Anyone else have a lovable clueless DH?

[momof2gr8kids]

We have a system for getting ready for trips - I make the lists and do the packing. Dh does the cleaning. I can't stand coming home to a disaster zone, so while I'm packing he's vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom and tidying up. And, he's the first to unpack and get stuff started in the wash.

So yes, he's clueless about what it takes to plan a trip and pack for it, but he does come in handy sometimes, so I'll keep him!

The one thing that really annoys me though, is I do all the packing and planning, yet he thinks he gets to be the boss of how things are packed up in the van. He tries to take over my whole operation!!!!!

 

[tlh0726]

My husband says he just pays the bills and shows up.

This is what my husband tells everyone.

The only thing my DH is required to pack is his electric shaver - because he thinks to have a 2nd one is stupid idea.

Before we were married we went on a trip to the mountains. He was having problems with an ankle and finally went to the doctor who gave him a removable brace to wear during the day.
When we got there he complained his foot was cold, I asked him if he had the brace tied to tight. He took off his shoe and did not have a sock on. I said put a sock on, he said they don't fit over the brace.
I looked at him and said DUH!! put the sock on before the brace just like the other foot and shoe!!
He looked at me and said I only packed enough socks for one foot.

The thing that gets me is I still married him

 

[tlh0726]

The one thing that really annoys me though, is I do all the packing and planning, yet he thinks he gets to be the boss of how things are packed up in the van. He tries to take over my whole operation!!!!!

DH did this too. When he got to the end and could not fit the last few things in and started spouting stuff outloud, I would open the door and say pull everything back out, I will be out in a minute to help. I would then start packing stuff in and pointing to the next one he wanted to hand me. Would finish with space to spare.

He now just carries all the stuff out to the van and lets it sit. Once everything is outside, I then go out and pack it in.

When the trip is over, he helps carry everything back in. I tell him where to put what bag so that it is not just dumped in the house for me to deal with.

 

[2binak]

I now step up on my soapbox!
I am far from "clueless" about what it takes to do Disney! Maybe you need to involve the "clueless" ones as to what it takes whether they want to be or not. They then might better understand what is all involved from your end, and planning stages to getting all the necessary things together for the trip and actually ask them to help. You might be surprised as to what they're willing to do.

I know this might not sit well with many of you, but don't coddle them. Make them be involved however minor to major you want them to be.

 

[rbork]

If I pack it. You may not complain about anything I picked or forgot. Period.
I usually pack at the last minute because that's when I've finally finished all the laundry

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I guess I am the oddball here. My DH is completely capable of packing for all of us if need be. That being said I usually pack for myself and the kids and he packs his own stuff so he can decide what he would like to wear. I also have no idea what some of you are doing that it takes all day to pack. Especially if the kids aren't home. If they are out with their Dad is takes me 2 hours tops and that is because the first hour I am having a cup of coffee, using the bathroom without interruption, checking my email etc. I don't make a list except to remind me of items I can't pack until the last minute.
So tell me- what do you all put on your lists? What do you do differently that it takes so long to pack?

 

[gatormommy07]

Gotta love husbands!

When my DH packs he puts in at least 15 pair of underwear even if it's just for the weekend!

He may not have anything he really needs but he's prepared for any unexpected bouts of diarreah or incontinence that might come along!

My 2 year old just said "what mommy?" because I was laughing so hard!!! That is so funny!!! still laughing!!I just got a "Mommy, that funny?" he is so cute!!

 

[Disneychix]

I understand with the OP. If I left packing up to my DH he'd probably pack 1 outfit say he'll buy everything else when he gets there!
And i won't even try to let him pack if we go at an 'off' time, like December. He thinks Fl is ALWAYS hot and was surprised to see me packing sweats and jeans. He would've shown up in shorts all week and it was rainy and 50 out!!

 

[surfergirl602]

Well, I have to admit that I do all the packing - there will be six of us on our next trip, including a baby. I will pack shirts and shorts/pants for my hubby, because if I don't, he won't match the rest of us. LOL. But he's in charge of his socks, underwear, toiletries, etc. I do have to give him props for the packing of the vehicle though. He gets everything into our truck with room to spare. I would just toss everything in, but he somehow manages to get what we'll need for the road trip up front, etc. He's good like that.

