I used to say the answer is unpacking, but today I'm going to do a 180 and claim that packing is a much more horrible task. We're leaving for our two-week vacation tomorrow, and my mind is spinning as I try to remember everything I need to do. My job is to pack my stuff, the kids' stuff, and the dog's stuff. That's a lot of stuff, so it's a good thing I'm a fan of lists! My husband, on the other hand, will be packing only his own stuff. (I like to joke about that, but I'm not sure my husband appreciates my humor. ☺.)
Remind me about this post when I'm back from my trip and complaining about having to unpack...
Well, I'm down to the wire now. My family and I leave for our two-week vacation tomorrow morning. So far I've gotten a grand total of—wait for it—zero bags packed. My mind is swimming with all the things I still have to do: errands to run; stuff to buy; laundry to wash, dry, and fold; suitcases to pack...
I need a packing miracle...or maybe just the hilarious Mr. Bean:
In other news, remember when I peeled my finger a few weeks ago? Well, guess what I did again yesterday afternoon. You got it. Clearly, apples, potato peelers, and I should not mix. However, my kids were kind enough to give me one of their cool
Band-Aids, so it's all good. ☺
This week I have to do something I really, really don't like to do. Unfortunately, I can't avoid it any longer.
I have to pack.
On Sunday we're going on our annual journey back home to visit my parents. I look forward to this trip all year. Growing up, I was the kid who never really wanted to venture far from family, but as it turned out, I'm the one who ended up living the farthest away. So my husband, my kids, our dog, and I have a thousand-mile trip to look forward to, if I can get over one hurdle:
Packing.
I don't like packing. Actually, that's a bit of an understatement. I loathe packing, especially since around here it seems to go hand in hand with cleaning.
Confession: I am not Monica Geller.
During the time we're gone, our next-door neighbor will be going into our house every day to check on our cat, and, since I don't want her to think I'm a complete slob, I need to make sure the house is clean before we go. My husband thinks I'm being ridiculous, but I think most women can probably understand where I'm coming from. Also, it's nice to come home to a clean house, isn't it? It's just too bad I have to clean it first in order to get it that way.
So this week will be filled with laundry and folding and packing and finding toys and buying last-minute items and explaining to the kids why they can't take their gigantic dollhouse and big yellow dump truck with us and late nights and exhaustion and looking through the suitcases for things I packed too soon and last-minute laundry and take-out pizza and arguments about what counts as a necessity and trips to the grocery store for snacks and cleaning and more cleaning and moments where I pull my hair out and...
You get the picture. I'm sure you've all been here before.
And since you have, do you have any tips for me? Any stories? Any ways to help me procrastinate?
Because have I mentioned? I really, really don't like to pack.