Parents need to enjoy the ride and focus on creating memories so that when their children hang up their skates, they do not regret missing out on watching their children having fun playing a sport they love (Hockey Canada, 2021).

I am a hockey mom, and this is my hockey bag that I bring to every game my 14-year-old son plays. The bag itself may change, but the contents have been virtually the same for the last seven years.

1. A blanket because sitting on cold bleachers
2. Two cowbells in case another mom forgot hers.
3. A makeup bag with first aid items such as Band-Aids, alcohol wipes, dental floss, Blistex, cough drops, nose spray, and a bottle with Advil, Tylenol, and Gravol. You never know when you may cut yourself on skate blades, catch a cold from being around strangers, have food caught in your teeth or be hung over.
4. A makeup bag with snacks such as protein bars, tea bags, granola bars, Welches gummies etc. I get hangry and cannot eat wheat – having access to food I know I can eat a must!
5. Kleenex.
6. Wet Ones hand wipes.
7. Hand Sanitizer.
8. A mask, or two or ten.
9. Earplugs – invest in Loop earplugs. I am highly sensitive to sounds; some parents can be over the top, so having earplugs helps cut the noise and work wonders if you have a “morning-after” headache.
10. Doggie bags, like hand wipes, are a staple. Kids create garbage, and they work wonders as puke bags!
11. HotHands Warmers for feet and hands because some rinks are more like barns.
12. Pens to write down the number of the kid who was mean to your kid.
13. Change and a wallet for food, water, hot chocolate, coffee, or something stronger…
14. A crystal or two to bring good luck or ward off bad energy.

My phone, charger, water bottle or coffee mug, and asthma puffers are missing from my bag as they are put in on the way out the door. A good hockey mom should be able to cheer herself into an asthma attack!

Text and technology is communication.

As I outlined in my activity exercise, text to me is communication. Communication can occur via hand gestures, facial expressions, speaking or singing, reading, writing, and imagery (hieroglyphics, drawing, photography, movies/video etc.). The contents themselves do not expressly signify hockey. Some may interpret the contents of my bag as belonging to a person who is organized and packed for emergencies, perhaps assuming I have survival training like a girl scout and am afraid of bears or other wild animals. Depending on their understanding of using a cowbell, others would know this is a bag belonging to a sports parent. If they were to look closely at the black bell, they would find a team logo which would aid in further research and understanding that I am a hockey mom.

From a technology perspective, the cell phone is the only piece of technology aside from the phone charger. Again, there is an aspect of survival or planning to ensure my phone does not lose charge. From a cultural and communication context, they would find text updates or play-by-plays of games and pictures and videos. The photos and video found would paint a picture of a person who loves her family, friends, and pets. Someone who likes to have fun, keeps random memes and mantas or quotes that can be used for reflection.

I am Nicole.

Over the last three years, I have worked hard to learn to be authentic rather than let my social anxiety define whom people see. My contents reflect who I am and how I want people to see me. Had this been my bag before December 19, 2019, the contents would have included make-up, and the bag would have been a designer brand. There would always have been food, hand sanitizer, and first aid items, as my background is in infection prevention and control. It would not have existed if the bag were from 15 years ago or older. I was not yet a mom. My hockey mom status had not even been contemplated as I was on a path to be a D.I.N.K (dual income, no kids) family.

Observation and interpretation.

If observed by an archeologist, they may misconstrue the first aid or infection prevention items to interpret that I was overly concerned about COVID; however, they would be correct in understanding the importance of those items in relation to the pandemic. The other items or artifacts would be found to be consistent with a female, perhaps a mother, grandmother etc., who was prepared to watch and cheer for a child who played a sport or maybe a person who had an emergency bag packed for travelling. The bag itself would indicate that this is not a bag of a hiker or explorer but someone who is prepared for many different situations.