I am so tired of carrying stuff

[tiapam]

You know, the water bottles, the snacks, the lunch box, library books, jacket, umbrella, *all* of DD"s stuff. She is big enough to carry things herself, and even *insists* on carrying certain things at certain times. But when I have a million things to carry or am already exhausted, that is pretty much when she has no interest in carrying anything. Of course, she still wants all her stuff to come in the house. I am so tired of being a pack mule.

[npace19147]

yup, same here. wait until it's all that plus a baby!

[bubbaray]

I hear ya! Below is my solution.

I have an LL Bean Jr backpack for each girl. http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...t=5179-tn&np=Y

DD#1 has the lime flower patch and DD#2 has the blue flower patch. They are SUPER cute and really REALLY well made.

DD#1 helps me pack the lunches and sippies in the morning. I usually pack the lunches the night before.

DD#1 is responsible for carrying her's from the van into daycare everyday and she has since she's been about 2. It has room for a large lunchkit and jacket/books in the main compartment and her cups in the front pocket. I obviously carry DD#2's for her.

Once at home, I typically unload the backpacks & my briefcase & purse once the van is in the garage, then I unload the girls. If I unload the little people first, its chaos. DH usually picks them up and I have no idea what his routine is, I think he unloads the girls first -- because he often forgets to bring in the backpacks.

DD#1 is responsible for unpacking the backpacks at the end of the day too. DD#2 helps (!) by hanging the packs up in the front hall after they are unpacked. She's so proud of herself when she does this!

HTH

[elaineandmichaelsmommy]

Oh and lets not forget the joys of going to the pool in the summer. When not only do we get to lug around all the regular stuff but also food,drinks,blankets,a chair for mommy,etc.etc.

Honestly there are days I would gladly pay a high schooler a few bucks to schlep all our stuff to where I wanted it to go.

[kijip]

This bugs me too! My solution is this: If he wants me to carry something that he should carry or when my hands are already full, I tell him he can carry it or leave it. It never gets left.

[sarahsthreads]

Yeah, I love the "but it's too heavy for me to carry!" line. Um, kiddo, that water bottle is empty, and if it's too heavy for you to carry then maybe we should start you on some weight-lifting exercises?

And the preschool backpack? The really lightweight quilted Stephen Joseph deal that has a single change of clothes in it? She acts like she's going to fall over backwards wearing it.

I like the "you can carry it or leave it" line. I'm totally adopting that attitude from now on, because I'm so tired of being a pack mule too!

Sarah

[C99]

Pam,

This is why I never have anything! I carry a water bottle for me and will share w/ the kids, but that and a diaper for DS2 are it!

[supercalifragilous]

We have an "If you really need/want it, you'll find a way to carry it." policy. DD's welcome to take whatever bag she needs to carry her wares, but it's her responsibility the WHOLE time.

People think I'm a nazi about it but I never carry her stuff, even the stuff she acquires @ fairs or special events. If she can't carry it, she can do without it, and I have no problem having her throw it in the trash b/c she can't carry it (i.e. bottled water, stuffed animal, etc) and she knows I won't rebuy it, either.

Her school backpack and lunch are also her responsibility. She forgot her backpack once this year and had to explain to her teacher that she had nowhere to put her homework that day and suffer the embarrassment.

That said, DD is 5-y/o, so I think she's old enough to bear her burden, but I did start this with her when she was about 3.5-y/o.

[randomkid]

I hear ya! 3+ year old DD wants me to carry everything, then she wants me to pick her up and carry her as well! I just tell her she has to walk because "can't you see I'm carrying everything else?!?" I also use the line of if you want it, you have to carry it. Works every time.