Mum's travel essentials: 14 trips deep.

Fourteen long-haul trips chaperoning basketball and I have opinions. Strong ones. Here's the list I wish someone had handed me before trip one.

A folder, physical. Passports, visa letters, school auth, insurance — printed. Wi-Fi dies at the worst border. Compression socks for everyone, no debate. Snacks from home — a little taste of Aotearoa at hour eleven does more than you'd think. And one set of good clothes in the carry-on, because bags get lost and recruiters don't reschedule.

Pack like the plan will go wrong, travel like it won't. That's the whole philosophy.

The rest is just laundry and patience. Mostly laundry.