A summer sports tournament is not the time to pack light. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from experience – and from peeking into the stylish utility totes of veteran sports moms. Here are some field-tested tips if you’re preparing for a weekend of soccer, baseball or any other outdoor activity.

We live for family vacations.

The temptation to interact with screens on a daily basis is inescapable. They are everywhere; in our kitchens, our living rooms, our playrooms and even in our bathrooms and beds. With the convenience of digital streaming programs like Netflix and You Tube and the portability and accessibility of iPads, Smart phones and Smart TVs, we are constantly inundated with images, sounds and a barrage of multimedia distraction. As the digital landscape evolves more and more, parents are left wondering “can this be good for my kids?”

Family movie night is a staple activity in our house. In the summer, we use it when everyone’s had a full day of outside time and we need to settle. Or when we’ve all been running in different directions and need to reconnect.

Have you heard of the summer slide? We’re not talking about that kid-favorite playground equipment. We’re talking about when kids experience educational loss during the summer break, also known as the summer slide.

When you envision summer vacation with your kids, I bet it involves beach days, backyard picnics, family bike rides, sprinklers, parks and splash pads. And while all these things may very well happen, in reality… most kids will spend WAY more time then we’d like with a screen in their face this summer. My kids included.

We all know that becoming a mom is a huge, life-altering event, but it has changed me in other surprising ways, too. See if you remember any of these things from your pre-mom days:

The sign of a good summer…….lots of bandaids!