Back to School Care Packages! -

Home
>
Parenting
>
Back to School Care Packages!

Back to School Care Packages!

I am crying tears of joy mixed with great sadness as my oldest daughter prepares for her freshman year of college at the University of Maryland in the fall. She has already told me I am to send care packages.

So it was neat to receive a school sponsored offer in the mail "aiming for 100% participation" for the care packages they were selling! What could be more fun for her and easier for me than ready-made packages with my "personal, handwritten note" delivered directly to her dorm.

At least that was what I was thinking until I read the details on the "favorite with student" goodie boxes ? the more boxes you buy the better the value. The Welcome Package includes Nerds candies, strawberry twizzlers, fruit candies, potato chips, caramels, Laffy Taffy, atomic fireball candies, Tootsie pops, peanut chews, toffee popcorn, chewy fruit gems etc. Oh yeah there is a mini sports bottle, stationary set and sewing kit in there too.

With the exception of the first package, none of the other boxes contained anything but candy, munchies and other faux goodies, except the Halloween one which boasted a bendable skeleton and a plastic spider friend!

So mom will be making and sending her own care packages! If you have a child going off to boarding school or college, it's easy to make and fill care packages ? and certainly more personal.

Students will always enjoy food. So you may want to include some food items they can't find easily on campus or healthy items that you bake. If you are sending perishables wait until the weather is cool. Goods will easily spoil in hot weather. Cookies can be baked, layered on sheets of wax paper and place in a cardboard gift box (like the inexpensive Xmas boxes). Place this box inside a sturdier heavy duty cardboard box, add padding and your other items. Your student may enjoy baked chips, granola bars, nuts, and other tasty items that won't spoil easily.

Tuck in extras like a first aid kit, sewing notions, tea bags, good coffee, a thesaurus, gift certificate to online vendors like Amazon, or to local shops and restaurants, greetings from the family, CD's, stamps, stationary, phone card, mug, oversized tees,etc. personalize it to your student's interests.

Pack everything carefully being sure to tape down the caps of any lotions you are including to make them leak proof. Be sure you have plenty of padding in the box. Have UPS pick it up at your door by calling their direct 800 number or take it to UPS or to the Post Office.

That's the kind of package that shows you really care!

About The Author

Lee Mellott is the webhost for The PATH Weight Loss: www.fatfallacy.com.

She holds a Masters degree in Education from Hood College. Born in England, she spent most of her childhood in France and Germany. Lee resides with her husband Rusty and their two daughters Katie and Jessica in Maryland.

lee@fatfallacy.com

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112102807.htmlcid=1273140708ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNGD6V15sRGZ8v2KHEOSaX_u9pGBAwGetting Tough on Bullying/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWashington Post,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1And as mounting research shows the negative effects on both the bully and the victim, mental-health professionals, schools, bparents/b and even kids themselves b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Monday-Coldplaycid=1271797112ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNGP3kf6D4NUgWyQfioANNxcuh0k5wimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=GYQyxreckWcJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/phplAo7oVPM.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Monday-Coldplaycid=1271797112ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNGP3kf6D4NUgWyQfioANNxcuh0k5w(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Sherrill Fulghum, New York Music Examiner When artists record an album there is often more songs written and recorded than make it onto the album. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1243-DC-Metro-Area-Parenting-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Safe-Haven-Child-Abandonmentcid=0ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNF1Y0cQd5tKHC1Qjx1Oc0Om16gILgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=DwTvEEwTn98Jimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/phpi71mYJAM.jpg width=53 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1243-DC-Metro-Area-Parenting-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Safe-Haven-Child-Abandonmentcid=0ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNF1Y0cQd5tKHC1Qjx1Oc0Om16gILg(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Michelle Flannigan, DC Metro Area bParenting/b Examiner Last month, a mother abandoned a newborn girl in a garbage sack in Tacoma Park. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.lawrentian.com/home/news/2008/11/21/Features/Queer.Parenting.More.Than.Cute.Baby.Photos-3552084.shtmlcid=1273050426ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNGd0WTKtEwWSKmPNMwTvqFUZmse3AQueer bparenting/b: more than cute baby photos/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLawrentian (subscription),nbsp;WInbsp;-/font nobr20 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-113 four Lawrence University faculty members shared four unique versions of what it is like to be a queer bparent/b in Appleton. While each tale differed in b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1505-Chicago-Special-Needs-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Holiday-leftoverscid=0ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNEglliFkVXsbxYDT7le1JVZ8kwCjAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=10EPqcEdldgJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/Jake_Liefer__photo_by.jpg width=80 height=41 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1505-Chicago-Special-Needs-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Holiday-leftoverscid=0ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNEglliFkVXsbxYDT7le1JVZ8kwCjA(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Kathleen Milazzo, Chicago Special Needs Examiner We all know how great holiday leftovers can be, however these leftovers do not consist of food not eaten b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-1051-Independent-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Cultures-of-Murdercid=0ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNGuMp3k74ugnwKgaRGAn_J2zBo6LA(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Brian Trent, Independent Examiner While his mother screamed and begged for mercy, a 15-year-old Indian boy was beaten, his scalp shaved, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-faithhealingamplaw,0,3467888.storycid=1273000725ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNGFj0qKbaesW2hCbQZX89DDhJBEOgChild deaths test faith-healing exemption/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fChicago Tribune,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrNov 21, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;We can#39;t legislate good bparenting/b, but at least we shouldn#39;t have laws allowing bad bparenting/b,quot; said Swan, who now heads the advocacy group Children#39;s b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4767579a6479.htmlcid=1273017541ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNFFdKatRPS3nh4D4MFhfQpVx9QCIAThousands to get lessons in bparenting/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fStuff.co.nz,nbsp;New Zealandnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1A Government scheme that sends bparents/b of violent or misbehaving children to bparenting/b courses is to expand to up to 15000 more families. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Live-Earth-20008cid=1272528345ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNF_cUdeukC0l8NdurjOxlGnR60bGAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=zjLuTuh7oRUJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/phpYFp10BPM.jpg width=80 height=66 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-746-New-York-Music-Examiner~y2008m11d21-Live-Earth-20008cid=1272528345ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNF_cUdeukC0l8NdurjOxlGnR60bGA(ie San Francisco hiking, San Francisco bparenting/b)/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Sherrill Fulghum, New York Music Examiner In 2007 former Vice-President Al Gore launched a campaign for awareness of Global Warming. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.greatdad.com/tertiary/358/3354/mark-wahlberg-shares-parenting-advice.htmlcid=0ei=UWIoSdmEFqbU6gOCwcVJusg=AFQjCNFLaKAr1JL9Xvpw4rw7mcUi0uk2ZQMark Wahlberg shares bparenting/b advice/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGreat Dad,nbsp;Californianbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Fatherhood can be a wild ride, whether you are an average dad or a high-profile star who is balancing bparenting/b skills with the pressures of the celebrity b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

parenting - Google News