Being prepared for pretty much every situation under the sun is the reason most mothers' minds are constantly scrambled and our handbags the size of a small house.
Seriously, my own bag is (at all times) busting at the seams with nappies, tubs of Sudocream, crayons, plastic dinosaurs, colouring books, plasters, raisins and (what feels like) four thousand other child-and-toddler related bits. The backseat of the car has books and puzzles and portable DVD-players enough to ward off even the slightest hint of boredom, and I NEVER dare leave the house without a snack – or seven – in my pocket.
But, as we all know, despite our very best efforts (and intentions), sometimes s**t just happens anyway.
Here are ten of the most common (and feared) situations parents find themselves stuck in more frequently than we'd like:
1. When you are INSANELY late for something and one of your kids can't remember where they left their right shoe. (This happens with alarming frequency at my house).
2. When you are changing a REALLY gross nappy on a REALLY wriggly baby, and realize you can't reach the packet of wipes. Or the clean nappies. (I sometimes resolve this by holding my toddler down with one foot while reeeeaching over and grabbing what I need to finish this mess.)
3. When you are on a REALLY crowded bus or Luas and your child declares she is feeling sick.
4. When you are on a plane and your toddler's nappy STINKS, and you realize you did, in fact, use the last nappy on the last stinky nappy 15 minutes ago.
5. When you have spent the best part of two hours chasing down, washing and dressing your toddler and have FINALLY gotten him strapped into his car seat – only to smell his nappy needing to be changed when you are backing out of your drive.
6. When it's been silent for a suspiciously long time and you suddenly hear a scream.
7. When you have just overtaken 5000 cars on the motorway and somebody suddenly needs to pee. NOW.
8. When your toddler falls asleep three minutes before arriving home – therefore abandoning all hope of bedtime happening anytime soon.
9. When you have (FINALLY!) managed to wrangle all the kids to bed and realize you have no wine left.
10. When everyone is FINALLY sitting at the table and you discover you are out of ketchup.
