“You must keep very busy.”

I get this comment often, especially when I venture out to the grocery store with my eight-year old daughter and five-year old twin boys in tow. There’s nothing that can humble a woman faster than having her children outnumber her in a public place. I figure I’m just there to give other shoppers a good laugh.

On any given day, my schedule may consist of editing a magazine article, driving kids to and from school, chauffeuring my daughter to horseback riding lessons, fact-checking a feature, and hunting down the single missing puzzle piece that will once again make the United States map complete. Much to my son’s dismay, we have yet to find Oklahoma.

It also seems that, for someone who works from a home office, I rarely find myself at home. In fact, I feel more like a road warrior today than I did in my previous life as a marketing VP with an active frequent flier card. A mobile lifestyle is one most mothers inhabit, so it’s important to have the right tools, and for me, that includes the right handbag.

A bag is more than a bag. It’s my portable office and my Mary Poppins bag of tricks, filled with enticements and entertainments for those lingering stays in the pediatrician’s waiting room. Because it serves so many purposes, I find it to be one of my most valuable possessions.

I rely on my Belen Echandia Dark Grey Love Me Midi to carry me from a client meeting to an afterschool event, and I’ve found it is one of the only bags I own that switches seamlessly between the professional and personal demands of my daily life. The middle zipper compartment keeps my wallet and other personal items secure, and the two additional sections allow me to create distinct areas for my work tools and my children’s necessities. No longer will I need to worry that I’ll accidentally pull out a Hello Kitty notepad in front of a client while digging for my project book!

One of the most valuable features my LM Midi has is a cross-body strap that can be attached as needed. When I’m shuttling three small kids in a busy public place, the cross-body strap leaves me hands free and able to move quickly. Moms out there know that, when it comes to kids, we need every competitive advantage we can get!

The fact that each Belen Echandia bag is made by hand in a European atelier only adds to the appeal. In a world where almost everything is mass-produced, owning a piece of fine craftsmanship such as this is a true pleasure. It is a daily reminder that there are those in the world still committed to excellence.

It also reminds me of the joys of mobile motherhood.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Laura is a photo industry journalist and the author of Digital Photography for Busy Women. As the mother of three children ages eight and under, she spends so much time running that she’s considered asking Nike® for an endorsement. She is grateful her husband has a sense of humor.