Momservation: It’s not the size of your diaper bag that matters, it’s what’s in it. 

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I’ll always remember the day my daughter, Whitney, was born. Because two years to the day after she was born I got rid of the diaper bag for good and celebrated by buying a new purse.

Go ahead and laugh, but you always remember the day you got to trade your pack-mule hump for a trendy purse again.

It’s been more than seven years since I’ve had to tote around a survival pack of diapers, wipes, Desitin®, changing pad, extra onsies, clothes, and Bob the Builder underwear,  sippie-cups, Goldfish®, bottles, formula dispenser, Cheerios® dispenser, back-up carseat clip, sunscreen, Mylicon® drops, burp cloths, teething rings and favorite toys.

I still get a tear in my eye remembering the joy of being set free from the weathered pack of infant/toddler gear (actually an REI backpack chosen for its gender neutral coloring –for Daddy toting - and quick-serve sippie-cup holders built in to the front).

It was Monday, March 31, 2003 and Whitney had kept her underwear dry for over a week (as noted in her baby book – unfortunately her last entry). I didn’t want to jinx it by saying it aloud, so I sent a note to my husband across the dinner table. It read:

IF WHITNEY MAKES IT TO THURSDAY KEEPING HER PANTS DRY, I THINK WE CAN DITCH THE DIAPER BAG.

Hubby looked up at me, arched an uncertain eyebrow, then scribbled something back. It said:

ARE YOU SURE WE’RE READY FOR THIS?

I nodded. One more check that my 2 and 3 ½ year olds were still busy getting spaghetti everywhere except in their mouths, then I wrote back:

YOU’RE WATCHING THE KIDS FRIDAY. I’M GOING PURSE SHOPPING.

See, tears again! It really was a life-changing experience.

I still have that purse – a beautiful, chocolate leather Jack Georges shoulder bag with handle option – and it will always be ranked up there in nostalgia with first kiss, first love, and first car.

Even though the purse still has Goldfish crumbs crushed in the bottom and the scent of fermented apple juice. Despite the Dora the Explorer and Bob the Builder emergency underwear, wipes, favorite toys, sippie cups, sunscreen, extra car seat clip and bribery candy stretching it out a bit, it still looks great!