Settle a debate—how early do you bring out suitcases for vacation?

[Anonymous]

We leave for vacation next Friday but are officially on vacation right now/next week. I keep thinking of random things I don’t want to forget and the tote bag I have staged in our closet has runneth over. I brought out a suitcase and have it staged in our guest bedroom. My husband saw what I was doing and told me it’s “ridiculous” to be packing already and I need to “calm down with the excitement”. Party pooper!

Anyway, how early do you start prepping like this?

[Anonymous]

I pack in the hours before but nothing wrong with your way unless you are trying to make him change his habits. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with what you're doing if you have the space.

Is he being playful or critical?

-guy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We leave for vacation next Friday but are officially on vacation right now/next week. I keep thinking of random things I don’t want to forget and the tote bag I have staged in our closet has runneth over. I brought out a suitcase and have it staged in our guest bedroom. My husband saw what I was doing and told me it’s “ridiculous” to be packing already and I need to “calm down with the excitement”. Party pooper!

Anyway, how early do you start prepping like this?

You lost me at your repeated use of “staged.”

[Anonymous]

With a suitcase! Just a couple of days. But I start putting things aside a week before. Especially if I know we are going to be busy and I don't want to wear clothes or have DS wear clothes I had planned to pack in case I don't get to the laundry. DH packs the night before but never comments on my early planning. I also make lots of lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We leave for vacation next Friday but are officially on vacation right now/next week. I keep thinking of random things I don’t want to forget and the tote bag I have staged in our closet has runneth over. I brought out a suitcase and have it staged in our guest bedroom. My husband saw what I was doing and told me it’s “ridiculous” to be packing already and I need to “calm down with the excitement”. Party pooper!

Anyway, how early do you start prepping like this?

You lost me at your repeated use of “staged.”

LOL sorry, habit. It’s a word used often in my industry.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need to calm down the excitement? When can you be excited?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We leave for vacation next Friday but are officially on vacation right now/next week. I keep thinking of random things I don’t want to forget and the tote bag I have staged in our closet has runneth over. I brought out a suitcase and have it staged in our guest bedroom. My husband saw what I was doing and told me it’s “ridiculous” to be packing already and I need to “calm down with the excitement”. Party pooper!

Anyway, how early do you start prepping like this?

You lost me at your repeated use of “staged.”

LOL sorry, habit. It’s a word used often in my industry.

What industry is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We leave for vacation next Friday but are officially on vacation right now/next week. I keep thinking of random things I don’t want to forget and the tote bag I have staged in our closet has runneth over. I brought out a suitcase and have it staged in our guest bedroom. My husband saw what I was doing and told me it’s “ridiculous” to be packing already and I need to “calm down with the excitement”. Party pooper!

Anyway, how early do you start prepping like this?

You lost me at your repeated use of “staged.”

LOL sorry, habit. It’s a word used often in my industry.

What industry is that?

I work in event planning.

[Anonymous]

DH thinks it’s weird to get the suitcases out the night before. But he also doesn’t help prep for family trips. He treats it like his business travel and throws a few things in the night before and then stands by the front door the next morning wondering why everyone isn’t as refreshed and ready to go as he is.

The reason DH can have this approach is that I do all the laundry, iron and hang clothes in his and everyone else’s closets, and pack everything for me and for all of the kids while doing other prep like cleaning out the fridge and setting things up for the dogsitter. So of course he thinks it’s overkill- he doesn’t have to do a week’s worth of tasks the night before the trip in addition to packing his suitcase!

[Anonymous]

It’s fine if you have the space and enough clothes. Why not?

I tend to pack 1 day before when I’ve done the laundry, because I don’t have that many clothes that I like wearing. I do have a running packing list that I add to constantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH thinks it’s weird to get the suitcases out the night before. But he also doesn’t help prep for family trips. He treats it like his business travel and throws a few things in the night before and then stands by the front door the next morning wondering why everyone isn’t as refreshed and ready to go as he is.

The reason DH can have this approach is that I do all the laundry, iron and hang clothes in his and everyone else’s closets, and pack everything for me and for all of the kids while doing other prep like cleaning out the fridge and setting things up for the dogsitter. So of course he thinks it’s overkill- he doesn’t have to do a week’s worth of tasks the night before the trip in addition to packing his suitcase!

Ugh sorry meant that DH thinks it’s weird to get them out *before* the night before!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH thinks it’s weird to get the suitcases out the night before. But he also doesn’t help prep for family trips. He treats it like his business travel and throws a few things in the night before and then stands by the front door the next morning wondering why everyone isn’t as refreshed and ready to go as he is.

The reason DH can have this approach is that I do all the laundry, iron and hang clothes in his and everyone else’s closets, and pack everything for me and for all of the kids while doing other prep like cleaning out the fridge and setting things up for the dogsitter. So of course he thinks it’s overkill- he doesn’t have to do a week’s worth of tasks the night before the trip in addition to packing his suitcase!

So your husband is useless. So many of them on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Weeks ahead of departure!

[Anonymous]

Before having kids I packaged the night before. Now that I have kids I do exactly what you are doing to make sure that I don’t forget anything.

DH couldn’t care less how/when I
Pack for myself and the kids.