DH thinks I'm nuts, you tell me... About This Page:

[CinderAbby]

I think care packages are nice for "poor starving college students." I am not sure I would send one to any of my adult children.

Wow - I've never associated a care package that way. I've always looked at it as "I care about you and am thinking about you, here are some things I wanted to send. I hope you enjoy them." I myself, as an adult, would love to receive such a package from someone nor would I hesitate to send one to an adult.

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

I am not sure why your DH thinks you are crazy. Will your DD use the things you send her? Can she make her own fresh? I am not sure my kids wouldn't have thrown most of the stuff you mention away. They would not like fake mashed potatoes, packaged stuffing, any kind of jello and instant gravy. They might do the pumpkin bars. You know your DD and what she would think. Will she like this or prefer to make her own mashed potatoes and some homemade stuffing with a day old baguette? My DD probably would have preferred some high quality chocolate in Thanksgiving/fall shapes.

I think care packages are nice for "poor starving college students." I am not sure I would send one to any of my adult children. They are grown up now and independent. Is that why your DH does not think it is the best idea?

I also wonder if it will make your DD miss being home more. Could that be why he doesn't support it.

I assume your DD is making a decent living. Would sending her a gift card for a nice meal on Thanksgiving day be well received or looked upon as questioning her independence?

Great ideas, too. We make the real thing at home, but I know she made the instant stuff when she was at university, too. She's making decent money, but I think she'd enjoy the decorations and some of the foods. I like the idea for a gift card. One of her French friends asked if she wanted to go hunt for turkey! (She hates hunting) He, like quite a few Europeans, thought that all people from the USA hunted and had guns.

I thought about chocolates - but she's in FRANCE. Near Belgium and Switzerland. No chocolate I could send would compete with European candies!

I don't think it will make her miss home more. She said she loved the care package I sent in October. Made her happy. She says the home-sickness is pretty much gone, and she keeps herself pretty busy.

[Huntermom]

I think you need to decide the purpose of the box.. And then it will be easy to decide what to put in it. What do you want it to say? I think sending run of the mill for stuffs as a way of helping someone who may not be able to get it themselves.

I think you can say I am thinking of you with either foods (stuff) she loves but cannot get there. I threaten my older son with New England apples all the time but I am not convinced they will arrive tasting like NE fall apples. I think Texas apples are not nearly as good. Is there a local candy shop, bakery or food shop that has special stuff she loves? I remember sending a gallon of maple syrup to my brother in law in California one year as it was what he really wanted. I brought down a small package of maple candy for DDinLaw last trip because she had never had it. That to me says home nicer than stove top stuffing (and I wouldn't want to think of her missing her family and eating a meal of packaged imitation foods.) There are so many regional products that are not widely sold. My ex liked scrapple which I had nvver heard of and would have loved someone to send him some. My sister sends linguica and chorico Portuguese sausages to her son who is now in the south. He could order them to be shipped but it is her way of sending a bit of home to him. Also homemade is better than packaged.

I also think you can send her a gift card for a good meal with a friend, a trip to a gourmet food shop where she nay not be able to regularly go and something fun to do. Some people love gift cards, other prefer not to get them. You know your DD. And seeing as she is making good money at her first job, I would not send anything that says you need extra money.

Darlene, I disagree. I think sending a care package with stuff that can be bought at the local grocery store may not be seen as a thoughtful gift by many people, especially a child starting out on her own. I think college kids, especially those who cannot make it to a supermarket easily, are happy to get a jar of peanut butter, ramen noodles and instant oatmeal. But that is college food, not adult food and Theresa's daughter is just starting out on her own. Even if things are hard, most kids want to do it on their own.

[Ashli]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

Wow - I've never associated a care package that way. I've always looked at it as "I care about you and am thinking about you, here are some things I wanted to send. I hope you enjoy them." I myself, as an adult, would love to receive such a package from someone nor would I hesitate to send one to an adult.

I agree completely. To me, a care package (regardless of the contents) says "Thinking of you & thought this would make you smile." I love sending/receiving them.

[joelsmom]

Originally Posted by Teresa

I love the ideas! She doesn't have a table - she has a studio with a counter that is actually fairly large, but I'm sure she could stick a turkey somewhere!

Thank you all so much. DH just thinks sending the instant stuff is silly. He doesn't know why she can't just figure things out there.

