All moms should be divas...this one just happens to be in Jersey!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Seriously, underwear never occurred to me?

This weekend we went down the Shore for a night. To any outside NJ, we went to the beach. The Jersey Shore is not that skanky place on MTV. It's family friendly, so down to our house we went. My StepD and her husband are year 'round tenants so we're lucky we don't have to do the summer-weekend-stock-up each time. We keep the basics there which helps the departure chaos a lot. Early in the season, though, there's not much down there except the "I'd never wear these at home but they're OK to leave here just in case" clothes. Early in the season, however, stockpiles are thin so packing must be done. I've yet to figure out why that never seems to end well.

You know you'll pack for a baby. Preschoolers and young school aged kids will need intervention. It's incredibly disheartening that my 12yr old son may never be able to pack two shirts and two shorts that stand a chance of matching. Until his recent infatuation with boxers, underwear never hit his packing radar. If he weren't wearing shoes in the car he'd be barefoot every trip. He does remember his PSP cell phone, and nuclear-strength-fragranced AXE body wash. Only parents of tween/teen boys or HS teachers can appreciate my sheer delight that he packs AXE. All. The. Time. I don't even know where he gets it.

My 10 year old is pretty decent in this regard which helps me focus on me come packing time. Flip flops may be forgotten at times, but he can match clothes and recall you need a swimsuit to swim. He remembers that he doesn't go commando each day, and even thinks through pajamas for strolling around a crowded house. My on-the-verge-of-pubescent son can't grasp that boxer briefs are not appropriate attire in and of themselves. I give him a list, or have him write what I dictate, but no results. This all sets in motion the downward spiral of confusion.

Despite the best intentions, I always seem to be racing through the house glomming up my own stuff like a crazy person after unpacking/repacking the boys' bags. I'm such a hardass, I don't let him pack six sleeves of gum, 4 bags of chips, a PSP and AXE for a long weekend. Well, I should say I won't let them ONLY pack that. I'm a real bitch right? Every time, we have madness and drama heading out to excursions. Shore house, Williamsburg, Florida-- always chaos. I can pack six days ahead with three lists, and STILL something is left out.

The disheartening pattern is what gets omitted, whose things. In the asylum that is our house, MY things are the things I keep forgetting. In a race to get them taken care of, I'm but a frazzled woman with a half done list and husband starting the car before my hair is even done. It's gotten to the point that any trip secretly includes a Google search ahead to see where the closest Walgreens is. I can tell you every Target within 20 miles of the hotel we stayed at in Florida. I've lost track of how many makeup bags, bathing suits, and contact lens cases I have had to buy at quadruple resort town rates. I can swipe my husband's T-shirts for sleeping, but he gets really peeved when he finds his awesome razor in the shower. I've asked if he prefers the alternative to a wife with smooth legs, and he promptly hits the sundries shop for me.

Moms always are putting others first. Airlines remind us to have the basic sense to provide oxygen for ourselves to enable us to save others. I guess packing should be no different. I'm so preoccupied that they may not have socks that I get completely derailed. Thank God they have belts so their pants will stay up. That will come in handy when I drag them into CVS for deodorant.

Right now, my mind is wandering for tomorrow. It's wandering because even though we only needed to pack for two beach sessions and an overnight, once again I ran amok. One night going from our home to a house an hour and a half away, and they've done it to me again. (Yes, I'm pinning it on them.)  Son1 has his cell phone charger. Son2 has his Nintendo DS and toothpaste to last a month. I, however, came back from the beach to realize in my "just get in the @*#&$ car!" mind I lost sight that I had some things already at the shore house, but not some, how shall I say-- "key essentials." How crazed was I chasing their stuff that I forgot my own underwear? Really?

Gotta run to go GoogleMap Victoria's Secret.

10 comments:

  1. I am so thankful that we did not do a lot of traveling with our children. I tend to make lists and then forget where they are. The packing thing never did get better until I married for the second time and we got into RVs. Its always ready with basic food in the frig and several changes of clothes.

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  2. So funny, our first trip or two to my in laws shore house always involves me forgetting some key item as well. I know it was underwear one year because I keep a couple down there that I'm sure wouldn't fit anyway. Lol

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  3. that's why i use a checklist. kids stuff is first and the essentials for traveling, my stuff has made it's way on there. it's been such a life saver.

    there are some really nice ones to print out and it helps to have something cute to use as a checklist. take that time and make room for your self.

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  4. I do the same thing and in fact have also forgotten my own undies not once, but twice.

    I've really enjoyed your blog since I found it a couple days ago, so much that I've listed it for an award today :) http://bit.ly/bSZj7j

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  5. All Jersey moms are Divas! Just moved from Nutley, hey girl! Living in the midwest now but man do I miss NJ, NYC, and pumping my gas really sucks.

    What part of the shore do you go to? I love how MTV chose sleazeside heights to further stereotype jersey. Thanks, really. Stop over to my blog sometime--I mean it! I talk about my days out east a lot.

    Take care! (Riiiight?)

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  6. Ugh sleazide and those morons are NY'ers! We go to Sea Bright. You have to read this post front @SaucyB SO perfect: http://www.lifeofsaucyb.com/2010/05/psa-on-behalf-of-state-of-nj-part-i.html

    I have an item you will LOVE - but not ready to ship for another 2 weeks. hehehe (blatant tease to sell AND drive readership)

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  7. @TennesseeMom- THANKS! My first blog award. I'd like to thank the academy... my parents....

    Cross plug on its way : )

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  8. My ex and I took our two boys to England Ireland, and Greece. The packing nightmares. I remember having to get rid of a whole suitcase full of stuff in Dublin. Airline regulations changed while we were on our trip!! We took over part of the seats and completely repacked and decided what things we could most cheaply replace, or they were outgrowing anyway. What a nightmare! Your travel posts are so true.
    sylacesays.blogspot.com

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