for aches and dehydration)
   • Pedialyte (for dehydration)
   • Snacks – I always have Slim Jims (for protein), granola bars, fruit, and crackers
   • Small bag of candy (for those who need an insulin boost)
   • Playing cards and other small games or toys (for time in between games)
   • Change of clothes and shoes (for your player)
   • Paper towels
   • Wet wipes
   • Trash bag
   • Potty wipes
   • Small fingernail kit (clippers, file, cuticle trimmer)
   • Antibacterial hand sanitizer
   • Bug repellent
   • Elastic hair bands and a hairbrush
   • Notebook (for notes to yourself or someone else)
   • Eye black
   • Hand lotion
   • Gum
   • Cash – a lot of venues only accept cash
   • Lip gloss/balm
   • Stain remover pen