Who does the packing?

Question

When we go on atrip be it a day or a long weekend I pack for everyone. My husband throws what he wants on the bed and my kids pick their clothes (7 & 9) and I set to packing. my in laws always say something because he loads and unloads it all, but he is generally watching TV while I am packing for 4 and I do the unpacking and laundry before hand and after. it works for us we do nto have a problem with it, it just bugs me they say things. He does not have to worry do I have my contacts, I pack everything. So who packs in your family and do you think it is outrageous that I do not help him load/unload, he does not help pack or do the laundry or the shopping for what we need prior to leaving.

I know this is not really a parenting question, but wanted people with kids involved as well.

Answer 1

When my children were small we would go through the items to pack together and I would pack them. As they got older and went on camps without the rest of the family ie with their school or guide or scout group or with friends, they would learn to pack their own things (with a little guidance when they needed). My husband had always done like yours does - puts his clothes on the bed and I pack them. This is because we share a suitcase and I am usually putting in the last things anyway. Also I like to be sure the clothes are put in tidily and don't end up all wrinkled and scrunched. (Nobody likes ironing on holiday). Now that there is just the two of us (the kids have grown up) , we both pack our own bags (one each).  The whole family has always helped to load and unload.

Answer 2

What the heck? I think your MIL just needed something to complain about! We do the same thing in my family- I spend 10 hours doing laundry and packing; hubby spends 10 minutes loading/unloading. Every time, every trip.

Answer 3

my husband packs himself and i pack myself and the four girls. 4 yr old triplets and a one year old

Answer 4

I do the majority of it, because I have a preference in how it is done. As well as what goes in what bag, what's accessible to us, and whats in the back. My husband loads/unloads, and we both handle laundry/shopping for trips. He worked Airport Security for a few years, so he knows the space saving techniques, but isn't as organized as I am. I'd laugh right at them next time they said something, and say "ha, yea you didn't see me getting things ready for this trip now did you". Simple as that.

Edit* well if she's that balsy, I'd say "hmm considering your age, I'd think you'd be a bit more respectful of your son and his family."

Answer 5

My husband packs for himself.  I pack for myself and the four kids.  He loads the car.  I've done the packing enough times to have a better sense of what everybody needs and where to find it; he's much stronger than I am and much better at squeezing everything into the car.

He carries the laundry up and down the stairs.  I do the laundry and put it all away.  He fixes things that break.  I do the errands.  Not every chore needs to be split down the middle.  When we do the dishes, we don't each just do our own; somebody does everybody's dishes.  All families find a distribution of chores that makes sense for them, and it's silly for your MIL to butt in about it.  Presumably there are things her husband does for her, as well.

Answer 6

I pack everything for our family of 4 as well. My hubby will do the same, pick his clothes and throw them in a bag. I usually go through what he has picked and add more or take some out. I also pack for both my kids, they are young and cannot pack themselves so I do it. I know my husband would do it if I asked, but to be honest I know he would forget so much of what we would need and it's just easier and faster to do it myself!

Answer 7

As long as you share the workload, and have no problem between you.  Don't worry about what other people think.  You two seem to have it worked out perfectly. Besides, the kids are too young to do their own packing.

Answer 8

I usually do the packing for the little kids, myself & the family overall (things that we need to bring for everyone to share).  

Teen & dad pack for themselves, but with a little 'did you remember this or that' from me, before we go.  

I'm OCD like that, so it works well for us.

Answer 9

I set out any snacks/ food items we need and hubby packs them.  If we are packing a lunch my husband usually makes the sandwiches.  I pack for clothes and hba's for myself and the kids.  Hubby packs his own clothes and hba's.  I pack camera's, play equipment/toys.  My hubby loads and unloads.  I do all the laundry before and after as well as food prep/shopping.  I think our system is fair.  My husband is a good helper and he is willing to do anything I ask him.  I usually prefer to have him watch the kids while I get the packing done that way I know we have everything we need.