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Original poster

Who does the packin* for your holidays?

151 replies

BarrelOfOtters · 31/05/2023 07:27

Dh and I pack our own bags. No kids. I do have to endure the clothes parade first while he decides which of the 5 identical navy blue polos he is taking,

it seems thought that other people pack for their partners……

OP posts:
CloudlessSunnyDays · 31/05/2023 11:55

sausage767 · 31/05/2023 07:47

DH packs his own bag, but I do have a lot of input into what goes in it.

Otherwise he wouldn't pack the right items, and I do like to coordinate our fits when I can.

@sausage767

can I ask how old you are? My Nana would have packed to co ordinate their 'outfits'. My mum wouldn't have, but she always packed for my Dad business or pleasure (she's 89 this year & & my Dad died 13 years ago).

I don't have 'outfits' and we definitely don't co ordinate. I'm 53 he's just turned 60.

Original poster
BarrelOfOtters · 31/05/2023 11:58

"He always asks when we're probably an hour into the journey, "have we got...." (Directions for accommodation, Sun cream, beach towels, sun hats for DC ) Or "do you know if the place has..." because hes literally only just thought of stuff like that!"

Yes, that really riles me, I'm just expected to have done that...as DH doesn't like paperwork. But will happily get in the car with his suitcase (that's he's packed) and sit there with the engine on and ask the above. Like that has all happened by the magic organised fairy - the directions to where we are going, the tickets, the suggestions for restaurants.

OP posts:
mast0650 · 31/05/2023 12:02

Pack for ourselves. Always have done (though obviously used to pack for kids when they were small). Usually we have our own separate small bags so we are completely independent. Occasionally on a very quick trip we might share a bag. In that case either we both add our own stuff to the bag, or DH packs the bag when I've given him my stuff. Rarely the other way round. Probably because he is more likely to get the bag down from the shelf and also to carry it.

mast0650 · 31/05/2023 12:05

Otherwise he wouldn't pack the right items, and I do like to coordinate our fits when I can.

You are making sure his outfits coordinate with yours?? Or just that they coordinate with themselves? I do find it strange that you are dressing your partner! We might have a chat about whether we need a "smart outfit" or warm clothes, but that's about as far as it goes!

TurquoiseDress · 31/05/2023 12:07

I pack for myself and the DC who are primary age

DH will pack probably about 20mins before we leave and will just throw everything into his suitcase! Grin

Pre children I have never packed his suitcase for holidays...why would I, he's a grown adult!

Lovingitallnow · 31/05/2023 12:12

I also sometimes co-ordinate our outfits. We'll say I'm bringing 2 fancy nights, 2 regular nights and some casual nights. So make sure that we are co-ordinated. And if we're only away for a night or two I'll check what he's wearing because it will annoy me if we look matchy matchy or we clash.

Greenpeasnwham · 31/05/2023 12:14

I pack mine. He packs his. Teens pack their own. Younger kids one of us helps…depending on trip. He’s better at ski stuff, I forget things. I’m better at summer or wedding things, we both hate packing.

he usually deals with laundry on return. Teens do their own. I sort the clean stuff. Just the routine that suits our house.

mast0650 · 31/05/2023 12:15

Like people have said, there are two parts to "packing". There is deciding what to take and gathering it together. Then there is actually putting it in the bags. The second part could be done by either person, depending on who has the time or is best at it or whatever. I don't find it odd either way. But for one adult to choose what another adult takes on holiday with them is a bit strange. Just like picking what they wear/read/wash with on a daily basis would be.

anon199900 · 31/05/2023 12:16

I pack for everyone, family of five - including DH. He tends to work up until the last minute whereas I’m home. He has about 10 pairs of dark green shorts and a load of t shirts. We go aboard a few times a year and it’s always the same stuff he takes so it’s easy. It’s his fault if we forget something because he didn’t check, and he is fully on board with that!

qazxc · 31/05/2023 12:21

DH works full time and I work PT, so I do the laundry. The only input I have in DH's packing is asking him to separate all the clothes he wants to take a week beforehand so that I can make sure they are washed and dried (ironed if needed) on time.
Other than that, I pack for me and DD but he looks after himself.

roundtable · 31/05/2023 12:23

MorrisZapp · 31/05/2023 08:40

I once had a drink with a man whose MOTHER packed his bag for business trips.

'she knows what I'll need better than I do' he said.

Also he was wearing one of those t shirts with wolves howling on it.

Was that the one and only drink?! Thank you to him for waving that red flag loud and proud.

Speaking of silly shit people say - I once had a man tell me when I was going to have a tonsillectomy that I'd be alright as he'd had it done when he was younger and women feel pain less than men. His mum told him so apparently. He was a good 10 years older than me and I was in my 20s at the time.

