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.)

It’s spotless most of the time, but always for holidays and Christmas 🙂

Maybe give them one warning . Don't do it for them. They're adults.

I agree. You need everything from swimwear to wellington boots!

@Sundaybananas hope you got off on time and are all having a wonderful holiday.

@Fitasafiddle1 my holiday approach is much more like yours albeit with a lot less self care as I can’t handle salons. Having come back in the past to a fruit fly infestation, piled up laundry, a house that looked abandoned because the driveway weeds had got out of control, or just a depressingly messy house, I agree that it’s worthwhile putting in a bit more effort before leaving so that the holiday buzz doesn’t crash as soon as you put the key in the front door.

In my fantasies I’d have a highly efficient housekeeper who would just hand me a perfectly packed suitcase and silently take care of the rest.

But since I don’t, I keep my list out on the kitchen counter so anyone can pitch in and tick parts off and the extra jobs and mental load are transparent.

Fuck them, it will be a lesson learnt.

Get in the car at 8am and tell you are going with or with and head off

I done it once, never had to do it again

Oh, the pain of the we, what have we bought mum (his) for birthday, Christmas!!

To be slighty fairer to my late OH though, he did travel with M.A.S.H, he could have carried out dentistry and minor surgery and I'm sure he had shares in Rennies. His medical kit exceeded his underwear for space.

@Fitasafiddle1

do you have a job?

It's a joke.
Genuinely, unure if you got that or not so I'll refrain from responding directly to your comment.
I'm a feminist with a very capable partner regarding domestics. He needs to me living with me tbh.
Using humour to highlight issues can be a good tactic.

I hope everything went well this morning and you are on your way to a lovely holiday.

I pack for our whole family about 2 hours before we leave. I literally can't motivate myself to do it any earlier. It still gets done.

Tell them that you are leaving at 8 tomorrow, and if they want to come, they need to be in the car with their things by then.

I tend to pack my clothes about 5 mins before bed the night before, then throw toiletries and chargers in in the morning, if someone was nagging me to pack several hours before that I'd be rolling my eyes tbh.

OMG yes! And on every day trip/walk/outing as well.

"Have we got any tissues"?

"Have we got any water"?

Yes I've got enough water for me!! It has taken literally years for my partner to take water for himself. Years of him saying "why is your bag so heavy"?

Because if I just take enough water for me, you drink most of it and then I don't have any water, so I have to take (more than) twice as much!

My holiday prep is much more akin to @Fitasafiddle1 than those that throw everything in a bag thirty mins before departure.

equally I can (and frequently do) pack for work trips in a few minutes.

It’s true. I dream of travelling light. Cornwall 2 weeks ago weather forecast wasn’t great. Plus we had booked for Minack open air theatre.
So all the warm stuff plus blankets. Wet weather stuff. We take kayaks as cottage has own quay.
All the life vests etc. Then didn’t use them once which was disappointing but tides and weather didn’t align with safety.
I’ve lost weight over the last 6 months and bought some new clothes, first pair of shorts for ten years. Didn’t wear any of it. 🙄
Ridiculous number of shoes, hiking boots, lightweight trainer walking shoes for dry days, espadrilles, smart sandals and walking sandals, every day trainers. Rucksacks and picnic stuff.
Something tidy for smart meal out.
All that and more for just me.
DH isn’t much better. Just keep piling it in the car.

I normally cook something like Chilli the week before and freeze it, so it thaws on the journey and that’s first night supper sorted. Plus bake a cake.

All on the list so I don’t forget.

I drive OH mad by packing less than hour before we leave... BUT it is all on a pile ready to go... It doesn't take that long... I can't stand unpacking case to ensure I've packed the right shoes etc..

But this assumes you've got clothes, and that they're wearable... If they're covered in grimness and at the bottom of laundry...

When children were small I decided to be disciplined and travel light for one bank holiday weekend. One outfit for each day per child.
They had a water fight the first day.
second day 2 year old was paddling and fell flat in the stream.
Last morning we were all packed, finishing breakfast, dressed in 3rd outfit and just had to change nappy and go. 2 year old toddled upstairs miraculously shedding a small dollop of poo down her trouser leg on every step. It was all up her back. Half an hour later she was swathed in a T shirt of DH’s tucked all around her in her car seat and we were still scrubbing the stairs.

Happy days.

Hope you make the ferry and have a lovely holiday OP.

You're brilliant OP.

Enjoy your holiday :-)

Spring clean house ready to return - Dont need to do this house is clean
Clean fridge and cupboards - same
Pet delivery - no clue what this means? To kennels? Dont use
book shopping - Kindle
salon visit for hair - done usually as part of life
Salon visit for wax, pedicure and manicure - done usually as part of life
Wash and iron everything - done as per usual - take what i need from the wardrobe and summer drawers
Security lights etc - Work automatically
house checks - What?
water plants - Done as part of having plants and the person that feeds my cats does this
buy new clothes if needed - Done online as i spot something i fancy
match with jewellery - Cldnt be arsed
cosmetics bought - cldnt be arsed
trips, activities and restaurants booked - asolutely not- torturous to be that scheduled
last calls to family - eh Whatsapp?
book food shopping for return - done as part of my life its on rotate so no biggy
Double check schedule and hotels - ah come one everyone does that
passsport check and paperwork - Life admin anyway
car refuelled, washed and cleaned and ready - life admin
Meals planned for travelling days - no clue what this means
snacks and water for journey - no need
washing completed - no need
How can this be done in a few hours?!

Thats my take on that.
No need for all of that and we still manage to bring all we need and have fabulous holidays.
I dont get the sprink clean house, I just change my sheets before I go cos i like to come home to fresh bedding, the rest I just dont get.

YANBU to leave them to it, but YABU when they have the rest of the day

I’d tell them now that it’s down to them, and you won’t be paying for anything they’re missing.

A colleague’s dh used to expect her to pack for him - a man in the forces who had to travel for work! - and when she once left it to him for a holiday, he sulked like mad after forgetting to pack underpants and having to buy some!

You mentioned a ferry, are you coming over to the Isle of Wight?
If so, have a fab time. The sea breezes help keep a nice warm temperature here.😎

I’m with you two! A week before a holiday I check my toiletry bag and replace/replenish. I only use concealer, kohl eyeshadow and mascara so makeup is easy. I also decide on three colours of clothing to take so everything coordinates. This doesn’t include black! On our last long haul trip I took exclusively cream/white, orange and teal. I had about two kilos to spare and my luggage included four pairs of sandals

It’s awesome! Just the best feeling.

Oh god the footwear required for hiking/walking/active holidays!