CeeScraps
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 24, 2015 17:34:33 GMT
how soon after school started did you send a care package to your child? What types of things did you send? Our dd is going to school 6 hours away. She knows that she won't be able to come home on weekends. She actually may not be home until Christmas as her finals are immediately following Thanksgiving.
I want to get some things together now and stash them away to send later. Why? Because I teach and Fall is a crazy time at school and will have limited time to run around to collect things to send her.
So...when did you send something?
What did you send?
Any and all suggestions needed!
Thanks
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Deleted
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May 14, 2024 14:20:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 17:37:09 GMT
I sent them about a week or so after she left...and then would send them a couple of times a month. I really think it helped with my DD homesickness.
I sent homemade cookies...lip balm, tissues, funny seasonal items, etc. and a silly card....she actually still has some of things all these years later. I also loved that her college offered care packages during exam time...I would sign up to have one delivered....
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jul 24, 2015 17:37:01 GMT
Ah....? Halloween? One dd was 3 hrs away, and one is 4 hrs away.
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Deleted
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May 14, 2024 14:20:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 17:40:06 GMT
I sent one right away because her birthday is at the beginning of September. Then about once a month or so. Just some goodies, nail polish, and other things I thought she'd use. I also send her themed dish towels for holidays. She loves those because she's too cheap to buy her own for the kitchen.
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CeeScraps
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 24, 2015 18:18:16 GMT
Thanks for the ideas ladies! I can probably go to Hobby Lobby to get Halloween, heck maybe even New Year's and Valentine's stuff at this point! Why? Because we know their Christmas and Thanksgiving stuff is already out.  |
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Post by hop2 on Jul 24, 2015 18:25:32 GMT
My DD is going 2.5 hours away I've already gotten her some stuff. I'm going to hide it in her stuff when we drop her off. I can't send her to band camp without goodies. She's already a bit bummed because she won't be here for hs band camp so I've gotten a giant box /bag of a couple of her favorites to share.
After that I'll take cues from her I can have a box packed and shipped there in 2 days. If it fits it ships lol
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basketdiva
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Post by basketdiva on Jul 24, 2015 18:38:01 GMT
Inexpensive holiday decorations for her door. Things like cardboard cut outs or maybe some cheap garland- something she can toss if she wants. The Dollar Store is great for these types of items.
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Post by ingrid6 on Jul 24, 2015 18:59:13 GMT
3 of my kids are 15 hours away so we don't get to see them nearly as often as we'd like. The first package I sent was probably about 3 weeks after they left. Now I send one every 6 weeks or so. I include favorite lotions, lip balm, conditioner, cookies, body wash, a Starbucks or Dunkin Donut gift certificate and always Cape Cod potato chips for my son. Often times I'll send a Walmart gift certificate as well. They have a Super Walmart nearby where they buy groceries etc. (none are on a meal plan anymore and they've all moved out of dorms and into apartments).
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Post by Kelpea on Jul 24, 2015 19:02:55 GMT
Don't forget Amazon Prime; you can load up stuff in your online cart and they will send package for you. Also check your colleges; we just got a "year of care packages" flier for my daughter's first year at school. The school sends them boxes for different occasions and holidays.
ETA: I just remembered something else! CVS.com often has 25% or 30% off their online site; you can send your child stuff from there (necessaries and snacks and such) for less!
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Post by alissa103 on Jul 24, 2015 19:35:39 GMT
My mom sent me a huge box of homemade baked goods (cookies & brownie bites) after the first week and told me to share in the card. It helped to give me a reason to talk to people in my dorm I hadn't talked to much at that point. A great ice breaker. Especially with the guys  Actually because of that box I met a guy who turned out to be a great friend. he had access to his older sister's car on campus (freshmen weren'allowed to have them). That was very helpful as he always told me when he was going to run an errand & asked if I needed anything/wanted to come. Otherwise seasonal stuff is always fun to decorate your door or to wear (Halloween t-shirt?), seasonal treats, GC to coffee place on campus, etc. |
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melissa
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Post by melissa on Jul 24, 2015 19:55:40 GMT
I don't have a kid who live on a campus, but she does go away every summer and usually lives on a college campus. I find things to send every summer. One of her favorite packages, and one I did not send this year <bad mom>, contains the ingredients for s'mores. I send the graham crackers, marshmallows and Hershey's chocolate bars. Just as alissa103 mentioned above, it's a fun ice breaker. For whatever reason, people come out in droves for them, especially boys from what it sounds like. LOL! I almost did not send them when she did not have access to a microwave one summer and she asked me if they were coming.  |
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CeeScraps
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 24, 2015 21:24:58 GMT
I was going to send her with baked cookies when she unpacked, but maybe I should wait for that. I love the Amazon prime suggestion!! Gosh, then I wouldn't even have to go to the post office.....  I haven't heard anything about boxes sent by the school. So, I will definitely check out the dollar store! That would be perfect for decorations. All of the stores...Walmart, Target, CVS are at least 4 miles away from campus. I figure they will walk there at some point, but I don't see them going that often. Thanks ladies! |
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 24, 2015 21:30:43 GMT
My oldest son came home every weekend and my youngest son, leaving in 24 days, is only going to be 20 minutes up the road. I am pretty sure I will never have to send a care package. My boys like my cooking and become scavengers at dinnertime.
