I dread packing. I like taking trips, but I really, really dread packing. Now that I have three children, I have more packing to dislike. Therefore it's no surprise that I'm happy to find ways to make this task a bit more pleasant.
Last Fall, I had the privilege of hearing Brenda Mott of Momtourage speak. I signed up for her email newsletters and it was in one of those that I stumbled across one of her free downloads. It was a packing list. In May, when we headed to Colorado, I printed off the list. I skeptically handed it to my 5 year old along with her suitcase. Less than fifteen minutes later, I went into her room to find my daughter's suitcase packed! After a quick inspection and a little assistance making sure her outfits matched, she was ready!
Who knew that a simple list could make getting ready for a trip so much easier? Well, apparently Brenda did! Now, I suppose I could have made a similar list myself, but why would I when Brenda has already done the work and lets the rest of us benefit from it? You can go here to print off the list. Brenda recommends laminating it or putting it in a page protector. Then, your child can mark off the list with a dry erase marker as she packs her bag.
In addition to the packing list, I've found Brenda's Momtourage emails to be quite inspiring. I keep hoping we can join her for a Friday Field Trip. This week's trip to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art sounds great! (She even has scavenger hunt lists to print off before the trip.) However, we're already on an adventure of our own as we make our way north for a family reunion. Fortunately, packing was quite manageable! Now if only a list could magically make the bags unpack themselves and the clothes wash and fold themselves, coming home from vacation would also be a breeze!
How do you make preparing for or coming home from travel a more manageable task?