 

[ilovediznee]

DW (me) - Planning
DH - Portage and Transportation
DD (10) - Snack and movie coordinator for the car

We all "pack" but I also pack all the medicines, kitchen stull for the DVC villa if needed. DD lays out what she "thinks" she is going to take and then I change it. A few years back all her stuffed animals and dolls and there clothes and one pair of shorts was all that was in her suitcase. I've trained her now and she puts out an outfit a day!

I have a expandable file folder and put all our stuff in it. I've been 43 times so it is old hat to me, but if I get run over by a truck today, DH would know where all the Disney stuff for our next trip is!

We are strange to some, but DH and I share a suitcase. It just works for us and because we always have a washer and dryer in our Villa, we don't have to take a bunch of stuff. We usually just peel off what we have on, put it in the washer and shower and start over again the next morning.

 

[goofyisinphilly]

I have the lists and the suitcases. I do all the laundry and pull DH clothes to pack and then iron them all. Pack for both of us. He takes it all outside and then swears it will never fit. I pack the car and off we go. He has no idea how it all fits in the car. I love him but he is spatially challenged.

 

[sk!mom]

No - because he helps with the packing. It's his stuff and my vacation too, so I'm not going to do all of the work.

Exactly what I was thinking. My DH is a grown man, fully capable of packing himself. When I had young kids, I hated packing since I did pack for them.

By age 5, it started getting easier since I could man the suitcase and send the child to get "5 pair of shorts," "7 pair of underwear" etc... By age 10, I could dictate a list to them and they'd do the packing. By 12, they were completely on their own.

I'm not a mom that ever dictated what my kids wore at home or on vacation, though.

I found that with my DS if we had dressier plans it was necessary to tell him to plan to "dress up a bit at least once."

DD13 out dresses us all on a daily basis and takes forever to do it. We're just thankful for her to finally stop primping and get out the door. As far as packing, we only tell her the size suitcase she's limited to so that she can trim the wardrobe as necessary.

My advice for those overwhelmed with packing- Give up control- A grown man can pack himself and train your children young.

 

[powellrj]

I guess I am the oddball here. My DH is completely capable of packing for all of us if need be. That being said I usually pack for myself and the kids and he packs his own stuff so he can decide what he would like to wear. I also have no idea what some of you are doing that it takes all day to pack. Especially if the kids aren't home. If they are out with their Dad is takes me 2 hours tops and that is because the first hour I am having a cup of coffee, using the bathroom without interruption, checking my email etc. I don't make a list except to remind me of items I can't pack until the last minute.
So tell me- what do you all put on your lists? What do you do differently that it takes so long to pack?

I'm with you, what the heck do you people do that takes so long? We have been known to be packing 1/2 hour before we leave for the airport.

Maybe its because we go almost every year, but its pretty basic. You figure out how long you are going to be there and what you need to wear and use and you pack it. We leave in a few weeks and I did tell everyone I needed to know if I need to buy anything in the next few days, and DH and DD both said they need more socks, so I will pick-up some more socks and then we will pack the day before we leave since we are leaving on different days and driving on this trip. It takes longer to drag the suitcases from the attic than it does to pack them.

 

[TSRE]

I'm with you, what the heck do you people do that takes so long? We have been known to be packing 1/2 hour before we leave for the airport.

Maybe its because we go almost every year, but its pretty basic. You figure out how long you are going to be there and what you need to wear and use and you pack it. We leave in a few weeks and I did tell everyone I needed to know if I need to buy anything in the next few days, and DH and DD both said they need more socks, so I will pick-up some more socks and then we will pack the day before we leave since we are leaving on different days and driving on this trip. It takes longer to drag the suitcases from the attic than it does to pack them.

I don't know about everyone else, but MY clothes are what takes me so long. I can have everyone else packed in 1/2 hour, but then I have to figure out what I want to wear, and make sure I have all of the right "things" to go with it. Nothing worse than a suitcase full of spaghetti straps, and no strapless bra Plus, every time I take the "just throw it all in" route, we end up at Target at least once for all the stuff I forgot. Maybe it just depends on how picky you are about clothes. I do pack for everyone (I lay DH's clothes out and he gives me the yay or nay) just bc that's how we work it out here. DH packs the car and pays for everything, and packs the electronics and cameras, because I am known to bring the wrong charger and make things go up in smoke when they are plugged in Works for us! I think our arrangement makes us both feel "taken care of", which we like.

