Sons: Packing for college

[Anonymous]

How far away is school? I’d help him, but let him know that if he forgets something, he’ll need to pay for you to mail it. Or he’ll need to come home and get it. Or he’ll need to buy it from wherever on his time. Honestly, this is a low-stakes way to allow him to fail at moving. I know an adult who waited until the night before to try to move her stuff. If you can afford to let him fail, I would. Obviously, the calculus is different if school is far away and money is tight.

[Anonymous]

My son arrived at school last month with basically nothing but a backpack, and even then, he waited until the last minute to pack. I only convinced him to use a list by reminding him he wouldn't be able to shop all summer if he forgot something. Assuming yours can, I would let some of this go. Target delivers.

[Anonymous]

We dodged this w/DD. She took Amtrak to college. She shipped her stuff and we arranged UPS to pick-up from our house on a date the week before. With (some) daughters you tend to worry about volume. They want to pack their whole room. We placed a certain number of boxes in front of her. That's it. Put whatever you want inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son doesn’t have that much stuff to bring. I’m not packing extra sheets (1 set) or towels (2 towels+1 beach towel) because he won’t use them. He has a computer, xbox, 6 tshirts/shorts/undies. Basic supplies for laundry. He has a generous meal plan and there’s a Walmart a 10 min walk away. That’s it. He just doesn’t care and never has.

This seems about right. Buy some hangars if you are feeling nervous. But who cares if it's organized? He clearly doesn't. Get him some giant foldable bags and let him just toss stuff in frantically Friday/Saturday. Then on the other end, make his bed for him, put the hangars in the closet and WALK AWAY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son doesn’t have that much stuff to bring. I’m not packing extra sheets (1 set) or towels (2 towels+1 beach towel) because he won’t use them. He has a computer, xbox, 6 tshirts/shorts/undies. Basic supplies for laundry. He has a generous meal plan and there’s a Walmart a 10 min walk away. That’s it. He just doesn’t care and never has.

This seems about right. Buy some hangars if you are feeling nervous. But who cares if it's organized? He clearly doesn't. Get him some giant foldable bags and let him just toss stuff in frantically Friday/Saturday. Then on the other end, make his bed for him, put the hangars in the closet and WALK AWAY.

I put hangers in box, but doubt they will be used. Son has always just thrown everything on top shelf in closet in a heap or shoved in a drawer.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I'd pack for him is a little box of health supplies. Put: Advil, tylenol, Sudafed, Zyrtec, cough medicine, bacitracin and band aids. Maybe a thing of clorox wipes, but that might be ambitious.

[Anonymous]

11:56 I thought carefully about what items were important to me, to feel like a good parent. Irrational I know but something I could control. A winter coat, boots, a short list of bare necessities.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been building a small stack for my son who is otherwise clueless about it: a shower caddy, sets of sheets, a desk lamp, a laundry bag, etc. I see pictures of college girls’ dorms and they look like Pottery Barn catalogs, and then these boys live like monks. It’s funny.

[Anonymous]

Son has always just thrown everything on top shelf in closet in a heap or shoved in a drawer

I asked a friend how the dorm was furnished. A bed, a desk. "A desk? A desk and chair? Do they use the desk?" No, no. The desk is where the electronics go. Piled on top. The chair, clothes get thrown on the chair. If they might wear them again. Otherwise, clothes go on the floor.

[Anonymous]

My son loves the Extra Large Ikea bags called "Frakta." He rejected, what I thought was great, a huge rolling equipment bagvlike his football coaches used. Both options slid under the dorm bed and fit everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have suggestions for getting your boys to pack up for school?

I am trying to let my son take charge of this college packing process. He doesn't want too much stuff, tho I did convince him that he should have more than just sheets on his bed in a colder climate! I've gotten what he's asked for and have encouraged him to start organizing his things. He seems to think that because he has to wear clothes until we leave on Saturday, he can't pack anything!! When I mentioned that he could pack up his desk items, he says that can wait until later because it will all go into his backpack. (It won't all fit in the backpack.) He's allowed to move things into the living room so he can see things better and pack it up in an organized way, but I really think he's going to do this all on Friday night after he gets off of work and then he will realize he's missing something important.

I am venting here because otherwise I will vent at him.... Send advice and patience please!

Honestly, maybe not. In my oldest son's dorm, they cranked up the heat so high in the winter that most kids complained it was too hot. No one was using a blanket or comforter in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:56 I thought carefully about what items were important to me, to feel like a good parent. Irrational I know but something I could control. A winter coat, boots, a short list of bare necessities.

That's great! On Friday put those things in a box and let him do the rest. Part of college is learning how to find and provide the things you need on your own. He'll do just fine.

[Anonymous]

My DH went to a military academy and did not realize that my DS needed to pack anything.

[Anonymous]

Print a list from a webpage.

Give him your Amazon and Target log in information for anything he forgot.

It’s fine if he forgets stuff.

[Anonymous]

Mine packed the night before he left.

Wasn't on his mind before then. It all worked out.