The article is authored by Aleksandra Michalska, a journalist at Gazeta.pl.
Fans of summer trips fall into two camps: those who hate packing and those who procrastinate unpacking after returning home. Today, we're focusing on the first group. It turns out that the mere thought of packing luggage sends chills down many people’s spines.
I Pack for Myself, the Kids, and My Husband. The Best Part Is When He Says: "Didn’t We Pack That?"
I love trips, I’d love to go every week if it weren’t for the packing. I can handle packing for myself. But it’s worse when I have to do it for the whole family. Usually, I end up packing for myself, the kids, and my husband. The kids are still young, so that's understandable. But my husband? He thinks two shirts and two pairs of underwear are enough for a week-long trip. So, to avoid thoughts of divorce, I do it for him. The best part is when he says: 'Didn’t we pack that?' That’s when the gates of hell open, and the pleasant atmosphere ends. But I’ll spare the readers the details
- laughed my interviewee Iwona. It turns out she’s not alone:
I've been scolded by my husband several times for not packing this or that for him. Now I pack for myself and the kids, and he throws his things into the suitcase himself. He usually remembers to pack only when we’re literally about to leave
- said Marta.
Iza was saved from such a situation by divine intervention (or just foresight): "Once he asked me to pack for him, but I categorically refused because he’d later blame me for choosing a shirt that was too small or uncomfortable underwear. He accepted that argument. So, the packing process is mostly smooth. I take care of myself, and my husband takes care of himself. We only share responsibility for common items like the first aid kit, where it's first come, first served. What bothers me more is unpacking, because I usually do it right away after returning to get it over with, while my husband’s suitcase can stay unpacked for a week".
Agnieszka also follows a clear division of tasks. But even so, it’s not always possible to avoid confrontations about packing. "At our place, everyone packs for themselves. I can't imagine it any other way. I wouldn’t want someone else packing for me because I know what I need and like. So, it’s mostly hassle-free. Once, we had a funny situation where my partner forgot to bring his jacket back from a trip and blamed me for not checking all the closets before we left" - she laughed.
"My Husband's Only Task Was to Take Everything. The Result? He Forgot"
"We divide tasks by category" - said Karolina. If packing is also a problem for you, it might be worth noting this approach because such a division can prevent many arguments: "My husband packs for himself and takes care of the camping gear, while I handle the food. He’s responsible for the car fluids and oil, and I plan the route and attractions. This works great for us".
However, sometimes a clear division of tasks isn’t clear to everyone, as Justyna discovered: "We decided to take the whole family to the thermal baths. Everything was ready, everything was packed. The snack bag, the swimming gear. My husband’s only task was to load everything into the car. The result? At the pool reception, we realized he forgot to bring it. We went back home. End of story".
Justyna concluded, emphasizing the final "period of hatred". And sometimes, we understand that period all too well.
But, to be fair, it’s not just husbands who are "the bad guys"; women also have their shortcomings. Paulina's partner learned this the hard way: "In our case, it's the opposite. I hate organizing vacations, packing, and all that chaos".
My partner, on the other hand, has organizational skills, so he browses travel agency offers, handles all the formalities (insurance, EHICs), packs us, and orders a taxi to the airport. My only job is to choose my clothes and be ready at the door when the taxi arrives. Just so you know, I do handle other things too. But when it comes to trips, I’m terrible, and if I have to organize something like that, I’m stressed out for weeks beforehand
- Paulina laughed.
