Ordering Disorder
with Busy Mom
When you have kids, the battle between order and chaos at home can take place on many fronts. Ordering Disorder is about ways to fight domestic entropy with organizing tips, tricks, meal ideas and more.
To learn more about Elizabeth, visit Busy Mom Blog or check out her Work It, Mom! profile.
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Lest you think I’m obsessed with my car, it’s just that I spend a lot of time in there, and I like to be prepared. We’ve already discussed must-have items for the car trunk, as well as handy items to keep in the car console.
But, what about the glove compartment? What goes in there?
When I was in high school. most of my friends turned 16 before I did, and could drive. I longed to have a car of my own, ready for whatever came my way. I remember one friend in particular who had snacks in the glove compartment (it would be many years later before I realized that she probably had an eating disorder), and I recall thinking it was cool that she could keep whatever she wanted in there.
The day finally came, and I had a car of my own. I don’t know exactly what I kept in there, but I’m sure it was all “useful” stuff crammed in there with the silly things my dad made me put in there like the registration and insurance information.
As an adult, I’ve learned to keep the most important things in there and reasonably organized so they’re easily accessible, but I’m wondering if my “important” things are the same as yours.
What’s in my glove compartment?
(Apparently, I keep a mystery piece of my car interior in there to the right of the sunglasses, too.)
Owner’s manual
Proof of insurance
Car registration documents (it’s debatable if you should keep these in there)
Roadside assistance instructions and phone number
Maintenance receipts
Pen and paper
Extra sunglasses (a must, if you wear contact lenses)
A flashlight
A snack (I keep it hidden in there in case we forget my 4th grader’s snack for school)
Extra straws (yes, they are important)
One thing I need to remember to put in there is a list of emergency contacts. Come to think of it, I’m not sure if I have a list in my wallet, either. I need to get on that.
How about you? What’s in your glove compartment?
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I keep my prescription sunglasses in mine! That way if I ever need them I don’t have to go searching for them.
Flossip | February 14th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
In my first car, my glove compartment was full of cassette tapes that all fell out on the floor when you opened it. Or when the door fell open when I went over a bump. Oh, and a bottle opener.
Now, it’s pretty utilitarian:
Owner’s manual
Proof of Insurance
Registration (I believe we are required to carry that)
Flashlight
Box cutter
Screw drivers; Phillips and flat
Extra dog poop bags
Scotch tape (a holdover from the on-the-way-to-the-birthday-party days)
Spare fuses
Phone charger adapter thingy
One large heavy-duty trash bag
I think there might even be a map in there at the bottom. I know!
The extra straws, pens and paper, car maintenance records, and emergency food are in the cubbies on the driver’s side door.
Behind the back seat (it’s a pick-up) are spare wiper blades, washer fluid, jumper cables, flares, towing strap, paper towels, tie-down ratchet straps, duct tape, and a fire extinguisher.
I keep a list of emergency contacts under “In Case of Emergency” in my iPhone. I’ve been told that first responders will look there.
Also, through the DMV in Illinois, you can voluntarily register emergency contact and emergency medical information, that is tied to your driver’s license or state ID, and is accessible only by law enforcement. That’s a risk I’ll take. Otherwise, if I’m unconscious, they would have no idea where to start looking for family members.
amy324 | February 15th, 2012 at 5:01 am
Feminine napkins, I have 3 girls, enough said.
Liz | February 16th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Plenty of drive-thru napkins. They come in handy for all sorts of things.
I love amy/Illinois’ thing of an opt-in thing for emergency contacts through the state/driver’s license.
Oh, and trash. You can’t forget the trash.
Headless Mom | February 17th, 2012 at 11:16 am