<p>We probably send 1-2 per semester. One always goes just before T’Giving because DD doesn’t get to come home. It has Turkey soup, stove top stuffing, other things, and a small home-made pie that’s been frozen and packed like crazy. We sent a smaller care package to her last semester when she was in Japan - it cost $50 to send and that was the cheapest carrier! :eek:</p>
<p>I rarely sent packages while in UG. One time, the package was returned because he didn’t pick it up from P.O. When he was living in grad school dorm, someone at desk could sign for packages and email the worm. Only then could I send b/d cupcakes and valentine goodies, etc. now that he is in apt for awhile, the care packages will sit and rot in post office. So, my desire to stay in touch in concrete ways will need to be expressed in other ways.</p>
<p>I don’t know what or when I am going send them but I am looking forward to doing it. :)</p>
<p>
Who dares to have a video call (video Skype or facetime) every week? It seems too intrusive to me. (Don’t tell me that you may even attempt to track where your loved one is via the location service on the cell phone. I heard a horror story that, there is an online camera in the hallway at a college. One mother spent an awfully lot of time staring at the computer screen and hopefully could have a glimp of her daughter or son by chance. Another extreme case is that a computer-literate father tried to monitor and record every key stroke his daughter typed on her PC at home. To be fair, the D was not in college yet. But still, totally inappropriate.)</p>
<p>DS got one Care Package in four years. It was sent his freshman year and he said he really didn’t need or want most of what was in it. End of packages.</p>
<p>DD got NO care packages when she was in college. We did occasionally send her something she requested and would add a treat to the box…but no packages just for the sake of sending something.</p>
<p>DD is in another country now and we do send her packages…but again…these are things she either has requested or we know she needs. We always ask first…it’s expensive to ship there so we don’t want to waste our money.</p>
<p>We DID send our kids cards with little cash treats for holidays, end of term, etc. They appreciated these and the postage was less than fifty cents.</p>
<p>We sent one small care package that was planned to arrive at the end of their first week at school. It had stupid stuff usually, nerf footballs, a deck of cards, maybe a game, etc. It was mainly so they didn’t think we forgot them. After that, only sent one for holidays. Our oldest got so many care packages from other relatives he had about 2 full boxes of stuff to bring home at the end of the first year–first kid on both sides to go off to college so everyone was having fun. After that we did sign up for one that one of the campus groups was using for a fundraiser. He got one the week of finals both semesters. I’ll send that first one for the next two but after that, probably not any more unless they request cookies from home. We figured out with kid #2 that a greeting card and some $$$ was much more appreciated than a care package.</p>
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We do. Our son generally calls us - so it’s when and where he wants, but generally Sunday afternoons. We find our son is much more talkative and natural on Skype than when we just use the phone.</p>
<p>Sent a couple of care packages the first year, but after that, it’s smaller items sent as a surprise when the kid seems to be particularly down or facing a big challenge of some sort. I like to send things through the mail, because it’s always nice to find something in your mailbox besides bills and junk mail. </p>
<p>It doesn’t need to be expensive, either. One year, when D3 was in high school and away for the summer with no TV, I sent her weekly running updates and commentaries on the television program we often watched together. If I had realized she was reading them aloud to her friends at the lunch table every week, maybe I’d have censored myself a little more…</p>
<p>Once or twice a year. I’m random so it’s a surprise when they receive it and I tuck usable food and a usable small gift. I just sent one to my S2 who is in summer school. He makes tea before he bikes over to the college so I sent him an assortment of teas and a ceramic to-go mug with a tight lid and twenty five bucks for this (I saw them in his particular local bike shop) [Buy</a> Coconut Cup Holder for $25.00 at Beach Bikes Outlet](<a href=“BeachBikeOutlet.com is available at DomainMarket.com. Call 888-694-6735”>BeachBikeOutlet.com is available at DomainMarket.com. Call 888-694-6735) He had posted that he rode single handed holding a mug with tea in it and it would slosh on his hand so I knew he must not have had a to-go mug.</p>
<p>But generally I send an “I love you” package only once or twice a year.</p>
<p>I sent one care pkg. to S1 in the first month of his freshman year. He acted as if it were more trouble to go across campus (big state u) to pick it up than it was worth. I never sent another one. Didn’t even bother when S2 went to college.</p>
<p>We sent DS (2000 miles away) a few per year, including birthday and emergency need-interview-clothes express package. I know he prefers cash, and packages encourage clutter.</p>
<p>DD is closer. The only package I sent her was freshman year near the end of the first semester. Her RA organized a special party, with secret packages from family. It had some small treats, Broncos santa hat, and a great photo with little brother many Christmases ago.</p>
<p>Didn’t send any his freshman year and have no plans to send any this year, either. I never sent any the 8 summers he was away at camp, either. </p>
<p>We don’t skype, either.</p>
<p>Pack mom…is your son related to mine:)</p>
<p>^^haha, maybe thumper1. His big state u. is in a city with everything he wanted/needed at his fingertips. When I told him I had sent a pkg., he said “Why? It’s not like I moved to Egypt or something”. That was my clue that I didn’t need to send more!</p>
<p>OP, I understand where your wife is coming from! Gathering goodies for the care package is like a treasure hunt for me. And it gives me that same feeling of pride to look at the cleverly packed box crammed with treats, every one of which is special.</p>
<p>We have a 5 and below by us and it is always good for fun little presents. My son bought my husband these paper folded speakers the can be hooked to his computer for father’s day. I figure I will get some entertaining things to send from there.</p>
<p>H would send care packages to our kids when they are away - their favorite candies, stuff animal…I would generally order from a local merchant to deliver grocery, birthday cake or a mattress. I called up D1 once to let her know that a mattress was coming to her and she should be there to receive it (she told me that her mattress was uncomfortable).</p>
<p>The only time I’ve ever sent a package to my kids at school is when they forgot something at home during a break, and maybe once or twice I’d throw in something extra as long as I was paying to ship a package anyway. Both kids attended college in areas where it was easy to get to many stores, and they took care of their own needs. Knowing my kids, any box of goodies would have languished for weeks in the package room.</p>
<p>Lots of packages freshman year. Maybe one or two sophomore year. I don’t expect to send any for his upcoming junior year.</p>
<p>OP- I belong to the same “club” as your wife! I have never added up how much I have spent in total on priority mail care packages- don’t want to know!!</p>