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AIBU?

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Original poster

To find packing/organising for holidays stressful?

36 replies

PumpkinPie2016 · 27/07/2024 07:37

Or am I just weird?!

There is me, DH and DS (10 years and the most chilled out kid you could meet).
DH pulls his weight so it's not just left to me.

We fly a week today which I am so looking forward to (and I absolutely know we are so lucky to be able to go away) but getting packed/organised stresses me out for some reason!

I'm not even sure why - if we forget something we can either manage/buy it there - we're not going to Mars! But spreading everyone's stuff between the two cases (in case one goes missing), making sure essentials are in hand luggage etc just does my head in.

Then making sure the house is sorted and tidy.

Is it just me who is totally weird or does anyone else find the packing/organising hard work?

OP posts:
OuchIsLife · 27/07/2024 07:45

I don't pack for DH and I don't bother with spreading the stuff either.

But yeah I still find it quite stressful. I tend to do it the night before as I find it easier to do it in two goes.

LovelyDaaling · 27/07/2024 07:44

I detest it too. We have made a packing list, print off a copy and work through it.

confusedlots · 27/07/2024 07:44

I hate it too but find it a bit easier since I discovered packing cubes. Kids stuff all separated into T-shirts, shorts, underwear, swimwear etc. Easy to see what you have and, apart from taking out a few bits to hang up, I keep everything else in the packing cubes while we're away.

TheNoodlesIncident · 27/07/2024 07:44

Well, I have a holiday list in Word. It's running to a few pages now as I update after each holiday (I wouldn't remember that I'd taken too few swimming costumes last time if I didn't, too scatty). I've also got important info like passport renewal dates for each of us, the sizes of cabin bags etc, save me looking them up the long way.

So I don't find it stressful exactly, as I probably would if I didn't have the list?

One year DH was packing last minute and forgot to pack underwear. We've been taking the piss ever since, he managed by hand washing the boxers he'd travelled in and we spent a bit of time on holiday trying to track down gent's boxers, but on the whole that's the only holiday issue we've had luckily. Like you say, you can buy most stuff in your holiday destination except bloke's undercrackers in Crete so why stress about it?

JudgeJ · 27/07/2024 07:44

I've never understood the MN obsession with packing for a holiday being 'stressful', even when the children were small I never found it so. The cases coming out of their hiding place seemed to be the start of the holidays!

DiddyRa · 27/07/2024 07:43

Yep lists are your friend. I usually start packing two weeks in advance because I get so overwhelmed.

lilyathena · 27/07/2024 07:43

I hate it. I now have a typed list and keep some of the 'I only use on holiday' things in one drawer, which helps me feel like I'm being reunited with them and won't have a last minute panic. This all helps me a lot. I add to the list in the event there is anything forgotten that causes an issue on a previous holiday.

Holidaysunshine · 27/07/2024 07:42

I hate it too. You say your husband is pulling his weigh, what park of the packing is he responsible for?

MidnightPatrol · 27/07/2024 07:41

I have a list on my phone I use for all trips now, and just tick it off as I go / cross out stuff I won’t need (eg woolly hat if going to the med).

I don’t concern myself with spreading stuff across cases or packing essentials in hand luggage - if anything goes missing that I critically need I can probably buy it.

You always need far less than you think. Especially with a 10 year old!

Undethetree · 27/07/2024 07:40

Yes, this is me! I hate it!

BCBird · 27/07/2024 07:39

I onli have myself to consider and hate doing it. I also hate unpacking. Treat them.both as a necessary evil. Have a good break

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