Anyone else have to pack for the whole family alone?

[Wickedmom75]

I pack for all 6 of us. Dh does help doing the laundry to get ready for the packing. He picks out what clothes he is wearing and I put it in the suitcse. we are going in sept/oct for free dining and it is a surprise trip so I will have to sneak stuff into the suitcase the week before we leave. I made the decision that for this year we will probably only take 5 pairs of neutral ( jean or Khaki) shorts for each person, but 2 -3 shirts for each of us that way I only have to do 2 loads of shorts to get us through. We are going for 8 days and the last time we went we spent almost a whole day doing laundry , I do not want to have to do that again oh and we always pack extra socks.

 

[jenwimett]

Let see, packing has not been my stong suite since DH and I started our own business in July '05. We had a trip planned thrid week in Oct. '05. Wouldn't you know it Hurricane Wilma was going to put a damper on the whole thing!

We were scheduled to fly out Saturday morning. Because of Wilma we had to move our flight up to Friday morning. I found this out Thursday at 3:00pm. Hubby and I still had a lot of work to wrap up before we leaved. I didn't get home until 9:00pm that night and YES I pack for Me, DH, and DS (6).

I ran home and dragged our suitecases out of the basement. Started packing. I was finished in 3 hours crashed at about 12:30am and woke up at 4:00am for our 6:00am flight.

Since this event I have never been good about packing. Even for out little 2 night getaways. It always comes down to the last minute. We have our first WDW trip planned for this September and AS GOD AS MY WITNESS I plan on packing a week before we leave.

I have been reading your posts and it seems that all of you are great planners. I'm wondering are there any other world record breakers in packing like me?

Jen

 

[shellbelle1971]

Packing routine for our family:

DH always has a bag packed. He logged over 170,000 actual flown miles last year, so he takes care of himself.

Night before trip:
Put littlest 2 to bed.
6 year old collects suitcases--5 for children, one for me.
8 year old collects a "full set" of sunday clothes for each child (he knows what that is), and packs them into each one's bag. Baby's stuff goes into my bag.
10 year old collects 3 days' worth of socks, underwear, and jammies for each child and packs them into each one's bag. She also gets diapers, wipes, toothbrushes, brushes, combs, other personal-hygeine items for each child and packs them.
13 year old collects 2 days' worth of playclothes plus a warm sweatshirt or sweater for each child and packs them into each one's bag. He then packs a diaper bag for the baby. (Not hard-mostly a matter of restocking.)

The above takes about fifteen minutes. I pack my stuff while watching to make sure the kids are putting in the "right" stuff. I spend about ten more minutes after the kids are in bed putting together "airplane quiet/snack bags" and our "timeshare" bag (laundry soap, a few spices, etc.) (DH is in charge of packing up portable dvd players, his laptop, earphones, and movies.)

We all go to bed. In the morning, all I have to do is pack up my toiletries as I use them. Kids eat breakfast and get dressed as usual.

Another 5-10 minutes to load everyone in the car, and away we go.

 

[pixie dust 112]

In January 2005, we surprised 3 DDs with a trip to WDW. I took off from work the day before the trip to do all the packing in secret and the schools closed for a snow day. I was in the unheated garage in 20 degree weather packing all of the suitcases so the girls wouldn't see me!! Somehow I pulled it off!

Now I have everyone pack their own things (DDs are 10, 12, and 14) and then I go through the suitcases after they're in bed to make sure I approve of what was packed . I always take some things out and add some more.

We're going in July this year. It's our first summer trip so at least I only have to pack for summer weather and don't have to worry about storing the winter coats in the hotel rooms. 5 winter coats take up alot of space.

 

[disneymom3]

I am surprised at how many people pack for their husband's. As a teenager I witnessed my father asking my mother why she dadn't packed a particular pair of sneakers for him for the trip amd then and there I decided I would never have to answer that question. My husband is responsible for his own packing. We do go over the basic itinerary before we go so he has an idea of any special events/circumstances. I have friends who will also fix their husband's breakfasts and lunches on weekends and pack their lunches to take to work. I think maybe I'm just mean since I don't. We do offer to make something foe each other when we are making one for ourselves, but it works both ways.

I think for many of us it is as I posted previously. I care what DH is wearing on vacation, he does not.

I don't do everything for DH for sure. In fact he does almost all of the laundry for the household. He also packs his own lunch, makes his own coffee everynight for the next day and does any and all ironing he needs to have done. He makes lunch for everyone all weekend and dinner every Sunday.

I just want him to look cute in our vacation pics and wearing the same black tshirt and junky denim shorts everday is not my idea of cute!

 

[Jrockmom]

I have to pack for 4 people DH, DS, DD, & myself. If not DS, who is 11 will pack all of his clothes that he wears to play in that is comfortable for him but have stains & holes. And DD, who is 6 will pack all of her clothes . And DH has no idea what to pack . Thank goodness DS (17) packs himself. I try and try not to forget anything but I always do I think I will try making the excel spreadsheet to make sure not to forget anything.

 

[barkley]

my husband swears there was something in the wedding vows that committed me to this, he just can't seem to locate it on the video

i do it because if i did'nt they would end up wearing the same clothes they travel in (or my son would only pack pjs and dress shirts -no pants-just shirts).

i also do it because i tend to pack stuff for the kids that they've either just about outgrown or will have by the next season there needed for (shorts, tanks, swimsuits, dress up clothes)-when we get ready to leave i toss the stuff out and have more room in the suitcases for the "valuable" junk we've accumluated.

we're going to hawaii in november, and i anticipate 99% of what goes with us will not return home.

 

[Bunchkin]

I do all the packing too. Along with the planning and all that that entails.

I don't mind though. It fits in with my OCD!!

DH is too busy to pack for himself. He's a work-aholic and would probably pack all work clothes if left to his own devices. He wouldn't even know where to start. And I like things done a certain way, so I would rather do it myself.

The kids like to pack their own backpacks for the plane or van ride, which ever we are doing. I do inspect what they have packed to make sure it's ok.

And DD ( 9 yrs old) is getting to the age were she can help pack her clothing. I've taught her the roll method!!

I make lists for everyones things that need to be packed for each person.
And general items and park items as well.

We try to use less luggage every trip, but it never works out that way!!

 

[kkmcan]

I pack for all 4 of us plus the dog ( she goes to the kennel). I do pack for my dh as i feel that he's out working hard so we can afford this vacation. I'll take on that duty so when he gets home we can be out the door. He's a firefighter so he usually gets home at 8:00 am and we leave asap.

He works tons of overtime to pay for us to go so I love to do this for him. He takes care of us and I take care of him.

The only thing I ask him to pack is all the electronic items- camera, camcorder, dvd player, cell phone chargers, laptop computer, nintendos etc. I can't believe how many cords and chargers all this stuff requires! Unbelievable!!!

Kelly