Summertime Smart Packing It’s time to escape to . . . somewhere. Anywhere. It’s just time to get away. Maybe you are only going for a weekend at a nearby cabin, or maybe you are going to a resort across the ocean. Whatever and wherever you go, take these tips with you for a worry-free vacay.
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Try to pack clothes in the same color family. This makes mixing and matching easier and you will need to pack fewer items. Rather than folding neatly, try rolling your clothes. You’ll find that they wrinkle less and you can usually fit more items in your bag. Place heavy or stiff clothes on the bottom and lighter-weight clothes on top. If you are packing breakable items, place them into a pair of socks. The thickness of the sock will protect the item and not take up extra room. Place breakables in the center of your bag surrounded by other clothing for protection. Try to choose clothing that can all be worn with one or two pairs of shoes, as this item takes up a lot of space. To keep your clothing clean, be sure to place your shoes in a plastic bag. To avoid letting any space go to waste, you can put your cell phone charger or other small items inside your shoe.
Every parent has had the same push and pull experience: how to get children to participate in household chores. Chores are an important aspect of growing up. They teach children responsibility and accountability. They build character and when accomplished, they give your children a reason to feel pride. However, there are often times when it seems easier to just do the chore yourself. To avoid a struggle, here are four tips to get your children involved with daily tasks. Let them know what you expect. When children know exactly what you expect of them, they are more likely to do it. Children want to please their parents. They simply need guidance and encouragement to stay on task. Set deadlines. Giving children a timeline for when to accomplish specific tasks will help them learn to allocate time. Have consequences. Children need to learn that all actions have consequences. If your child neglects a task, teaching her this lesson as an eight-yearold will be much less dramatic than when she is eighteen. In reverse, when your children do as you have asked, reward them with something meaningful. Be respectful. It’s important that you are mindful of the abilities of your children and their other commitments. If your child is playing sports on a certain day after school, try not to load him down with chores on that day. June 2021 | 50+ Living | 13
