Packing for a Road Trip as a Mom? Welcome to Organized Chaos

As a work-from-home mom with a sprinkle of OCD, I don’t just pack. I prepare for war. Road trips to other cities mean one thing: making sure every possible kid crisis is handled before we even leave the driveway. Did I pack their snacks? Extra shirts? What if someone gets carsick halfway there? These thoughts live rent-free in my head while I line up vitamins, meds, wet wipes, tissue, and yes, the toy they swore they didn’t need but will 100% ask for once we’re on the road.

The back of our car looks like a mini sari-sari store. There’s always more food than needed (but trust me, it disappears), enough alcohol spray to disinfect a small barangay, towels for sudden messes, and clothes neatly packed per child per day, plus extras. My bag? Just the basics: one outfit, slippers, a phone charger, and a huge bottle of patience. Because moms travel last. Always.

No plane tickets here. Just long drives, endless “Are we there yet?” and the sweet chaos that comes with raising tiny humans. It’s exhausting, hilarious, and sometimes overwhelming, but it’s also where the best memories are made. Overprepared? Maybe. But I call it loving like a mom on the move.