 

[Kimberly Hill]

I pack for DD and me because what she wears matters to me and what I have is important to me. DH is on his own. Yes, he's packing at the last minute and that's just what he does so I've learned not to stress.

When it comes to planning I used to do it all but since he became a travel agent, now I'm the one who simply shows up and doesn't really know what we're doing on which day. I love it!

 

[sk!mom]

I don't know about everyone else, but MY clothes are what takes me so long. I can have everyone else packed in 1/2 hour, but then I have to figure out what I want to wear, and make sure I have all of the right "things" to go with it. Nothing worse than a suitcase full of spaghetti straps, and no strapless bra Plus, every time I take the "just throw it all in" route, we end up at Target at least once for all the stuff I forgot. Maybe it just depends on how picky you are about clothes. I do pack for everyone (I lay DH's clothes out and he gives me the yay or nay) just bc that's how we work it out here. DH packs the car and pays for everything, and packs the electronics and cameras, because I am known to bring the wrong charger and make things go up in smoke when they are plugged in Works for us! I think our arrangement makes us both feel "taken care of", which we like.

If you have an arrangement that works for you, then that's perfect! To me your packing situation is an example of getting things done in any successful relationship. You divide the work in a way that makes everyone happy. In our house, we ALL hate packing so the only solution is "every man for himself." Plus, I don't want to be responsible for deciding what every person needs and wants for a week or two. Everyone but my DD would have been happy for me to pack for them forever just to avoid the task.

I'm bugged by the posts of those who complain about having to do all of the packing. If you are packing for anyone over the age of 12, except in special circumstances, then you're doing it because you want to or you're too controlling to let the big kids and adults pack and wear what they want.

 

[Manda]

My DH is totally capable of doing it - but I'm an admitted control freak and I want it done MY way. So I may grumble about being the one who does the family packing for big trips, but it's really because I have issues, not them.

When we got on weekend trips, etc., but my DH and my DS (who's 6) pack their own suitcases. But when we're going on a long trip, I have a scientific approach to cramming everything we own into 3 Ziploc Big Bags that then fit into one suitcase. My system cannot be tampered with.

That, and my husband is a procrastinator and night owl and I'm very sleepy, ADHD, control freak, and anxiety filled. So if I try to chill out and tell him to pack his own stuff, I wait about 20 minutes and he doesn't jump to it and then I freak out and do it myself because I want to go to bed and I won't be able to because I'll worry about the packing that's not done.

So, yes, I do all the packing. But it's not really DH's fault.

 

[Mommy2JulietJocelyn]

Man's Club Secret: Men act clueless to get out of work.

You did not hear this from me.

This is what my DH says. He knows how much stuff gets packed. But he also knows me and that I like to pack it so I know it is there and where it is.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm bugged by the posts of those who complain about having to do all of the packing. If you are packing for anyone over the age of 12, except in special circumstances, then you're doing it because you want to or you're too controlling to let the big kids and adults pack and wear what they want.

Things have changed since Dh started traveling for work, and I'm not always free to pack his stuff, AND if he forgets something he can expense it.

But before that time, if he packed his own stuff, he would forget important things, and the money it took to replace those things came out of our budget and was simply not affordable at that time. After having that happen once or twice, I took the packing back from him, because it was not worth him being an independent packer b/c of the costly mistakes he was making.

I'm so glad things changed thanks to an expense account and business travel.

 

[MissLiz]

DH would help me...if I let him.

He figured out that I like to be in control after our second trip to WDW when I had folders and notebooks with lists and lists in them.

The funny thing is that I have individual lists for each person of what they are going to bring and the only one I change is my own which usually ends up meaning that I forget something for myself. Last Thanksgiving, we went to my family's house for the weekend and I completely forgot pajamas for myself, so we had to go shopping.

Of course, I had more than enough pajamas for the kids! Too bad I don't wear 6 month or 6x footies!