My son is going on his first residential to France this weekend. What am I forgetting?

[YoSof]

For four days I have packed -

Passport
health card
Refillable water bottle
toiletries including insect repellent, sun cream and anti histamines
One pair of joggers
two pairs of shorts
four tshirts
one hoodie
underwear and socks
Sliders and trainers
Sleeping bag and pillow
iphone battery pack thingy
Euros and some English pounds

What am I missing? Should I pack some snacks?

Sorry op, I've cross posted. I still don't get it though - he can surely do it? If it's peace of mind, can't you just check after he's done it?

I also pack for all of mine OP, my eldest has just packed himself for the first time recently at 18 🤣. I want them to be happy and comfortable on their trips so I organise everything. We do go through it all together so they know what they've got available and where everything is (bag for dirty clothes in outer zip pocket etc).

I actually repacked DS1s when I got home thinking about it as he's just dumped it all in the cabin case and was running out of room.

Got plasters and two adaptors, he has a bank card too so he can take that - he has to hand in his spending money to the teachers to distribute daily but he can keep the card on him I guess for emergencies.

And yes he is capable of packing, but I’m his mum and I want help. We wrote a list together of what he needs to take, I’ve got everything out and put it in the spare room and we will put everything in his case together after school so he knows where it all is and I can check it off. Thank you for the suggestions,

We were told to send a reusable water bottle and small backpack for daytime trips.

My son, who has been going away with scouts etc since forever.... always wants to pack lighter than I want. He doesn't thank me for a spare pair of trousers or extra fleece......he's always fine with what he takes. If they want clean clothes for the evening - they put on the next day's clothes then and wear again in the morning. If the trousers get muddy - they wear shorts instead.

I do always insist on the waterproof though.

Toothpaste, all in one shower gel shampoo.

Money.

Yes to snacks. Some in day bag, some in case/holdall

To let him learn to pack for himself and live with the consequences?

Pretty sure I was packing for myself aged 8 onwards!

Can we please all get past the fact that I want to pack for my child on his first trip abroad? Yes he is capable, and yes he will be helping put everything in the case tonight!

Bloody hell, I came home from work last night and he had put a wash on, hoovered through and started prep for dinner - I’m not raising a man child, I’m just sorting his stuff ready to put in a case for him! Mainly so I can relax knowing he has got everything he needs (thanks to you lot!) but also because I’m his mum and I WANT to.

Ah, but your penis didn't get in the way, so that's fine.

I was going to say schools normally give a list. Let him do the actual packing, one so he knows what he has got and two, so he will be capable of packing it on the way home. Is he allowed his phone, some schools don’t allow them on trips?

Yes really - he is quite capable of turning on washing machine, pushing a hoover and chopping some vegetables - he has been helping with chores for a while to earn pocket money, and food tech is one of his favourite lessons at school - is it really going to turn into “that” type of thread?

@Comehellorhigh they gave an “essentials” list but not much else, it’s not detailed really.

Agree op, you came on to see if you had missed something important off your list not to be criticised. I would have done the same for my DS at same age. Guess what it didn’t stunt him. He is now in higher education and living independently abroad at the age of 18 and is doing perfectly fine.

plug adapter

I would add more clothes, it’s better to have and not need than need and not have,

mine always take the shower gel/shampoo combo and some hand wash .

bag for dirty clothes and shoes

I would add some snacks - not chocolates and a bottle of robinsons concentrate squash- those little tiny ones, they don’t want water all the time and if left to them it’s soda

water proof coat and another hoody

Oh my goodness, I give different ages in most threads to avoid giving identifying information but always within a couple of years of their real ages - I do it with my daughter too if you’d like to advance search me again? I have several usernames too if you would like a list - I left a very abusive relationship 2 years ago and my ex knows I use MN. Would you like some photos of the bruising and damage to my house to confirm that too?

I really cannot believe the shit in getting for asking about packing for a trip.

Thanks to those who have offered suggestions.

and??

Do you think this is a troll thread by a man with a packing fetish?

Thank you.

God forbid I change the ages when I’m posting about my children on a public forum.

Hand sanitiser and a pen.

I packed my son's bag when he went to Ireland recently and he's 15!! I thought packing a cabin bag for a 3 day rugby tour with meals out and paintballing was a fine art, yet he managed the same on return.

You need a UK to EU plug adaptor suitable for France. Otherwise he won't be able to recharge his phone.

Yep. I was going to post about budgie smuggler trunks. DS1 still shudders at the memory of the pool trip on his year 6 visit to France.

a troll with a packing fetish

Pack to the letter the list given by the school.

if he wants anything else he can sneak it in the bag himself like a proper child/teen.

wave him off and have a large glass of wine!

Thank you, I am very much looking forward to the wine!

I have to drop him off at 4am tomorrow so I may well end up falling asleep as I’m pouring.

I’m not sure why you’re getting a hard time, I always packed for my daughter and have happy memories of doing so for her trip. She is very independent at Uni now no harm done !

Anyway, have you given him instructions to buy you a present 😆I always requested a bar of chocolate.

A note with emergency contacts on just incase he gets separated.