It starts with a nice clean and organized backpack. Both kids have tablet cases (with headphones, headphone splitters, otg adapters, battery packs, and charge cables that are color-coded), an activity pack with post-its and art supplies, headlamp, and a notebook, sunglasses (oh, and hand sanitizer). Tbomb has a car-sick kit and Snapper has the bag she always wears with her mask, gloves, and hand sanitizer a clear bag with a change of clothes, and some other medical items that she needs.
Next up, mom consults THE LIST. I keep a travel list in my planner so that I am sure to get the necessities!
I make sure that everything that is supposed to stay in their backpacks is there and then I add in the things they need for travel. Here is what I add- it isn't much.
1. The hooded towels above came from Wal-Mart and are perfect travel blankets. They always travel with sleeping bags, but these towels are great for the car, after the pool, or just cool evenings. Winner without lugging a full-size throw. They also use them at home a lot.
2. Tbomb gets a bowl with legos and Snapper gets to pack a doll backpack to put inside hers. She also carries her doll's sleeping bag.
3. I usually throw in a deck of cards or a simple game.
4. A baseball cap
5. Tbomb usually gets to bring along his backyard adventure field tools because he is a budding paleontologist and you never know when you might find dinosaur bones!
We are going to try something different this summer. I was much more responsible when I was their age. When I was Tbomb's age, I went to summer camp, but I don't think he could handle the responsibility that comes with that. So, we are working on it. If we are going for one night, they will be responsible for their own belongings. I got the clear pocket-a-tote from Thirty-One for each of them and their clothing, and hopefully, toiletries will go in that- inside their backpacks.
My goal is that they will be able to handle all of this on their own. I'm just doing it with snapper because I am with Tbomb. She is not ready to be without a trusted adult at all. So, I carry her inhaler for her and if she is with grandparents, they have the inhaler and any other medications she will need.
I actually use this hot pink pouch for her inhaler and mask- it is easy to find in my purse and if she is with someone else, they can spot it easily as well.
I did find something cool last summer that I wanted to share. I found these pill containers while Tbomb was being treated for ITP. They spent the night with their great-grandparents so we could go on a date night to a concert and stay overnight. I put their meds in these containers and labelled them with AM, PM, and their name. It worked well. I wrote inside a reminder for their nasal spray. Their great-grandmother said it worked really well. These containers are about $1 for two and definitely worth it. I actually keep one in my purse with emergency stomach meds for Snapper.