Desert76 · 31/05/2023 12:34

Everyone packs their own, DC have done so pretty much since they were out of nappies. DH and I often share a bag, in which case both of us leave everything we want out on the bed, and just one packs it all.
I often pack at the end of the holiday across all the bags, so that any clean clothes are separated from dirty ones.

Once I packed for DH because he had gone ahead on a work trip and then travelling from there to meet us for a holiday - it was to save him having too much luggage. I forgot to pack him enough socks and we had to buy him a massively overpriced silk pair in a boutique shop,
after completely failing to find any normal shops.
He was very nice about it, but I prefer now to just be responsible for my own stuff (DH speciality is forgetting travel tickets; I managed to forget my shoes last holiday, so don’t think anyone would want either of us packing for them anyway!)

DC have occasionally forgotten something vital also, but that’s how you learn.

sausage767 · 31/05/2023 12:44

CloudlessSunnyDays · 31/05/2023 11:55

@sausage767

can I ask how old you are? My Nana would have packed to co ordinate their 'outfits'. My mum wouldn't have, but she always packed for my Dad business or pleasure (she's 89 this year & & my Dad died 13 years ago).

I don't have 'outfits' and we definitely don't co ordinate. I'm 53 he's just turned 60.

Show quote history

We’re both 54.

My sister and I also like to coordinate our outfits when we go out, and we coordinate our mother if she’s with us.

sausage767 · 31/05/2023 12:45

Lovingitallnow · 31/05/2023 12:12

I also sometimes co-ordinate our outfits. We'll say I'm bringing 2 fancy nights, 2 regular nights and some casual nights. So make sure that we are co-ordinated. And if we're only away for a night or two I'll check what he's wearing because it will annoy me if we look matchy matchy or we clash.

Yes - it’s important to find that balance between coordinating, and being matchy-matchy!

Stellawella · 31/05/2023 12:47

He lays out what he wants to take, so do the DC however, I pack it as I pack across the cases. No one has their own case so to speak. Been stung there before. If only 1 case makes it, we’ve all got changes of clothes.

ButterflyBe · 31/05/2023 12:47

I pack for myself and the kids.

DH packs for himself.

gogohmm · 31/05/2023 12:51

I pack for me, I packed for the kids until they were teens then supervised them until too old (they always forgot things) the dog love him does his own packing, he literally fetches his precious things and puts them in the car if you are loading! Men do their own! And they are in charge of camping gear, it's manly enough

gogohmm · 31/05/2023 12:53

Dp does actually load too I should add because these days we usually are on his motorcycle and it's a not a case of throwing stuff into the boot, ddog hasn't worked out how to join usGrin

drspouse · 31/05/2023 12:55

Grownups pack for themselves. DD packs 100 teddies and 75 pairs of shorts and we take them out. DS packs 50 teddies, 20 books and 1 pair of pyjamas.

PuttingDownRoots · 31/05/2023 13:35

A few days before I ask if anything needs washing. Otherwise he will sort his own stuff. I might redistribute between bags if necessary

pizzaHeart · 31/05/2023 15:11

We do list together, DD and I take out and prepare clothes ( e.g rolling t-shirts I don’t trust anyone with this) and other stuff.

DH packs suitcases — he is really good at fitting things in.
Each of us does own devices and charges.
I do suncream and medicines - to be fair they are mostly mine and DD’s .
Paperwork- it depends who is more available.

BiddyPop · 31/05/2023 15:59

DH and I each pick our own. I used to pack for dd but she packs for herself now (since she was about 13 actually).

DH usually puts his pile on the bed for me to actually pack in bags - because I do better at stuffing everything in and also planning the spread across multiple bags so everyone has at least 1 outfit if 1 bag gets lost en route...

But I don't think I have ever picked out what he should be putting into that case. In almost 25 years under the same roof.

reluctantbrit · 31/05/2023 16:09

BiddyPop · 31/05/2023 15:59

DH and I each pick our own. I used to pack for dd but she packs for herself now (since she was about 13 actually).

DH usually puts his pile on the bed for me to actually pack in bags - because I do better at stuffing everything in and also planning the spread across multiple bags so everyone has at least 1 outfit if 1 bag gets lost en route...

But I don't think I have ever picked out what he should be putting into that case. In almost 25 years under the same roof.

This is how we do it. I now get DD (has her own room now in the hotel) to have one set of our clothing in her suitcase and we have one of hers in the two DH and I take to avoid problems.

Last year with the issues of baggage handlers we had two sets plus swimwear in our handluggage.

DH and I are living together for 26 years and apart from the odd "do you think I need a jumper or two" he is perfectly able to choose his outfits.

ToK1 · 31/05/2023 16:11

We all do our own.

Including the kids.

My mate was literally horrified by this.

DoraSpenlow · 31/05/2023 16:20

DH gets all his stuff out but I fold it all. Otherwise it would all be crammed in anyhow and he would look as if he has slept in his clothes all holiday.

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