There is a great thread, from 10 yrs ago but still entertaining, on College Confidential called, La Dee Da - Why rush the packing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is your son. Doesn't he have a room in your house?

Ugh, he's 24.

Really? I'm 44 and I have a room at my parents' house. Of course they use it for a guest room too, but the closet is still filled with childhood stuff and everyone refers to it as my room (and my brother's room is referred to as my brother's and has his stuff; it still has his twin bed).

That's pathetic.

I would let him leave it. Not scattered all over but whatever he wants to come back to

It saddens me when parents don't seem to actually like their kids. Kindly explain what you want to do, but for god's sake store his stuff while he is gone. Not just "a trunk." It isn't like he has a place to put his shit while he is gone except your house.

Get a trunk, whatever size you're willing to store and tell him you're willing to store what fits in there (us a bike if he has one) and the rest needs to be donated or otherwise managed.

My son was leaving on a year-long international fellowship (around the same age as OP's son) and I originally said he had to clear out his room so I could use it as a guest room. Then I relented, because I saw that was under a lot of stress with preparing for the move. Where would he put it? In storage? That costs money. Give it all away? He might come back and want some of the stuff that was carelessly tossed or donated. My advice is to wait until he returns to get rid of anything. If you need to organize or box up some things in the meantime, do so but don't make him do a big job like that right before he leaves.

Just tell him to pack it up.

Ok, he is leaving in a couple of weeks, so hopefully he will do it. I wouldn't make a big fuss about it and would just "live with the mess." Is it all the stuff that he has no clue where to put? Is he hoping to store it at your house? Or is it stuff he is packing? He might be assuming that you are happy to keep his things at your house... in that case a talk is needed. I would have no problem with my DS using up part of my basement as a storage, but if this is something you are not willing to do, just be honest with him.

Oh, god, yes, to a PP who says she "still has a room at her parents home." Yes, you have a few knick knacks on the shelves. But are the drawers and closet filled with your clothing? Of curse not. Clean it up, son. Box it, carry to basement, it'll be here when you move back so you can take it to your next apartment. Which will NOT be here, at home, with Mommy and Daddy.

Anonymous wrote:"Pack up what you want me to save for you. Everything else goes to Goodwill on July 7."

+1 this is what we say to our 4 and 6 year old every night. Put it away or it gets donated or thrown out. Works like a charm.

Anonymous wrote:"Pack up what you want me to save for you. Everything else goes to Goodwill on July 7."

This. If a 24 year old man can't do this, he's in big trouble and his parents have been helping/babying him for too many years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is your son. Doesn't he have a room in your house?

Ugh, he's 24.

Really? I'm 44 and I have a room at my parents' house. Of course they use it for a guest room too, but the closet is still filled with childhood stuff and everyone refers to it as my room (and my brother's room is referred to as my brother's and has his stuff; it still has his twin bed).

honestly, he's not going to care about any of that stuff in 2 years. He probably won't even remember he had it. I would tell him that he needs to box up anything he wants saved, and feel no guilt about donating the rest after he leaves.

Anonymous wrote:He is your son. Doesn't he have a room in your house?

Ugh, he's 24.

Good for him planning some service, I hope he has an amazing and safe time.