Once upon a time I used to go to the beach with a chair, stack of magazines, suntan oil and a best friend or two. Now prep for the beach takes much more planning, and except for brief moments, is the opposite of a relaxing day at the beach. Here are a few tips to make a sun and sand day less torturous.

1. Suck it up and get the beach cart. I know, it’s like the minivan of the beach. But if you are anything like me (the type of person whose arms would fall off carrying groceries from the car so as not to take two trips), the cart is a must-have.
2. Bring reinforcements. With three children, there is always one who is afraid of the sand, one who is afraid of the water, and one who won’t get out from playing in the waves for hours. You need help. Enlist a grandparent, sister-in-law, the ice cream truck driver, whoever, to help.
3. Don’t forget a good book.
4. Just kidding with #3. Who the f*ck are you kidding? Good luck getting past the table of contents.
5. The little ones can get very afraid of the water (they are probably the smartest out of all of us). In that case, bring a tiny inflatable pool. (Blow it up prior to your beach excursion – unless you want to run out of breath in 100-degree weather. This is why you bring the minivan – I mean cart.) Fill it with ocean water (bonus: walking back and forth with a few buckets can = your exercise for the day). Now just sit back and watch the toddlers splash from the comfort of your beach chair.
6. Get the kiddie cage (portable play pen) for the really little ones. Keep those crawlers on lock down.
7. Put the sunscreen on before you go to the beach. I have memories as a kid of being sunburned and getting sprayed at night with Solarcaine. Now, authorities would be after my parents for the burns I used to get (love you, mom & dad!)
8. If you are potty training a girl and anticipate a lot of bathroom trips, put them in a two-piece bathing suit. Why? Imagine for a moment pulling a wet bathing suit off and on. On a toddler. In a public bathroom. Gross, right? If it’s just the bottom it slightly lessens the pain and suffering. (Oh, and I know what you’re thinking here – just go in the water, right? Riiiight…try telling that to a child you just spent months trying to go on a potty. They’ll never just pop a squat. At least the girls.)
9. Parenting 101: Bring snacks and water. Jumping in the waves and complaining about sand makes kids hangry, so make sure to pack watermelon and goldfish. Oh and for the sand…
10. Use the baby powder you got from your baby shower on your kids’ feet before they get in the car. It magically gets rid of the sand.

Post your tips in the comments below.