Taking Stuff with You That You Have to Remember to Bring Back Home

My 6-year old daughter, Amanda, slept over her friend Grace's house this weekend--who lives about 35 minutes away from our house. Her friend's parents drove her home and helped her get eveything she brought back into our house-- sleeping bag, Pillow Pet, and her little rolling suitcase.

I realized, at about 10:30 that evening, that Amanda's winter jacket was missing. She wore it to Grace's house when I dropped her off, but didn't have it with her when she arrived back home. It was unseasonably warm, so she wasn't wearing it.

I had planned to drive out to Grace's house to get it this morning, but luckily Grace's parents noticed it in their car before they left my town and got it back to Amanda--without the necessity of me driving 30 minutes to get there and 30 minutes to get back.

The only other item missing was a glove--that's likely sitting somewhere in Grace's house--which is not that big of a deal since we have others she can use until the two girls get together again in the near future.

Anyway, this got me thinking about how difficult it is in this situation for... a) a child to remember all the things she brought and must return b) the parents who are hosting the sleepover to keep track of the child's possessions and c) the child's parents who are sending their child to the sleepover to remember what was sent and what should arrive back home.

Next time, I'll be making a checklist on the computer with four columns.

1) The first column will list all the items my daughter is taking with her.

2) The second column will be for my daughter to check off as she's putting items back into her suitcase and gathering the rest of her things to take home.

3) The third column will allow the sleepover host's parents to check off that all the items are returned.

4) The fourth column will be for me to double check that everything made it home before I leave if I'm picking up, or before the other parents leave if they're dropping off.

The majority of the work will be done once, since many of the things Amanda would normally bring to a sleepover will be on the list--available for me to make any quick adjustments and print anytime she needs.

I derived this from the travel packing checklist idea and plan to use it for Amanda's next sleepover. This same idea can be used with any event or appointment that requires you to take stuff with you and to bring those things back home.

Comments

[Karis]

This is a great idea! I just started a checklist of items to bring for Thanksgiving...but hadn't considered that I should also consult my list when leaving to ensure that I bring everything home with me.

[Betsy Milstead]

My husband and I live and have lived in Virginia nearly all our 54 years of marriage. In the early 30 years of marriage, we traveled once a year to Florida and North Carolina for vacations. After a number of years, about 6, I realized we needed a listing of what to take with us! Weeks before we left, I collected small objects as prizes for our 2 (later 3) sons. Once a day or more for good behavior in the back of the car, they could put their hands in the bag and choose by feel a gift to play with. Next, I made a list of what clothes and other items we would need. I categorized items: everyday clothing, dress clothing, grooming items, play items (bathing suits, etc.), miscellaneous items. I used a cardboard shirt enclosure for the list and it sat flush against the wall on the closet where I could prop it and see it. I used that for about 20+ years EACH year as a guide to packing. Coming home it would be a guide again. It worked! I would call each son and say, "Bring me all that you need to go to church, including your shoes, socks, ties with the other clothes." And that son would come with what was called for. I read the sequel to CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, which is BELLES ON THEIR TOES, I think, and that showed how a 15 year old girl packed for the whole family to go on vacation after the father died suddenly and the mother was taking care of his business in Europe. This system resolved so many packing problems. The one hangup was with my hats. At the time, women had to have hats which had to have hatboxes! So much room had to be made for those hatboxes!!!!! Hope this helps someone. Betsy Milstead