One word...MEN! They don't get it. Don't let him dampen your enthusiasm to send a bit of Thanksgiving to Kathryn.

[Huntermom]

Why not tell DH you are sending a Mom box and ask him to put something in it. It does not have to be food but maybe a book he thinks she would enjoy, a card game they used to play or even a mix of music. Some thing that says I am thinking of you. And don't call it a care package.

[Bubbles53]

Please send the package. When I was serving overseas, getting a care package was a hug from home. You could include your family receipes, then she can get local food stuff and prepare them herself. She could invite over a few friends and serve up a holiday from home. If there is something special she loves, include it. make up the seasonings you use in your stuffing and pie and add those. Just so you know, she will love whatever you send because you took the time to send it. Include a family picture from one of your holidays. Its the little things. Oh bye the way you are not crazy for caring about your child no matter the age. Have fun and wish your daughter well.

[Hugmonster]

Personally as a grown adult I would still love a package from Mom. Especially someplace I cannot get my Kraft Mac and Cheese. I grew up on that and it is my comfort food.

[jenifermg0]

As others have said...definately send the box.
As to what you put in it - that is entirely dependent on what your DD will like!

I know it's hard to send things that aren't going to get broken up or stale, but what about doing this:

* Bake her FAVORITE cookies (or brownies etc) and then using a FoodSaver, vacuum-pack them in packages of two or three. I did this for my DS when he was on a week long canoe trip with his scout troop. It kept the cookies fresh and in one piece even in his backpack, so it's a great way to ship them.

* Get her things that say "HOME" and that she can't get over there.

* Hint to her to maybe send you a little "care package" of stuff from there that you can't get over here...like those chocolates you were mentioning earlier!

* If you are crafty, make her a scarf or mittens or a small lap blanket that will remind her of home (and Mom of course).

* If there is some special recipe that your family has always done for the holidays, send her a copy - more than likely she would be able to find all the ingredients to make it. I'm guessing that she has at least a basic kitchen so she should be able to cook. If necessary, send her a small hand mixer, bowl, spatula and baking pan - if she doesn't already have these with her. If your recipe has some odd thing that is regional to your area, include that in your box (as long as it isn't perishable).

* Lastly, make sure to fill all the little corners of the box with your love and hugs...no one will actually see these, but your DD will know it's there.

[JoanneS]

When I lived in NC, I craved Prince Spaghetti and I loved getting packages with spaghetti and necco wafers and items that just came from Massachusetts. Send the box. It will be appreciated no matter what you put in it because it says, "I care, and I miss you."

[rella]

When my DS was "in service" in Japan, I sent him holiday care packages...a Halloween plastic jack-o-lantern filled with candy...a bunny Easter basket filled with candy.....etc.
For Thanksgiving...I sent him a "dessert/snack I always made when he was a child.....and still make now. A candy cornucopia.
It's a waffle ice cream cone filled with trail mix, goldfish crackers, nuts... etc. I just sent the box of cones and bags of "goodies" to fill. He "helped" make these when he was little and got a "kick" out of getting this. He told me that it embarrassed him......but....."that's OK, keep sending them". I think he liked the attention he got from his shipmates/friends......they didn't get "care/love packages".

[Fortissimo]

When I was a freshman in college everyone in my dorm was getting care packages from home except me. Being the smart alack I am, I send my mom and empty box with a not that said, "Please fill and return."

A week later I did get that box back. It was filled with packing peanuts and nothing more.

Now we know where I get my smart alackness from.

[Luvsun]

I love the care package idea! My boys live here in the states and I send them boxes with items they love all of the time!
When Adam was still a bachelor I would make a double batch of chili (I gave him the recipe and he tried making it but he would always tell me it didn't taste like mine!), I would then freeze the chili. Then I would pack up the chili in an insulated collapsable cooler and pack ice bags around it. I would send the chili next day to Denver. He never knew when it was coming and he was always thrilled when he would get the surprise package!
I also send Adam and Zach home made chex mix in early November every year. Chex mix is a a must have for all fall activities with our family!
I love all of the great ideas that you have gotten! I love the ideas of the Thanksgiving paper plates and napkins! And Darlene's idea of the foldable tissue paper decorations is another great idea!
I am sure Kathryn will love having a bit of home arrive at her door in France!