The things parents carry

When working mom Stacey Donahue, of Seattle, is on the move she doesn't leave home without a mother of a bag chock-full of must-haves. Other mothers have similar bags of tricks.

GRUB

Something nutritious but sure, something sweet now and then can work wonderfully as a bribe. One mom's favorite: string cheese.

GARB Bibs, mittens, an entire spare outfit and oh, yes, socks! "They'll take off their shoes," says one mom. "They'll walk through mud or whatever and then they won't put their shoes back on without the socks."

MEDS

Items to soothe tummies, heads, lips and all other sorts of "oweees." A bottle of adult-strength aspirin, several moms point out, is crucial for their own well-being. What also works? Chocolate.

TOY

Something soft so the kid doesn't lose it if he can't cuddle up to you.

CRAYONS

"I now have, on the back seat of my Jeep, a green crayon mark from the headrest all the way down," mom Stacey Donahue says. She has learned: Always carry crayons but make sure they're the washable kind.

BLEACH STICK

Red frosting on a white suit jacket! The horror can be handled with aplomb if you've got one of these in your bag, says one mom, who keeps hers in an outside, safely-hidden-from-the-kids, pocket.