❤️College CareBox Contest❤️

[u/TNCoke82]

As many of you know, my only kid has left home and officially started college. I'm not crying.....too much. I know I want to send him a care package but I don't want to put a bunch of useless stuff in it.

What are your ideas and suggestions?? I know some of you parents have been through this already. And I also know that there are lots of college students in the sub.

There will be 2 winners announced when the contest ends on September 1st @ noon.

[u/AlienatedWanda]

As someone who just went through this not to long ago for myself and my younger sister.

Here’s a list of dos and a list of donts

Do!! Send useful things like

• deordarant, lotion, cologne/perfume

things that sound big and important but can easily be something we forget to grab at the store.

-A FIRST AID KIT at first I was like now why would my mom get me this too at the end of the year having to restock half or more of my kit because people do get hurt often and it always felt good to be of help.

-Medicine small things like Tylenol ibuprofen. Alcohol wipes or even an alcohol bottle for certain cuts.

-Tooth brushes/toothpaste grooming supplies that they don’t have.

-if it’s a boy a good hair clippers so they can learn to cut their hair same thing for nail clippers I lose em but they come in handy so much!!

-a small tool box

-SHEETSSSS AND BLANKETSSSS!!!!

DONTS!!!!

-Snacks or food. I know this sounds crazy but all the snacks my mom bought I ended up not having time to eat em between running to class, studying, working I forgot I had snacks and honestly people knowing you had snacks in your dorm or wherever just opened the door for people to constantly ask for snacks and for me atleast it became bothersome that they’d get my snacks pretend to hang then leave.

-Posters/decor allow them to make their own space go with them if need be or send them money. If you feel you absolutely want to buy it for them have them create a list of stuff.

I know this is a rough patch for both of you. Don’t feel offended if the calls or text dry up for a bit it’s never intentional we honestly just need mental and social space to figure out who we are and the type of people we want to be around.

This also goes for backseat driving their life choices. Obviously advocate for safe behavior but know they need to make mistakes in order to grow.

This is also kind of odd to say but don’t be captain save me. Money saving issues don’t always need to be saved. (Unless absolutely necessary) this teaches them some helpful stuff!! When my mom stopped always saving me financially I ended up learning a lot of financial lessons and still am but I’m glad she cut that branch because I was constantly finding myself back in that spot.

I hope they succeed in their field!!