Everyone seems to be in denial and isn’t doing anything. Son is going camping and daughter is till seeing her boyfriend every nite … Frankly, this year I am much more chill, whatever happens happens, whatever they need they can get by one means or another, right?
Yup. Have enough underwear and a toothbrush, something for the bed, whatever ID is required, and an idea of the books and supplies needed. They can wear the same tee shirt every day, if they don’t plan. It’s one of those happy parent experiences to see how they either say, “Mom/Dad, you were right” or they figure it out. (Sometimes, they don’t actually tell us we were right, but we get the same satisfaction.)
Yep…my motto: there are stores everywhere.
Yup, what thumper said. Even in Ubekibekibekistan stores sell toothpaste. Although kid planned her fellowship abroad a little better than her college dorm move-in. 
rumrunner, just make sure the tuition is paid and all is good.
With all the college stuff that people pack, make sure you save room for your child!
The less you have to take, the less you have to move home at the end of the year.
The only thing I get worked up over is prescriptions. There are lots of ways to handle the summer-to-school-year transition (and the reverse) but you need to be on top of it.
Ds leaves for India on Sunday, and he seems to have given it no thought. I’m trying to not think about how he’s given it no thought.
Surely there must be a name for this mental disease that afflict so many of our young.
Young people don’t obsess the way we do, they don’t see the world as a series of threats and misadventures the way us old farts do. Among other things, they don’t believe there is disaster just over the horizon, and if they find they have lost something or don’t have something, they’ll make do until they get it (well, okay, outside of certain ‘panic items’ that is:). They also don’t know that unlike us wise old folks, that when you get outside your own town/area, people live where they have to hunt and fish and gather to eat, the nearest store is a hundred miles away and it is either 20 below zero there or 110 degrees in the shade with no water lol…
Seriously, they probably aren’t freaked out because a)they are young and b)they know they have us worrying about the details:)
And c) - they are used to everything being “instant” thanks to the modern tech 
When I go on a trip abroad I pack the night before and I never have a problem. My friend starts packing a week in advance. She can’t figure out how I get everything done at the last minute without forgetting something or stressing out. I can’t figure out how she isn’t driven nuts by having all her things packed up, and all that time spent packing seems a waste to me. We both go on the trip and have a great time.
Sue22, you are describing the difference between my husband and me. I need to pack a day or two ahead, so I have time to think about anything I forgot to pack. My husband needs to pack at the last minute so he doesn’t forget anything.
Different brains function differently. As long we we know what works for us, all is well.
I don’t really pack in advance, just move things to their own corner. Gives me a chance to fine tune and double check. It’s what I recommended to my girls.
Used to travel a lot on biz, was overconfident on one trip…forgot to pack any blouses/shirts. I had flown in something uber casual. The client was 10 miles from anywhere, I had no car. Last time I made that mistake.
The worst thing I forgot? A zipper for my mouth!
When I traveled a lot, I kept meds, underwear, makeup in carry on. No problem throwing in clothes at last minute. Now, I barely travel, so I put things on bed in guest room. As the week goes by, I fine tune and narrow down.
As far as a D traveling to India, I would probably ask her to get things together on Saturday, so if last minute items are needed, there would be time to shop on Sunday.
here’s what she forgot, hiking boots, tank tops, bracelet, twinkle lights, peds for keds, passport
Passport?!? ^#(^
haha yeah, in case she goes to Montreal from Vermont. but it will be good to have when she signs up for her work-study. also sent her, her social security card. I don’t like doing that, I like keeping them in a lock box at home.