Packing for the weekend
February 26, 2009 by Marci
The kids and I are taking a couple days and going to my parents house. They are long overdue for their Grandma and Papa fix! We are leaving in the morning, so tonight I need to pack our bags. We are all looking forward to the trip, but as we all know, the packing can be stressful. Do the kids have enough clean socks? Did someone pack a toothbrush? Its so cold, why do you just have short sleeve shirts?
We take weekend trips frequently, so I have come up with a little routine for getting ready for a trip. While not foolproof, it does help keep things as stress free as possible. I started thinking about the trip yesterday. I made sure we all had clean basics: underwear, socks, pants. A couple loads of laundry later, we were good. This morning, I am checking the weather at my parents and calling my mom to see if the kids can just take play clothes or do they need to pack a set of good clothes, too.
Now that I know what kind of clothes to pack, I start making a list for each person of everything article of clothing needed for each day and a spare set. (I only need it when I don’t pack it!) Next, I write down accessories. Hair ties for my daughter…earrings for me. After I get the clothes and accessories on the list, I list all the stuff needed for the morning routine. Toothbrushes, hairbrushes, skin care, make up….those kinds of things. The last list is what I need for the car ride. It is about a 2 1/2 hour trip. The kids like to take their leapsters, sketch paper and crayons or pencils, books, water and a snack.
Tonight before bed, I will pack everyone’s clothes and accessories. Everything is clean and on the list, so this takes no time at all. I will get my “morning routine bag” out and put it on the bathroom counter, along with the list, to be packed in the morning as we use things. We generally use a box or basket to sit between the kids in the car with all their books and games and snacks. Tonight, I will pack the box and put it in the car.
Hopefully, we will get up tomorrow morning, eat breakfast and hit the road! That is my plan anyway!
