To find packing/organising for holidays stressful?

[PumpkinPie2016]

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?

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

Yes, this is me! I hate it!

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!

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

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.

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

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!

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?

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.

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

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.

Interesting posts for everyone. As I
have the list which I always update post holiday, packing cubes, a kallax box in each room to chuck random items in so the house looks tidy on my return but I still
hate packing. I find the clothes the easy bit, toileteries and medicines the worst and stuff to keep the kids occupied just annoying.

I hate it too. Between that and having to sort everything at work before going away, as well as the avalanche of emails on my return, I do sometimes wonder if it's worth it!

My method is this:
We bring Suitcases downstairs the week b4 we leave so we can gradually pack

People given a list & everytime the laundry is done they they fling their clothes in the case

Everyone puts their own specific holiday clothes in eg trunks, walking boots etc

Same method for toiletries

Then dh & I do a final check before we leave & close the case.

This method works for us except for the time dh didn't bring the case downstairs the week before but left it open in our room. We packed the case as normal but on the morning of the holiday forgot to put it in the boot & left without it!

I hate packing with a vengeance and find it stressful. My DH is a brilliant packer so I just lay everything out on the bed and he does all the packing. He even unpacks everything when we get there! There's a reason I've kept him for 40 years!

I'm a single mum of 3.
I can't imagine it being stressful with one child and a proactive husband
That's the thing about problems though, they're all relative and unique to us all!

Packing cubes. I have a couple which I keep all my holiday only clothes in, so I just take them out of the cupboard and put them straight in the case. One cube in each case. Fill the smaller cubes with underwear, and add a couple of dresses and shoes I might want for the evening. I usually buy any toiletries I’m taking a few weeks in advance and put them into the toiletries bag, so that’s ready to just chuck in. Beach towels and flip flops live in the suitcase all the time, so that’s it, all packed in five minutes flat.

I hate packing, even for just a night or two away. I worry that I will forget something important even though I have a list and specific holiday only items 😂.
I do spread our clothes between the cases so that if one was lost we would still have something to wear.

We haven’t been on holiday abroad for years but I do get very anxious about the packing. DH does his own & last time DD15, who was then 9, did hers but I double checked she’d put in suitable stuff! I make lists for everything anyway so always do a holiday list or 5 🤣

I hate it too op !But needs must. DH can pack his own. The more you do it the easier it is.

Surely everyone packs for themselves, one adult checks with child job done?

Toiletries bag each, holiday specific items listed and ticked off.

I have myself, 16 & 10 year old sons they've been packing since they were 7 or so. I don't see the need for such stress, what's the worst that can happen? Make peace with it then let it go.

Yes, since not having a spare room to lay out the cases and pack in advance (I have two DC).

I have a list in word that I use every time which helps, but it’s still a lot to do in a short space of time.

Packing cubes are great. I organise by day for a holiday in one location. There is no need to unpack, I just pull out a cube each day which makes things so much easier in the mornings with two DC.

I'm fine with packing. I avoid luggage as a plague so all my stuff goes into handheld and I am a minimal traveler. Partner and the kid pack their own massive suitcase and I don't bother checking what they thought between them was appropriate. They always overpack like they are going away for six months even if it is just a weekend trip. So if I start supervising theirs, it is stressful. I don't do it to them or myself.

With a functional husband and a 10YO I’d have everyone pack their own carry on sized suitcase + personal bag. Grab toiletries from the airport Boots. Don’t even think about packing until the day before. Or at least that’s how my BIL/SIL with teens/tweens do it and it looks so calm and functional compared to our faff with checked baggage because our kids are tiny and can’t even carry their own snack!

Glad it's not just me who hates packing!

DH does sort his own out so that helps!
We both share the load of sorting house stuff before we go.

I just need to start it 😂