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.)

I start packing about a week before....and then change my mind about what to take a million times.

DH packs the day before.

I seriously doubt you’ll be leaving at 8am!

Solidarity @Sundaybananas it must be very frustrating. Good luck!

I’ve put together snacks and dog stuff for a quick getaway on Friday because I’m busy tomorrow and Thursday night and we’re leaving as soon as I get home from work on Friday. I know my DH will throw some boxers/socks in a bag an hour before we leave. Crazy.

This is me!! I desperately need tips from all these 10 minute packers! I feel like it takes me hours! What's wrong with me?? I have a list in an excel spreadsheet and it still takes forever. Admittedly I do not travel light.

Here you go - keep a full set of duplicate toiletries in your washbag, add the correct number of knickers, bras, etc for the number of days you’re going, add a clean top for each day and two pairs of shoes and trousers. Just before you leave add makeup and devices. I keep duplicate hair straighteners in my case. Ten minutes - job done.

My mum always packed my dad's bag. Always. One year, she forgot his blood pressure medication. It's been 17 years and he still brings it up.

I decided to learn from her mistakes and never, ever, ever get involved in packing for DH.

The teens one is tricky as if they're disorganised, it could ruin the start to the holiday. I'd offer some help.

Let us know how it goes op 😁😁 I’m one here hoping at 7:30 you are calling any bags not in the front hall are not coming and at 7:45 you are starting the engine and tooting the horn, then at 8am you are driving the car and leaving anyone who’s not there to enjoy a week at home.

I have a full duplicate wash bag as someone else has said (used to go away a lot for work).

Not sure how it could take longer. Once I know the weather/activities it’s easy. Surely you just need enough underwear, pjs, tops and trousers/shorts.

Let us know tomorrow b what time you actually leave. My bet is 8.16am

Put the wheelie bag in their room, day before leaving.
Remind them in the 48 hour 12 hours to go etc,
That way you are teaching them a life skill.
We travel slot, mynteens are always prepared because I taught them.
Ignore the dh he is an adult.

I used to be a Packing Procrastinator™®© and DP hated it. Then I developed a system. I have a little note document in Google Keep on my phone (but Word etc will do too) with everything that I need, or sometimes need, to pack for any trip. It looks like this:

T-shirts ✅ (and so on for every clothing category)
Sun hat ✅
Walking shoes ✅
Medicine ✅
Shampoo ✅
Mosquito spray ✅
Selection of credit cards ✅
Phone charger ✅
etc etc etc

The master list starts off with ❌ in every position. For each trip I make a copy of that, and then change ❌ to ✅ when I either put the item in the luggage, or decide I'm not taking it. When the list is all green I'm ready to go, and I know that I haven't forgotten anything obvious.

Over time this list this has grown, but it's pretty stable now. I can also add temporary reminders, so even though we're packing for summer now, I have "DD's dog's Xmas present ❌" which means I won't forget it when the time comes.

What I've found is that this enables me to pack quite late and still be confident that I won't miss anything. Maybe for the future OP can see if the rest of the family can be persuaded to do this, so that the last-minute "Have you forgotten anything" can be a bit more structured?

i don’t have duplicates of stuff but I just take clothes for the right amount of days, underwear and swimmers, flip flops/summer shoes, wear my trainers to the airport. washbag with bare essentials, no makeup or hair crap.
You can overcomplicate things as much as you like or like me you can just go pretty minimal and then the packing is over and done with very quickly indeed.
I hate an excess of stuff, don’t bother primping and preening on holiday, usually too hot to give a crap but I know for some people it’s always a priority. Just different strokes really. I think if you’re into coordinating and curating outfits for the benefit of great photos you’re going to spend a lot more time and care packing than I do but my priority is getting there and relaxing so my method works well for me!

Argh men!!

Who decreed that you need to leave at 8am? I predict theyll all be packed. Utnyou wknt be leaving at 8. Tbf, now I only have my own clothes and toiletries to sort out, I often do it in the morning. It's one of those jobs that expands to fill the time allowed and really, how long does it take to put some clothes in a bag,?

Did you read the thread? They've a ferry to catch which "decrees" what time they need to leave!

I’m a past minute packer. I’d do it the night before if long haul, but if I was going away in the UK, it’d definitely be done in the morning.

Our children were doing their own from about 14. If they forget stuff, it’s their problem. My husband is the world’s most useless packer, but I leave him to it. It’s become a family joke.

One year I was ill and managed to just about stuff a few things in a bag for myself. I wasn’t well enough to help the kids who were young teenagers. Kids went without walking shoes and coats. No food packed as I used to take food with us so we didn’t have to waste time shopping. No food for the dog.

DH sorted himself out.

It rained and the only person who could go out was DH as he was fully kitted out. I had a coat but no walking boots. Was an absolute mess.

It takes me between 10 and 30 minutes to pack for me.

Depends on whether I am travelling for work (10 minutes) or holiday (30 minutes, because I am thinking about whether I want to take that new book, where did I put the sun cream, etc).

But I am not prepared to then do the same for 3 other people. I already packed all the stuff for self catering. Not to mention the other stuff that needs to be done (emptying kitchen bin, move perishables to the freezer, cancelling milk … all small things but they add up).

Anyway 😀DS2 is all packed and bag by the front door. DS1 is half packed and needs to wait for the tumble drier before he can finish. DH claims that plans have changed (they haven’t), I didn’t text him the itinerary (I did), this is the first he has heard about any of this (it isn’t), why didn’t I remind him (I did, at least 3 times), and what have I don’t with his suitcase (nothing) 😂

This happened in our house when the kids were small. I'd packed for 5kids and myself and kept nagging husband to pack. We got to our destination and he had a t-shirt and underwear, he couldn't believe I'd actually left it to him 😂 BUT he has packed for himself ever since and done it properly

@helpfulperson

…course you would 🙄

I would be resending the texts your DH claims you never sent for a start.

@Blossomtoes I bet you look really well put together on holidays

I am also a list maker and a few days before will keep a list in Notes on my phone. I delete the item off the list as I pop it in the bag.

I hope OP, you do get to leave on time. If not, I agree with others either go for yourself or go to the nearest coffee shop and let everyone else flap around until they are ready.

My(younger) teens pack for themselves. 13yo needs some scaffolding so gets a list. Usually DD (15) will write it for him. This has been the case since they were 10&12.

DH is more likely to forget things but hie is a solvent adult so can buy anything he's forgotten. Kids generally do well.

I'd be appalled at them getting to 17 and not being independent.