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Post by donna on Jul 24, 2015 22:20:59 GMT
I was a horrible mom. I never sent care packages.My parents never sent me care packages either. I did load them up with goodies anytime I got to see them though.
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Post by hop2 on Jul 24, 2015 22:45:00 GMT
I was a horrible mom. I never sent care packages.My parents never sent me care packages either. I did load them up with goodies anytime I got to see them though. loading them up in person is the same thing no? Surely your not a horrible mom! |
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Jul 24, 2015 22:57:58 GMT
Halloween, but my kids are only about 1.5 hours away, so they get home more often.
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Post by k8smom on Jul 24, 2015 23:02:10 GMT
The colleges that both of my kids attended had prepackaged final packages to choose from before finals each term, so that's what I always did. They had tea, munchies, etc. Here's the options from U of Oregon, check online for the school your dd attends. That's all I ever did for both kiddos. |
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Post by threegirls on Jul 24, 2015 23:13:30 GMT
I was a horrible mom. I never sent care packages.My parents never sent me care packages either. I did load them up with goodies anytime I got to see them though. You are not a horrible mom. My mom never sent me care packages either and I never, ever thought anything negative about her. Really, don't feel bad. My hometown was only 50 miles away but it could have been 2,000 miles away. My parents refused to drive down to see me or pick me up and I was too scared to get a ride home with a stranger (at the time there were reports of women being raped after they had arranged a ride home). I only went home at Christmas (and only because my boyfriend drove me home). I didn't get a (beat up) car until the end of Sophomore year and then I could drive myself. As for the op's question, I think a nice hand-written note in a care package would be treasured. Also, if you have a local candy shop that makes their own candy (or anything local to your hometown) would be a nice comfort of home. |
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Post by Memo on Jul 24, 2015 23:20:29 GMT
In addition to Amazon Prime, look into Amazon Pantry. For $5.99 shipping, you can fill a large box with grocery store type items. We did this a couple of times for our son when he couldn't get to Target for laundry detergent, etc. We also sent him snacks that way. The advantage to this method of shipping was that the package was delivered straight to the dorm via UPS and not to the post office with Priority Mail.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jul 24, 2015 23:28:23 GMT
Are you taking her to school?
I would think you will come up with a ton of things she needs after you drop her off.
I have a sister who is 10 years older than me... she would send me "pizza" money every couple of months.. that is the only care package I remember receiving but I loved it!!
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CeeScraps
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 24, 2015 23:56:45 GMT
Yes, I'm taking her! I think it will be an interesting experience. I'm looking forward to it. She hasn't gotten her dorm/roommate assignment yet. Once that happens she can finish up her shopping. She doesn't want to get bedding until they talk!
The school has their "school bucks" that I can add to her account. Apparently there are a couple of stores close by like the bookstore and another place that will take these. I am trying to think of other things.
**School care packages...I got the one at finals my Freshman year. That was it. My boyfriend was living at home and would come down to visit me. When he would so that my mom would send things with him. That was nice because she'd always send something with him!
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ellen
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Post by ellen on Jul 25, 2015 0:16:20 GMT
I decided to try Amazon Prime for a year because I thought it would be helpful for my daughter to place some orders that can be sent to her quickly rather than having to drive around finding things. I've been paying attention to the businesses located near her campus. I'd like to send her a gift card here & there. She found out this week that her roommate is from the area where she'll be. I love that since my kid knows very little about this area. They are all excited and my daughter feels great about her random roommate assignment.
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oaksong
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Post by oaksong on Jul 25, 2015 0:47:15 GMT
I sent homemade cookies. Also, I sent Halloween goodies in little kid style buckets for him and his roommates. They loved it!
DS orders groceries from Amazon now that he's in a dorm room with a kitchen. Those Amazon boxes are the main thing you see kids bringing back from their campus mailboxes these days.
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Post by txdancermom on Jul 25, 2015 1:00:09 GMT
We sent ours fun cards about once a week - sometimes there would be a small gift card, maybe coupons for things like detergent and kleenex - usually nothing much, but the fun of finding something worthwhile in the mailbox was the reward for them. dh loves shopping for cards and would find silly cards to send.
care packages would evolve over time - there usually was a collection of things that might be needed or fun things that were found for them, and we would send a small priority mail box when there was enough, or the urgent need to send something.
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Actually because of that box I met a guy who turned out to be a great friend. he had access to his older sister's car on campus (freshmen weren'allowed to have them). That was very helpful as he always told me when he was going to run an errand & asked if I needed anything/wanted to come.
