AIBU we leave on holiday tomorrow morning and …

I am going to guess I do work but didn’t when my dc were young, thanks.

Given @Fitasafiddle1 yesterday advised an op asking if she should go part time

The days with young children are so precious, you can not ever get them back - once they are gone, they are gone forever.
You can however work full time, and have luxuries at any time in the future. Surely the ultimate luxury is time with your child, to feel relaxed and be enjoying your life.

I am going to guess this poster doesn’t have a job or one that is very part time.

I waited until we were sat nicely relaxed on the ferry before showing DH the texts. To give him his due, he was very embarrassed and apologetic.

what a delightful way to start off your holiday.

You sound generally quite uptight
so we have to leave at 8am - myself and other posters just assumed it was an arbitrary time set by a pissed off op

What about them? Of COURSE I travel with these things. I use the 50g free gifts from Clarins (other skincare companies are available) since if I travelled without serum & moisturiser I’d look like an alligator! 🤣

There is no way on gods green earth that I would ever pack for my husband unless he was too unwell. I would go on holiday without him, or leave him at the hotel if he didn’t have suitable gear, but not pack for him.

A good few years ago when the DCs were still stuck visiting exH EOW and we shared the Christmas break from school (7 days each, me the first seven and he the second, Christmas Eve to 6pm with him and Christmas Eve night and Day always with me). One year exMIL had the brilliant idea of throwing a spanner in the works, suggesting to exH that he take the four teen and tween DCs to see her and exFIL for his seven days as planned, but beginning Boxing Day, which would have given me four days with the DCs at the start of the Christmas break, incl Christmas Day, and three days at the end.

Of course her wish was exH's command (long story, huge issue in our marriage) and I received an email from exH telling me this was what his sainted mother wanted, with the clear expectation that i should do her bidding.

I responded saying if he or his mother thought I was going to spend the first days of the Christmas break washing seven days worth of clothes for four DCs, on top of the prep for Christmas, and time on Christmas Day itself packing clothes, toiletries, sanpro, chargers, laptops, books, hair stuff, etc, they both needed to give their heads a wobble. I heard she never forgave me for my uppityness.

How will he learn to pack properly if he experiences no natural consequences of half arsing it?

If it's somewhere hot with a washing machine they need minimal clothing.

In self catering I often just pack a couple bikinis maybe a swimsuit one piece, couple shorts and vests and thats it. Maybe one kaftan or dress but I don't even bother with undies in hot countries if I'm only there a week. Just wear bikini with vest and shorts over it!

So you'd think it won't take them long to pack. Hopefully they've done it now. Don't let it bother you too much. They know the score and it's tough if they brought the wrong stuff.

But what about the miniature travel sized moisturiser, face spritz, hand cream etc for the flight (long haul only obv), flight socks, change of pants / socks, jumper, kindle, water bottle, etc etc you might need for the flight. Packing my flight bag is almost my favourite bit!

I heard an interview with a war correspondent or similar, she had a case permanently packed, and the first thing she did when returning home was immediately replace everything from her wardrobe so it was ready, before doing the laundry from the trip.

My DM used to have a holiday suitcase packed already at all times.

My kids have been packing since about 7. First to a list and then I checked everything they’d packed, but after a couple of years they just used the list and have pretty much been independently packing ever since.

But they’ve watched their dad pack his own stuff too.

When I did this (fast pack for a rush to see a dying relative expecting to stay two or three days) I managed to put in seven pairs of socks and no underwear...

ETA: I seem to have lost the quote - this was in response to the poster who mentioned a 15 minute speedy pack after a death in the family.

THey have a ferry to catch.

@Fitasafiddle1 hasn't said if they have a job yet..

Do you have a job? How do you have time for all this?

I have been in your spot. Two of my sons went on holiday when they were in secondary in only the clothes on their backs. I did pack their togs in my bag so they could swim. They had to buy new clothing out of their own money or wash them in the sink. They learned their lesson.

Well you don't want any burglars thinking that you haven't spring cleaned the house now do we ?

Absolutely do not do their packing for them, I am guessing you did it all for them all when they were younger. Be clear tonight that you’re not doing it, and you need to leave at 8am. And don’t let them borrow your socks while you’re away! On the other side, I hope you all have a great trip 😊

You are talking about your husband... an adult? Not your DS who is 8?
Just checking.

If you were married my OH you’d be REPACKING his case! He piles everything up in the middle of his case, shoes not in bags so the grubby soles make contact with clean clothes, shirts not folded correctly…….I could go on but I would be here all night 🤣.
it is so much easier to do it myself from the outset.

Lol. We have returned from holidays and I was laughed at for packing a first aid (bathroom bag) kit, most of which had something used from each product I packed..