Packing looks very different for my husband and I.
For starters, I pack for three while he only packs for one. It must be nice to have no one relying on you to make sure the goggles are in the bag, or the “right” socks have a matching pair. He just tosses his clothes in and calls it a day. The only one to disappoint is himself and let’s face it, he won’t be bent out of shape if he didn’t pack enough underwear…
For me, packing starts a month in advance. Do we have shorts and swimsuits that fit? Is there enough time for it to ship to the house? Will the kids even let me have them try on their things or do I just eyeball what we might need?
For him, packing starts the morning of…right after he sleeps in and spends 20 minutes in the bathroom, all while I round up the kids to get them ready.
I pack the entertainment, the clothes, the bathroom items, the footwear, the random items we cannot leave home without, and the most important thing- the snacks. I pack the snacks for the ride to the trip, during the trip, the ride back home, and the extra ones for when we run out and starvation is clearly closing in. And all he does is have the nerve ask why I pack snacks in the first place because “The kids need to learn that we don’t snack all day. They can get over it. I don’t see why you are stressing about this.”
Does he pack snacks for himself? Of course not.
Does he ask for a bite while we are away? Yup.
My response? “You know- we really cannot be snacking all of the time. I’m sure you’ll get over it.”
Packing is different for my husband and I. However, next time, he will pack his own snacks. I just have to add it to my list to remind him.
Teachers Write 
Oh this has so much truth packed in it…so much emotional and physical labor rests in the mom’s hands!!!
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I have to smile with this. So true, especially the snack part. My husband always stole the kids snacks.
Your story reminded me of my cousin who came to visit us from Chile in 2008 with all her 6 children when they were between 16 and 7. She was the principal of a Montessori school. She told the children to pack their own suitcase for a 10 days trip to the US. They were going to drive through 6 states, so each children needed to chose one State, research about it, and decide 2 places where they will stop. Diego, the youngest got Oregon and he chose to stop in our home in Central Oregon and then go to Crater Lake. We went also to Mt. Bachelor. Our choice. It was February. Diego’s suitcase was filled with a humongous bear, a winter coat with a broken zipper and a couple of changing clothes. I still remember skiing next to him at Mt. Bachelor, Diego going downhill with his broken zipper jacket flapping with the wind while he was chatting, chatting, chatting, happy as can be.
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110% true! You capture it all perfectly! Great ending! Thanks for sharing!
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I packed my pre-during-emergency-post trip snacks yesterday 🤪 enjoy your trip!
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Oh my. You’ve so perfectly captured the emotional (and physical) labor differential so many women experience. I am feeling angry for you (and for the world). I hope your husband contributes in other ways! And I hope you’re able to find some relaxation and fun in your travels!
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