The summer I turned 22, I spent eight weeks living in a tent at a Girl Scout camp. I was the business manager for the camp, which meant I ran the camp store, got the mail (a ten-mile round trip), and transported injured children to the hospital for x-rays. 
When you live in camp for a whole summer, you pick up some new habits. For example, I rarely go anywhere without my trusty Swiss Army Knife.
No, not that one. It's pretty awesome, but it weighs a couple of pounds and would take up way too much space in my purse. Mine is way smaller than that.
I do need it fairly frequently, especially for the little tiny scissors or tweezers, and I use the smaller blade to open those horrible hard plastic packages that just about everything is packaged in these days. But when I go rummaging in my purse and pull out my Swiss Army Knife, people get all shocked and act like I'm packing a concealed weapon or something.
Get over it already. Did you never hear the Boy Scout motto, "Be prepared?" I have one Boy Scout here who's working on his Eagle project, and a Cub Scout coming up behind him. My husband is the Cubmaster. Scouters are prepared.
It gets me thinking, though--if they were to market a Swiss Army Knife for moms, what tools would they include?
In my hypothetical knife, considerations such as refillability wouldn't be a factor. Hence my list of tools for the Ultimate Swiss Mommy Knife:
Sharpie
Scissors
Nail clippers
Nail file
Flat screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Special tool for undoing the diabolical twistie-ties that bind toys to packaging
Knife
Fork
Spoon
Wire cutters
Magnifying glass
Tweezers
Candle Snuffer
Sewing needle
Did I miss anything?
COUPON TIME
Shopping for a Swiss Army Knife or other sports or camping equipment? (Yes, people camp in the winter. Just ask my resident Boy Scout.)
20% off One item at Modells.com 
Eligible items will have the following note on their product page: "Take 20% Off One Item!" Valid online only. Use this link to activate the coupon or use Promotion/Discount code MODWINTER20 at checkout.
Valid through: January 31, 2009 11:59pm ET
BRO DEAL: 25% off select items at Altrec.com 
Eligible items will have the BroDeal logo on their item pages.
Use coupon code BRO at checkout.
Valid through: January 30, 2009
15% off your order at The Sports Authority 
Eligible items will have the following note on their product page: "Ultimate Coupons - 15% OFF Your Entire Order"
Valid online only. Use the link above to activate the coupon. If there's a problem, enter promotion/discount code ULTIMATE15 in your cart.
Valid through: January 31, 2009 11:59pm ET
15% off online orders over $75 at FootLocker 
Use this link to activate the coupon. You should see promotional code LKS19J75 in the box during checkout.
Valid through: February 3, 2009
Free Shipping on orders over $99 at Adidas.com 
Use online Promotion/Discount Code SHIPAFF during checkout.
Valid through: January 31, 2009 11:59pm PST
Free Shipping on purchases of $99 or more at Eastbay.com 
Use this link to activate the Promo Code. You should see LKS19J4F in the Source Code box during checkout.
Valid through: February 1, 2009 11:59pm CT
Outerwear Clearance 
Up to $90 off Outerwear for the family at Cabelas.com
Valid through: February 12, 2009
