Packing It!

The kids and I recently went away on a holiday camp, where I was cooking for 40 people. Because of the enormous task of shopping for all these people, plus trying to still serve up something every night before we went, I asked the kids to pack their own bags. This experience has shown me that packing a bag is not a natural instinct, it is a learned one. Obviously, our warrior ancestors just walked out in what they were wearing, because that seems to have been the approach my children took, particularly my second son.

First, he packed the Pokemon book, even though we weren't allowed to take the Nintendo DS. At that point he informed me that he'd started packing and proudly showed me his progress. You can just imagine what I was thinking, can't you! Next he packed Teddy and about 5 other stuffed toys, severely limiting the available space for actual clothing. After some prompting he packed some undies, yep, just one pair (Ewww!). With more prompting he packed about 10 pairs for 5 nights worth, and then called for me to have another look.

I could see at that point that it was either step in and help, or spend the day running up and down the stairs to see every development in this packing nightmare. So I did what every mother clinging to sanity does - I tipped out the bag and showed him how to pack. Somehow we still ended up with room for the Pokemon book, but Teddy got a guernsey over all the others.

So what did I learn? Never underestimate the frustration that rises from delegating tasks to others. When delegating tasks be prepared to take twice as long as if you'd actually just done it yourself. And lastly, the Pokemon guidebook will always be considered more important than clean underwear by a 7 year old boy.

"Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart." - Proverbs 3:3