AIBU we leave on holiday tomorrow morning and …

[Sundaybananas]

We leave on holiday tomorrow morning, and I’m the only one packed. DH and two older teens have done nothing. They barely seem to have registered that we are going tomorrow.

AIBU to just leave them to it, and if that means they have nothing but what they are standing up in then maybe they will learn for next time?

(so as not to drip feed, it’s a U.K. self catering holiday but we have to leave at 8am tomorrow, and the location is remote. There will be a small supermarket but no clothes shops.)

Last calls to family did it for me 😁😁 do you tell them what you’re leaving them in the will? 😂 I’m not sure I’ll be able to go on holiday again without thinking ‘should I make any last calls to family?’

This.

You will suffer more if you leave them to it than if you don't.

I would just give them the warnings and reminders (and resent that I had to do so, then have a big huff at my husband about it later).

It's better than going away and everyone being without the stuff they need. None of you will have a nice holiday in that scenario.

Obviously too late to be helpful now OP but I saw an excellent video about this, the mum told everyone to pack for themselves and if they forgot anything that she had to pack for them on the quiet in a separate bag and they asked for it on the holiday then they had to pay a "fine" to get the item. For the husband it was money and for the kids it was minutes of alone time for mum I think but obviously you can choose the "fines" to suit your family set up, ie chores or a massage or whatever. The husband ended up with sunburn as he refused to ask for his hat or suncream if I recall and the kids got "fined" as they hadn't packed any other shoes than the ones they were travelling in and a few other random bits they needed for activities like swimming. I thought this was great as the mum always got moaned at for nagging/over packing and it taught her that actually she did overpack a bit as certain items never came out of the bag nor were they requested and the other family members realised that without mum they would've been screwed and weren't as thoughtful/grateful as they should have been for her carrying the mental and physical role of packing. They were frequent travellers and now they all pack for themselves with rarely an issue, these were younger kids so mum (and dad got involved after this experience) helped out with the packing which with yours being older wouldn't be needed

I start packing the day before a holiday. My husband can do it in the morning and have no problem being ready on time. And with the kids...they'll forget to pack things but just smile serenely and say "What a shame". No drama or recriminations. It's just not your problem unless you make it so.

I pack the night before. Nothing to do with the length of time it takes, I just prefer to be organised.

Personally I think it's better to pack the night/day before. That gives you a bit of time to remember that you haven't put X item in your case, or that you have put in the sandals that gave you blisters last time - that sort of thing. I like a checklist for packing as I'd never remember every single thing I take and I always get a brief panic on the way to the airport (usually related to contact lenses but could be anything vital), even though I never have forgotten my supplies to date. It just seems to be part of the journey now...

I hope you caught the ferry OK OP, and have a good time

When kids were secondary age we all packed for ourselves . I’d get them to put out everything for their bag and we’d do a quick check to make sure before they popped it in the bag . Responsibility with overseeing from us .
Their own little back packs they could put in what they wanted toys and games wise ,
DD managed a year travelling with a smallish back pack . Super efficient travel packer now!

My best packing was done with 10 minutes notice, OH and 2 children too, we'd had a call about a family death and we were on the road within 15 minutes. There is a thing about having too much time!

Were I so anal I don't think I would bother going on holiday! I used to know someone who waited until husband and children were sitting in the car ready to go then she went back into the house and hoovered/dusted throughout!

@Sundaybananas Honestly just here standing by for when you show him the texts and replies that prove you explained absolutely everything to him in advance... I do love a bit of 'I told you so'...

Even though you didn't end up doing anyone else's packing, it still sounds like your husband is causing you to waste a lot of time and expend a lot of unnecessary energy. If this is an ongoing pattern, it might be worth making sure he is aware of that and finding out why he thinks this is OK.

It really is. I also stay over at an airport hotel the night before if long haul. Handbag only on the flight!

Take your overnight bag and ask a friend to put you up overnight or use a motel. Tell them you will be coming back in the mornin,g and if they are not read,y you'll go anyway. They will be ok as your Best Beloved obviously will still be there for them. You say the two older teens, so presumably there are other children, so take them with you. Good Luck.Personally, I'd be tempted to cut the plugs off the gadgets, games, TV etc so they would have plenty of time to get ready!

Just leave them to it. We’re going on a European city break tomorrow and none of us have thought of packing yet (though we’ve washed clothes we want to take). Packing takes 10 mins.

I'd probably do it for them or stand over them while they do it. My holidays are my biggest joy and so i would want everyone packed and ready tonight. Its not unusual for me to start packing 2 weeks beforehand and luckily my teen daughters feed off my excitement and are pretty organised too. Hubby though is a different story and can never get his head around packing so invariably i end up doing it for him. The stress of a last minute panic in the morning would just ruin it for me and then next year i would seriously think about going away without them.

Well this sounds like it’s going to be a lovely happy family holiday

so as not to drip feed, it’s a U.K. self catering holiday but we have to leave at 8am tomorrow, and the location is remote.

oh don’t be a drama llama

its a uk break. “Remote” “we have to leave at 8am” 😆

Well, as OP said, they were catching a ferry so yes, they did have to leave at that time.

My son got back from hols at 1.30am, he was up at 5.30am the same day for a second holiday !!

I hate packing the night before; I'll only do it on the rare occasion that I need to be at the airport pre 9am for a work flight.

You're not catching a flight and they're hardly going to leave the house with empty cases, so the worst that's going to happen is you leave a bit later in the morning. I don't see the issue 🤷🏻‍♂️

But they were catching a ferry.

Doesn’t anyone read anything the OP posts anymore? Is it unfashionable? Can we make it a ‘thing’ to read what the OP has actually written please?

maybe include details like that in the OP
a touch relevant wouldn’t you agree?

The husband ended up with sunburn as he refused to ask for his hat or suncream

and he didn’t just buy? How peculiar
and surely not every family member packs their own sun cream?

I pack all clothes for my teen son as he has adhd and it would be a shit show if left to own devices, and I have zero issue with it. Got to be honest, I love any opp to “mother” him these days.

id do the same for my NT DD given half the chance! but she loves packing her own

Or maybe, you know, read?